Lead Application Operations Engineer (3276)

Social Security Scotland

Hybrid

Expires: Expiring in less than 3 weeks

Full time

£60,010 - £74,820 per year

Job summary

We are currently seeking a talented Lead Application Operations Engineer to join our Applications & Platforms branch, part of the Chief Digital Office, where we are responsible for delivering, supporting, and managing our essential business applications and platforms. You will lead a team of senior engineers, providing support for our critical systems and ensuring optimal performance.

In this key role, you will work closely with internal and external stakeholders, applying your technical expertise and strong problem-solving skills to resolve complex, high-priority incidents. You will play a vital part in maintaining application availability and reliability through effective monitoring, maintenance, and configuration oversight.

We are seeking experienced IT leaders with a broad technical background in supporting infrastructure, cloud, and enterprise systems. The ideal candidate will be adept at navigating complex digital environments and communicating effectively with stakeholders at all levels, both technical and non-technical. Please note, this position is not within a DevOps capacity. If you’re ready to lead in a fast paced, evolving environment, we want to hear from you.

A Lead Application Operations Engineer defines the application strategy and the strategy for security administration.

At this role level, you will:

liaise with leads within IT operations on how applications are performing and changes that need to be put in place
potentially manage and maintain certain aspects of an application (depending on the complexity and size of a project, and the likely impact it will have on the business)

DDaT Pay Supplement

This post is part of the Scottish Government Digital, Data and Technology (DDAT) profession and as a member of the profession you will join the professional development system. This post currently attracts a £5,000 annual DDAT pay supplement, applicable after a 3 months competency qualifying period. The payment will be backdated to your start date in the role. Pay supplements are reviewed regularly and there is one currently underway. Changes will be communicated when the review is concluded.

Job description

Manage service components to ensure they meet business needs and performance targets
Lead the investigation and resolution of complex incidents
Take accountability for issues that occur and be proactive in searching for potential problems
Initiate and monitor actions to investigate patterns and trends to resolve problems
Effectively consult specialists where required
Determine the appropriate remedy and assist with its implementation
Determine preventative measures
Take inputs and establish coherent frameworks that work
Demonstrate knowledge of the life cycle or capability elements of ITIL (Information Technology Infrastructure Library)
Draft and maintain procedures and documentation
Understand the core technical concepts related to the role, and apply them with guidance
Identify process improvements and contribute to the definition of best practice
Offer recommendations on the best tools and methods to use

Person specification

Essential Experience

Demonstrable experience leading teams in managing and supporting a diverse portfolio of business critical applications, with the ability to act as the senior technical escalation point and deliver advanced technical support during complex incidents.
Expert in diagnosing and resolving issues across complex enterprise environments and multiple platforms including Windows, Linux, networking, SaaS, and AWS public cloud services.
Proven ability to drive continuous service improvement by challenging established practices with evidence-based strategies, including delivering large-scale projects in line with methodologies such as ITIL, Prince 2, or Agile.

Behaviours

Communicating and Influencing (Level 4)

Benefits

Annual Leave - You will receive 25 days annual leave on joining us. This will increase to 30 days after four full years of service. You will also have 11.5 public and privilege days of leave every year. We also offer Flexi-time. Any extra hours you've worked can be taken as leave when suitable.

A Civil Service Pension - This job comes with a Civil Service pension. New joiners to the Civil Service will join a career average pension scheme as standard. Read more here - www.civilservicepensionscheme.org.uk.

Healthy work life balance - We can offer the possibility of full-time, part-time, term-time, and job shares. We also encourage flexible working.

Discounts - You can enjoy a vast range of retail, travel and lifestyle discounts through our benefit scheme.

Personal support for you - Our Employee Assistance Programme gives you confidential, independent information and guidance 24/7.

Volunteering special leave - Up to six days paid special leave a year for volunteering. We support our staff to help causes important to them.

Great locations - Our bright and modern offices in the heart of Dundee and Glasgow have been designed with staff in mind. Both locations are ideal for public transport.

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

Expected Timeline (subject to change)
Sift – from 3rd April 2026
Interview – w/c 13th April 2026

To apply please submit an application form by clicking on the ‘Apply at Advertisers Site’ button.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

UK nationals
nationals of the Republic of Ireland
nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see theCivil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window).Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Salary range

£60,010 - £74,820 per year