Lead DevOps Engineer

Job summary

The UKHSA Development and Operations team leads the digital transformation of UKHSA to make it a more data driven, customer focused, digital organisation. We do this by delivering services which meet and maintain the Government Digital Service (GDS) Digital by Default Service Standard.

DevOps Engineers at UKHSA work collaboratively with developers and stakeholders such as Data Scientists and Public Health officials to deliver secure, scalable, and reliable software solutions that support the agency’s mission and critical public health services. We employ modern best practices to deliver projects quickly, safely, and cost-effectively.

As a Lead DevOps Engineer you will manage a small team, acting as technical product owner and contributing to the development of strategic direction. You will be a recognised expert in modern development standards and systems integration, bringing deep technical knowledge to lead the sharing of good practice, coach and mentor colleagues, and develop medium to long term strategies for our DevOps toolchains and platforms.

Job description

• Acting as technical product owner & developing medium to long term strategies for product lines & our CI/CD toolchain estate
• Apply expert knowledge of modern development standards to support complex projects & programmes, leading others in applying these standards consistently across teams
• Lead the sharing of knowledge & best practices across the DevOps engineering team, providing technical leadership and guidance through coaching and mentoring
• Establish & maintain systems integration standards and procedures across the service product life cycle, ensuring practitioners adhere to them and managing resources to ensure effective integration delivery
• Provide expert-level service support — identifying, locating and fixing complex service faults — and advise others on different methodologies and types of service support
• Design solutions & services with security controls included, specifically engineered to mitigate security threats, applying practitioner-level information security skills across the teams you lead
• Drive continuous improvement by identifying and implementing process optimisation opportunities across DDO
• Design & assure business-critical systems, review technical solutions to ensure effective, scalable and cost-efficient outcomes
• Champion user-centred design, representing user needs & promoting the use of research to inform decisions
• Manage service components to ensure delivery against business objectives & key performance indicators (KPIs).

Role Purpose

• As a Lead DevOps Engineer, you will shape UKHSA’s DevOps strategy & act as technical product owner for product lines within Digital Development and Operations. You'll be a recognised technical leader, give expert knowledge of modern development standards & systems integration to promote quality, consistency & good practice.
• Provide technical leadership, coaching and mentoring, and develop medium- to long-term strategies for DevOps toolchains, CI/CD pipelines & platforms. You'll have experience designing highly available cloud services, particularly on AWS, and implementing CI/CD and infrastructure automation using technologies such as Ansible and Terraform. Working across AWS and Azure, you will develop and support services and infrastructure through to production.

Core Responsibilities

• Identify & apply modern development standards to support complex projects & programmes across the teams you lead.
• Act as technical product owner to develop medium to long term strategies for product lines and our CI/CD toolchain estate.
• Contribute to development of UKHSA’s DevOps strategic direction
• Technical leadership & guidance.
• Establish, maintain systems integration standards and procedures across the service and development lifecycle
• Coordinate resources, integration testing and build activities to ensure effective integration
• Diagnose & resolve complex service faults using advanced technical and diagnostic expertise.
• Advise teams on service support approaches and methodologies
• Design secure solutions with controls proportionate to mitigate security threats & risks.
• Ensure teams apply appropriate security standards throughout the development lifecycle.
• Design complex systems that impact the organisation,
• Review system designs to ensure effective technology selection, resource use and integration across systems.
• Design, develop, test & document medium-to-high complexity programs and scripts
• Identify process optimisation opportunities contribute to the implementation of solutions.
• Manage service components to ensure they meet business needs and KPIs.
• Champion user-centred design by advocating for user research, representing user needs, and helping teams prioritise and understand user requirements.
• Lead collaborative prototyping, developing and refining design patterns.

This list is not exhaustive

Person specification

Essential Criteria

• Expert-level modern development standards, systems integration and service support, leading others in development standards across complex programmes; establishing integration standards across the product lifecycle; diagnosing and resolving complex service faults and advising on support methodologies.
• Practitioner-level information security, systems design and programming — designing solutions with security controls to mitigate threats; designing medium-complexity systems; coding and documenting programs or scripts of medium-to-high complexity.
• Practitioner-level user focus — working with user researchers, championing user-centred approaches and guiding teams in prioritising user needs.
• Experience with cloudautomation technologies (Ansible, Terraform) and implementing CI/CD platforms (GitLab CI, GitHub Actions) using repeatable deployment patterns.
• Experience acting as technical product owner for a project team or product line, contributing to medium to long term technical strategy.
• Excellent communication skills across technical and non-technical boundaries, with the ability to represent complex engineering decisions clearly to stakeholders.
• Degree in computer science or equivalent, with a genuine passion for DevOps, cloud automation and version control (Git).

Desirable Criteria

• Experience with containerisation technologies (e.g. Docker) and Kubernetes-based container platforms such as Red Hat OpenShift.
• Understanding of RESTful Web Services.
• Familiarity with the GDS Service Standard and Technology Code of Practice.
• Contributing to DevOps or platform strategy at programme or organisational level.
• Experience in a government, public health or regulated environment.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £56,185, UK Health Security Agency contributes £16,276 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).

We pride ourselves as being an employer of choice, promoting equality of opportunity to actively encourage applications from everyone, including groups currently underrepresented in our workforce. UKHSA's ethos is to be an inclusive organisation for all our staff and stakeholders. To create, nurture and sustain an inclusive culture, where differences drive innovative solutions to meet the needs of our workforce and wider communities. We do this through celebrating and protecting differences by removing barriers and promoting equity and equality of opportunity for all.

• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%

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

This vacancy is using Success Profiles and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.

Stage 1: Application & Sift

Success Profiles - GOV.UK

You will be required to complete an application form. You will be assessed on the listed 7 essential criteria, and this will be in the form of a:

• Application form (‘Employer/ Activity history’ section on the application)
• 1000 word supporting statement.

This should outline how you consider your skills, experience and knowledge provide evidence of your suitability for the role, with reference to the essential criteria.

You will receive a joint score for your application form and statement. (The application form is the kind of information you would put into your C.V –please be advised you will not be able to upload your CV. Please complete the application form in as much detail as possible). Please do not email us your CV.

Healthjobs UK has a word limit of 1500, but your supporting statement must be no more than 1000 words. We will not consider any words over 1000 words.

Longlisting:

In the event of a large number of applications we will longlist into 3 piles of:

• Meets all essential criteria
• Meets some essential criteria
• Meets no essential criteria

If used, the pile(s) that meets ALL essential criteria’ will proceed to shortlisting.

Shortlisting:

In the event of a large number of applications we may conduct an initial sift, on the lead criteria of:

• Expert-level modern development standards, systems integration and service support, applying and leading others in development standards across complex programmes; establishing integration standards across the product lifecycle; diagnosing and resolving complex service faults and advising on support methodologies.
• Practitioner-level information security, systems design and programming — designing solutions with security controls to mitigate threats; designing medium-complexity systems; coding and documenting programs or scripts of medium-to-high complexity.
• Experience with cloud automation technologies (Ansible, Terraform) and implementing CI/CD platforms (GitLab CI, GitHub Actions) using repeatable deployment patterns.

Desirable criteria may be used in the event of a large number of applications/large amount of successful candidates.

If you are successful at this stage, you will progress to interview.

Feedback will not be provided at this stage.

Stage 2: Interview

Success profiles Success Profiles - GOV.UK

You will be invited to a single face to face interview at our Core HQ, Canary Wharf, London.

When face to face interviews are planned, in exceptional circumstances, we may be able to offer a remote interview.

Behaviours and Technical skills will be tested at interview in the form of questions and a presentation.

This will entail a presentation on the following, which should last no longer than 8 minutes:

• Designing a Resilient, Automated Platform: Infrastructure as Code, GitOps, Observability and Self-Healing

The Behaviours tested during the interview stage will be:

• Lead behaviour - Making Effective Decisions
• Communicating and Influencing
• Seeing the big picture
• Managing a Quality Service

Interview dates are to be confirmed.

Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Please Note - For roles where specific qualifications or registrations are required, successful applicants will be asked to provide appropriate evidence. Employment cannot commence until satisfactory documentation has been received and verified.

Eligibility Criteria

External - This vacancy is open to all external applicants (anyone) from outside the Civil Service as well as internal applicants.

Location

This role is being offered as hybrid working based at any of our Core HQs or Scientific Campuses. We offer great flexible working opportunities at UKHSA and operate using a hybrid working model where business needs allow. This provides us with greater flexibility about how and where we work, to get the best from our workforce. As a hybrid worker, you will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of your contractual working hours (approximately 3 days a week pro rata, averaged over a month) working at one of UKHSA's core HQs (Birmingham, Leeds, Liverpool, and London) or Scientific Campuses (Porton, Chilton and Colindale)

Security Clearance Level Requirement

Successful candidates must pass a basic disclosure and barring security check before they can be appointed.

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is a Security Check.

For meaningful National Security Vetting checks to be carried out individuals need to have lived in the UK for a sufficient period of time. You should normally have been resident in the United Kingdom for the last 5 years as the role requires Security Check (SC) residency less than the outlined periods may not necessarily bar you from gaining national security vetting and applicants should contact the Vacancy Holder/Recruiting Manager listed in the advert for further advice.

Salary Information

If you are successful at interview, and are moving from another government department, NHS, or Local Authority, the relevant starting salary principles for level transfers or promotions will apply. Otherwise, roles are offered at the pay scale minimum for the grade, but in exceptional circumstances there may be flexibility if you are able to demonstrate you are already in receipt of an existing, higher salary. Pay increases are through the relevant annual pay award for the role and terms. Please be aware that the salary is based on the office location.

Grade 7

• £56,185- £66,581 (National)
• £58,340- £68,574 (Outer London)
• £60,494- £70,566 (Inner London)

This role attracts a Market Pay Supplement (MPS) of up to £10,000 per annum, which is based on Capability- Accomplished (£10,000), Proficient (£7,500) or Developing (£5000) to be reviewed 31/3/2027.

Please note: The Digital and Data Directorate, where this role sits, is reviewing its Target Operating Model. While the process is still in the planning stage, some roles may be affected by future changes. We are committed to keeping candidates informed and will share updates as they become available.

Future location

UKHSA is investing in a new state-of-the-art National Biosecurity Centre in Harlow, Essex, which will eventually bring together teams currently based at Canary Wharf, Colindale and Porton Down. For more details, please see: Huge biosecurity centre investment to boost pandemic protection - GOV.UK.

The new facilities will start becoming operational in the mid-2030s, with full completion by 2038. Staff will move in phases as facilities become available. If you're appointed to a role currently based at Canary Wharf, Colindale or Porton Down, please note that we'll continue investing in these sites for the next decade. As we get closer to the transition, we'll provide full information about relocation support available to staff.

Reasonable Adjustments

The Civil Service is committed to making sure that our selection methods are fair to everyone. To help you during the recruitment process, we will consider any reasonable adjustments that could help you. An adjustment is a change to the recruitment process or an adjustment at work. This is separate to the Disability Confident Scheme. If you need an adjustment to be made at any point during the recruitment process you should contact the recruitment team in confidence as soon as possible to discuss your needs.

You can find out more information about reasonable adjustments across the Civil Service here: https://www.civil-service-careers.gov.uk/reasonable-adjustments/

International Police check

If you have spent more than 6 months abroad over the last 3 years you may need an International Police Check. This would not necessarily have to be in a single block, and it could be time accrued over that period.

Internal Fraud check

If successful for this role as one aspect of pre-employment screening, applicant’s personal details – name, national insurance number and date of birth - will be checked against the Cabinet Office Internal Fraud Hub and anyone included on the database will be refused employment unless they can show exceptional circumstances. Currently this is only for External candidates to the Civil Service.

Reserve List

If more than the required number of suitable candidates pass the interview criteria, you may be kept on a reserve list for 12 months subject to your agreement. You may be contacted, in merit-order, if similar roles with closely matching essential criteria become available and the department choose to appoint from a reserve list.
The panel will assess if candidates meet the requirement of the role first, using a specific benchmark system. If you are interviewed for the post and do not meet the
required threshold for the specified grade, your application may be assessed against a similar, lower grade role and you may be offered the post should one be available.

Incident Response Activity

From time to time, the role holder may be required to support UKHSA’s incident response activity by contributing their appropriate expertise within an Incident Cell; during such periods, supported by the line manager, this work will take priority over normal day-to-day responsibilities, commensurate with their grade, skills and
experience.

Careers website

Please visit our careers site for more information https://gov.uk/ukhsa/careers

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

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a basic (or equivalent) criminal record check.Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window).

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).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

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

Job contact :

• Name : John Inglis
• Email : john.inglis@ukhsa.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : recruitment@ukhsa.gov.uk

Further information

The law requires that selection for appointment to the Civil Service is on merit on the basis of fair and open competition as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's Recruitment Principles. If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles, and you wish to make a complaint, in the first instance, you should
contact the UKHSA Complaints team via email at: Complaints@ukhsa.gov.uk If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission. Visit the Civil Service Commission website for further information: https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk