According to a posted last Thursday on the BKA website, the job involves developing software that meets the technical requirements to allow "covert police access to remote computer systems."

Candidates are expected to have very good knowledge of C++, low-level programming, system driver development, networking and Internet protocols, object-oriented software development and software modelling standards.

However, the BKA wants more than just a good developer. As well as programming skills, they want someone who knows the security mechanisms of Windows and other operating systems and who has experience with finding software vulnerabilities.

Law enforcement and intelligence agencies from around the world are increasingly using computer surveillance or monitoring software in their investigations. However, such tools are usually licensed from private companies that specialize in their development.

"An in-house hacking capability that could create custom cyber-surveillance tools for the BKA has potential advantages in the area of secrecy," Stephen Cobb, a security evangelist at antivirus vendor ESET, said Tuesday via email. "Commercial tools are typically sold to more than one client and become known if the vendor is not careful."