Cryptology roles provide cryptographic subject matter expertise across the range of ASD’s functions including signals intelligence capabilities, cryptographic advice and offensive cyber operations.
Many roles within the Cryptology function have large amounts of overlap with other functions within ASD. One common point of difference though, is an expectation to build and maintain subject matter expertise in cryptography.
The Cryptographic Analyst is responsible for performing research, analysis and operational tasks to provide cryptographic subject matter expertise across ASD’s portfolio of responsibilities.
A strong background in mathematics – often, but not always, underpinned by a degree in a quantitative science (mathematics, physics, chemistry, computer science are examples) – is important for understanding cryptography at a deep level. Some fields of mathematics of particular relevance include abstract algebra, number theory, probability and statistics.
In addition to these specialist technical skills, staff are required to have knowledge of and compliance to relevant legislative frameworks, government decision-making and the Australian Signals Directorate’s mission and policy requirements.
Required Skills
- Strong background in various fields of mathematics: abstract algebra, probability and statistics or theoretical computer science.
- Builds and maintains professional stakeholder relationships
- Problem solving skills
- Designs and implements technical solutions
- Technical research and analysis
- People management and leadership (specified Executive Level roles only)
Jobs within this function
- Cryptographic Analyst (ASD4, 5, 6, EL1)
- Cryptographic Manager (EL1)
- Cryptology Director (EL2)
*roles within this job function may be eligible for skills allowance
The High-Performance Computing Specialist is responsible for the full life cycle of high performance computing programs. This includes designing, developing, optimising, deploying, maintaining and decommissioning high-performance computer programs to meet ASD mission requirements. This role requires an understanding of computer architecture and software design, and includes providing subject matter expertise to help guide ASD’s high performance computing portfolio.
In addition to these specialist technical skills, staff are required to have knowledge of and compliance to relevant legislative frameworks, government decision-making and Australian Signals Directorate’s mission and policy requirements.
Required Skills
- Low-level/performant programming ability
- Builds and maintains professional stakeholder relationships
- Problem solving skills
- Designs and implements technical solutions
- Technical research and analysis
- People management and leadership (specified Executive Level roles only)
Jobs within this function
- High-Performance Computing Specialist (ASD5, 6, EL1)
*roles within this job function may be eligible for skills allowance
The Signal Intelligence Technologist is responsible for performing and achieving complex technical activities in relation to the signals intelligence work including contributing to the design, development, testing, implementation, documentation, support security, maintenance or enhancement of signal intelligence systems within an integrated workforce.
Staff are required to have knowledge of and compliance to relevant legislative frameworks, government decision-making and Australian Signals Directorate’s mission and policy requirements.
Required Skills
- Attention to detail
- Ability to understand and utilise analytical tradecraft tools
- Builds and maintains professional stakeholder relationships
- Problem solving skills
- Designs and implements technical solutions
- Technical research and analysis
- Opportunities available for linguists
- Experienced in managing and leading a team (ASD6 and Executive Level roles only)
Jobs within this function
- Signal Intelligence Technologist (ASD3, 4, 5, 6, EL1 and 2)
The Information Security Technologist are responsible for complex technical work including maintain technical equipment and system to support delivery of information and cyber security capabilities.
Staff are required to have knowledge of and compliance to relevant legislative frameworks, government decision-making and Australian Signals Directorate’s mission and policy requirements.
Required Skills
- Coordinates, advises and assists on contemporary information and cyber security
- Delivers information and cyber security capabilities
- Applies contemporary knowledge of emerging technology issues
- Proactive in analytical and research tasks
- Conducts cyber security assessments
- Effective communication
- Problem solving
- Builds and sustains professional relationships
- Experienced in managing and leading a team (Executive Level roles only)
Jobs within this function
- Information Security Technologist (ASD3, 4, 5, 6, EL1 and 2)
*roles within this job function may be eligible for skills allowance
Vulnerability Assessors are responsible for coordinating and conducting technical security investigations on a wide array of assets and devices that directly relate to security infrastructure.
Staff are required to have knowledge of and compliance to relevant legislative frameworks, government decision-making and Australian Signals Directorate’s mission and policy requirements.
Required Skills
- Conducts forensically-sound security investigations on a wide array of assets and devices that directly relate to security infrastructure
- Provides advice and recommendation to maintain and improve the integrity of ASD’s ICT infrastructure
- Experienced in designing, coding, verifying, testing, documenting, amending and refactoring programs/scripts and integration software services.
- Ability to assess and explain threat profiles of a variety of electronic devices
- Builds and sustains relationships with internal and external stakeholders
- Able to make recommendations and assess and manage associated risks of others’ systems designs to ensure selection of appropriate technology
- Ability to be a team coach or lead of operational, project or administrative team (ASD6 and EL1 roles only)
Jobs within this function
- Vulnerability Assessor (ASD4, 5, 6 and EL1)
*roles within this job function may be eligible for skills allowance
Vulnerability Researchers are responsible for security and risk assessments, by means of technical, governance, physical and personnel evaluations work within an integrated workforce.
Staff are required to have knowledge of and compliance to relevant legislative frameworks, government decision-making and Australian Signals Directorate’s mission and policy requirements.
Required Skills
- Conducts vulnerability research assessments in support of certification, accreditation and or operational priorities.
- Performs cyber research activities to identify deficiencies and impact on systems
- Conducts applied research e.g. leading to the development of proof of concept exploits or assessment of existing cryptographic algorithm
- Explains technical findings through a variety of mediums
- Identifies and evaluates alternative design options
- Ability to be a team coach or lead of operational, project or administrative team (ASD 6 and EL1 roles only)
Jobs within this function
- Vulnerability Researcher (ASD4, 5, 6 and EL1)
*roles within this job function may be eligible for skills allowance
The Data Engineer is responsible for designing, developing and maintaining software architectures to collect and analyse large data sets.
Staff are required to have knowledge of, and compliance to relevant legislative frameworks, government decision-making and Australian Signals Directorate’s mission and policy requirements.
Required Skills
- Data engineering, integration and interoperability for on-premise and cloud
- Identifying data sources, data processing concepts and methods
- Developing, testing and configuring databases and processing systems
- Using programming languages and tools to improve data quality
- Strong interpersonal skills for building and maintaining professional stakeholder relationships
Below is a non-exhaustive list of examples of some of the different roles and tasks in which data specialists can apply their expertise and other skills – the role may include just one task on these lists, or may involve aspects of several.
The Data Scientist is responsible for extracting insights from large sets of data utilising their knowledge of data mining techniques (statistics, machine learning, AI), programming skills and business knowledge.
Staff are required to have knowledge of, and compliance to relevant legislative frameworks, government decision-making and Australian Signals Directorate’s mission and policy requirements.
Required Skills
- Developing forward-looking, predictive, real-time, model-based insights to create value and drive effective decision-making
- Evaluating trained models for their performance, robustness and bias
- Interpreting and analysing data, comparative analysis, benchmarking, trend analysis
- Integrating methods from mathematics, statistics and probability modelling using specialised programming languages, tools and techniques
- Developing hypotheses and exploring data using models and analytics sandboxes
Below is a non-exhaustive list of examples of some of the different roles and tasks in which data specialists can apply their expertise and other skills – the role may include just one task on these lists, or may involve aspects of several.
The ICT Developer Programmer is responsible for very complex software development and support work including the development, implementation, compliance and review of policies and procedures within an integrated workforce.
Staff are required to have knowledge of and compliance to relevant legislative frameworks, government decision-making and Australian Signals Directorate’s mission and policy requirements.
Required Skills
- Standard setting for programming tools and techniques, ensuring compliance
- Promotes knowledge of business domain to develop solutions
- Effective communication
- Programming and systems development
- Negotiates with and influences stakeholders
- Analyses very complex systems development issues
- Codes, tests, corrects, documents, reviews and sustains very complex programs and program modifications
- Experienced in leading and managing a team
Jobs within this function
- ICT Development Programmer (EL1)
Also see Information and Communications Technology
*roles within this job function may be eligible for skills allowance
The ICT Software Engineer is responsible to perform and achieve ICT software engineering work including undertaking specialist, technical, research analysis, conduct reviews, assessment, investigation and perform procedural, clerical, and administrative support work within an integrated workforce.
Staff are required to have knowledge of and compliance to relevant legislative frameworks, government decision-making and Australian Signals Directorate’s mission and policy requirements.
Required Skills
- Codes, tests, reviews, corrects, and documents moderately complex programs and program modifications
- Knowledgeable of advanced domain technologies
- Knowledgeable in development technologies
- Builds and sustains effective working relationships with team members
- Works collaboratively with stakeholders
- Designs and implements solutions to problems
- Evaluates processes and activities for compliance
- Experienced in leading and managing a team (Executive Level only)
Jobs within this function
- ICT Software Engineer (ASD4, 5, 6, EL1 and 2)
Also see Information and Communications Technology
*roles within this job function may be eligible for skills allowance