DevOps Engineering Specialist

Senior DevOps Engineer (SFIA Level 4) – AWS Platform & CI / CD Ownership Hybrid, Newcastle Public sector end-clients in regulated, security-conscious environments; distributed teams; strong focus on auditability, compliance-aligned controls, diversity, inclusion, and equal opportunity. Role Summary We are hiring a Senior DevOps Engineer (SFIA 4) to take ownership of CI / CD and environment provisioning across cloud-native platforms supporting modern application and data workloads. You will drive fast, high-quality delivery by improving pipelines, automation, and infrastructure patterns while operating within regulated constraints and complex integrations. What You’ll Do (Key Responsibilities) • Take ownership of CI / CD delivery, improving reliability, speed, and developer experience across Git-based workflows. • Build, maintain, and evolve Infrastructure as Code for repeatable, auditable environment provisioning and change control. • Enable containerized deployments and platform operations using Docker and Kubernetes (EKS / AKS), including AWS-first patterns (e.g., Fargate). • Automate platform and delivery workflows primarily in Python, with supporting scripting in Bash / PowerShell. • Implement and maintain observability across platforms and services using tools such as Prometheus, Grafana, and Splunk. • Integrate security scanning and runtime protection tooling (e.g., Trixy, Trend Micro, Wiz) into delivery pipelines and platform controls. • Support engineering teams running Node.js and React-style front ends and Spring Boot microservices by enabling consistent build, test, and deployment pipelines. • Support data and integration workflows including Spark, Airflow, and Jupyter Notebooks for development and troubleshooting. • Work with data / integration components and patterns including Kafka, MongoDB, and REST / HTTP APIs to ensure reliable delivery and operations. • Collaborate with stakeholders and partner teams, including integrations with DWP Integration Team products such as the Data Access Layer and SFT. • Operate effectively in complex, regulated environments, ensuring changes are traceable, secure, and production-ready. Tech Stack & Tooling • Cloud & Platform: AWS-first (including Fargate), plus some Azure exposure; Kubernetes (EKS / AKS); Docker. • IaC & Config: Terraform; Ansible / Chef. • CI / CD: GitLab CI / CD; additional tools in estate may include Jenkins and Concourse. • Automation: Python; Bash; PowerShell. • Data / Workflow: Apache Spark; Airflow; Jupyter Notebooks. • Observability: Prometheus; Grafana; Splunk. • Security: Scanning / agents such as Trixy, Trend Micro, Wiz. • App / Data Ecosystem You’ll Support: Node.js; React-style front ends; Spring Boot microservices; Kafka; MongoDB; REST / HTTP APIs. • Engineering Practices: Agile; TDD / BDD; automated testing for UI and APIs (Playwright, Selenium / Cucumber, Mockito, Swagger); accessibility testing aligned to WCAG 2.2 (including assistive tech such as JAWS / Dragon). What Success Looks Like • Quickly becomes the owner and trusted point of contact for CI / CD, improving flow and reducing friction for delivery teams. • Delivers fast, high-quality outcomes in a complex environment by standardising patterns and automating repeatable work. • Enables reliable, secure, and auditable environment provisioning and deployments aligned to regulated requirements. Minimum Qualifications (Must-Have) • Demonstrable Senior DevOps capability aligned to SFIA Level 4 (enablement, autonomy, and accountability for defined technical outcomes). • Strong hands-on experience owning and improving CI / CD pipelines in Git-based delivery environments (e.g., GitLab). • Strong Infrastructure as Code experience with Terraform and practical experience with configuration management (Ansible and / or Chef). • Strong container and orchestration experience with Docker and Kubernetes (EKS / AKS), and cloud-native deployment patterns in AWS (including services such as Fargate). • Strong automation skills in Python plus scripting capability in Bash and / or PowerShell. • Practical experience implementing observability (metrics / logging / dashboards / alerting) using tools such as Prometheus, Grafana, and / or Splunk. • Security-first mindset with experience integrating scanning / agent tooling into pipelines and platform operations. • Ability to deliver at pace without compromising quality, reliability, and compliance expectations in regulated environments. Nice-to-Have • Experience supporting delivery for Node.js / React and Spring Boot microservices, including build / test / deploy pipeline enablement • Exposure to Kafka, MongoDB, and modern API ecosystems • Experience with Airflow / Spark data workflows and using Jupyter for troubleshooting • Familiarity with automated testing tooling (Playwright, Selenium / Cucumber, Mockito, Swagger) and / or accessibility testing practices (WCAG 2.2) • Experience integrating with Integration Team products such as Data Access Layer and SFT