Strategic Cryptologic Researcher in Ottawa

The Communications Security Establishment (CSE) is Canada’s agency responsible for foreign signals intelligence, cyber operations and cyber security. The Tutte Institute for Mathematics and Computing (TIMC) is a government research institute housed within CSE. TIMC’s mission is to conduct strategic research that has an impact on the most important scientific challenges faced by the Canadian security and intelligence community and its international partners. TIMC delivers on this mission through a research program in foundational mathematics and computer science, with concentrations in cryptology and machine learning research.

TIMC is seeking highly qualified researchers to contribute to the Mathematical Foundations of Cryptography research area. Strategic Researchers at TIMC work on a variety of complex challenges and they draw on a variety of tools including deep mathematical theory and cutting-edge computational resources. Success in this role requires adaptability, creativity, and a passion for advancing knowledge.

Key Responsibilities:

• Conduct high-quality research toward TIMC research focus topics.
• Identify research problems and projects in alignment with CSE’s research strategy.
• Work collaboratively with colleagues at TIMC, across CSE, and with external partners.
• Disseminate research results through technical reports, presentations, peer-reviewed publications, and software contributions.
• Maintain situational awareness in research developments and provide advice and guidance to clients and decision-makers.

Area of selection: Open to Canadian citizens.

Location: Ottawa, Ontario, in one of our two accessible facilities. Flexible work arrangements, including telework for a portion of the work week, may be possible.

Conditions of employment:

• A valid Enhanced Top Secret (ETS) security clearance is a condition of employment that must be met before an offer can be made.

Education:

• You must have either one of the following:
• A MSc in mathematics, statistics, computer science or a related field, with at least eight (8) years of post-MSc research experience.
• A PhD in mathematics, statistics, computer science or a relevant field, with at least three (3) years of post-PhD research experience.

Note: The educational program must be recognized in Canada, and you must be able to provide proof of education credentials.

Experience:

• Conducting original research with tangible impact in cryptography, quantum information theory, combinatorics, algebra, number theory or a relevant scientific field demonstrated by sustained contributions of publication, presentation and/or code-release.
• Designing, developing, implementing, and/or evaluating novel cryptanalytic methods, computational algorithms, or practical cryptologic applications.
• Leading research teams and/or supervising junior researchers, post-docs or graduate students.
• Establishing and executing research programs, demonstrated, for example, by successful grant applications, contributing to strategic planning, and achieving key project milestones.

Various language profiles:

• English Essential and Bilingual Imperative (CBC/CBC)

English essential means that the position is unilingual English. Bilingual means that knowledge of both official languages (English and French) is required for the position.

Assets:

• Operational requirements: Overtime and standby duty may be required.

Please note the Employment Equity Act, which is under review, uses the terminology Aboriginal peoples and visible minorities. To address CSE’s current representation gaps, priority may be given to persons who self-declare as belonging to one, or more, designated employment equity groups: women; Indigenous peoples; persons with disabilities; and persons from racial or ethnic groups.

CSE offers an assessment process that will accommodate any reasonable measures you require to be assessed in a fair and equitable manner. Those measures are available to all candidates during our processes. Information you provide will be addressed confidentially.

The level of competence demonstrated in the various assessments will be used to determine your qualifications for the UNMA 09, UNMA 10 or UNMA 11 level. All communications with CSE relating to this process may be used in the assessment of qualifications.

The intent of this process is to fill vacant positions at CSE. The process may also be used to establish a pool of qualified candidates which could be used to staff similar or identical positions with various tenures.

Due to the nature of CSE’s mandate certain roles may expose employees to content that is difficult to process. Mental health is a priority at CSE and if any personnel feel they require assistance to preserve their mental wellbeing, they have access to services, tools and other resources to help them in both their personal and professional lives.

Please note that in an effort to maintain balance between employee development and business needs, candidates who are hired at CSE must remain in their substantive position for a minimum of twelve (12) months subject to operational requirements.

We thank you for your interest in CSE. However, only those selected for further consideration will be contacted.