Senior DevOps Engineer

Job summary

We are Ofwat, the Water Services Regulation Authority, a non-ministerial government department responsible for regulating the water sector in England and Wales.

We have an opportunity for a Senior DevOps Engineer to join our IT Operations Team within Corporate Enablers Directorate.

The water sector is entering a new chapter. The government has set out a bold new direction, bringing together expertise from across the sector to deliver better outcomes for customers and the environment. We are collaborating with fellow regulators to respond to recommendations in The Independent Water Commission Report, the Welsh Government’s response to the Green Paper, Shaping the Future of Water Governance in Wales, and the Government’s White Paper, A new vision for water.

Ofwat is working with the government and other regulators to help create a new body for England, bringing together our strengths with those of the Drinking Water Inspectorate, the Environment Agency and Natural England. We are also continuing to work with the Welsh Government to support decisions on the future arrangements for Wales.

While these changes take shape, our mission remains the same: to hold water companies to account, drive performance, and ensure the sector delivers real value for customers, communities, and the environment. If you’re passionate about making a difference, this is a unique moment to join us and help shape the future of water, and together we can continue to make a positive impact.

You can find out more about why you should join Ofwat, our strategy, values and our framework for success in the attached Information for Candidates Pack.

Job description

The Senior DevOps Engineer will play a key role within the IT Operations team, part of Ofwat’s Corporate Enablers (CE) Directorate. The CE Directorate brings together the functions that provide Ofwat with its people, technology, security, financial and operational services. The role will help the team deliver changes safely and consistently by establishing the deployment pipelines, controls and working practices needed for a modern data platform.

Reporting to the Head of IT Operations, the Senior DevOps Engineer will lead the practical design, build and operation of Ofwat’s deployment capability for its data platforms. The role is focused on Azure DevOps and Microsoft Fabric, with responsibility for creating repeatable, secure and auditable routes for changes to move from development through test to production.

This is a hands-on senior engineering role. The postholder will configure repositories, branch policies, service connections, environments, approvals and automated pipelines; integrate Azure DevOps with Fabric and related Microsoft services; and introduce proportionate testing, release and rollback controls. They will diagnose deployment failures and improve the process as the platform and its products develop.

Key deliverables:

In this role you will be expected to:

• Assess the current delivery process and produce a practical implementation plan for moving data platform development and releases into Azure DevOps.
• Design and implement a consistent Azure DevOps structure covering repositories, branching, pull requests, branch policies, code review and release records.
• Build reusable YAML pipeline templates that support continuous integration and controlled deployment across development, test and production environments.
• Establish repeatable promotion of Microsoft Fabric and Power BI artefacts, using Azure DevOps, Fabric Git integration, deployment pipelines, APIs and other Microsoft tooling where appropriate.
• Automate environment-specific configuration, parameters and connections, and manage service connections, managed identities, service principals and secrets in line with security requirements.
• Introduce automated quality checks and tests for relevant Python, PySpark, SQL, notebooks, data pipelines, semantic models and configuration before deployment.
• Configure deployment environments, approvals, checks and segregation of duties, with clear procedures for failed releases, rollback and recovery.
• Use infrastructure as code and scripting, including Bicep or Terraform, PowerShell, Azure CLI or Python, to remove manual steps and make platform changes repeatable.
• Implement monitoring and reporting for build and deployment pipelines, investigate failures and use delivery evidence to improve reliability and lead time.
• Share knowledge and expertise with data engineers who are new to DevOps through pairing, practical workshops, code and pull-request reviews, written guides, templates and supported releases.
• Work with engineers, architects, IT, Security, Data Strategy, delivery leads and suppliers to embed shared ownership of deployment processes and keep standards current.

Person specification

To be successful in this role you will need the below essential attributes, experience, skills and knowledge:

Experience, skills and knowledge

1. Lead criterion 1: Significant experience delivering Azure DevOps CI/CD solutions for complex cloud, data or analytics platforms, including source control, automated pipelines and release management.
2. Lead Criterion 2: Experience deploying and managing Microsoft Fabric, Power BI and Azure data services using DevOps practices, source control and release automation.
3. Strong automation and infrastructure-as-code skills, with experience delivering scalable, maintainable and reusable solutions.
4. Good understanding of secure delivery practices in Azure, including access controls, secrets management, governance and operational risk management.
5. Experience implementing automated, governed and repeatable deployment processes across development, test and production environments.
6. Experience supporting production services, including deployment monitoring, troubleshooting, release improvement and operational support.
7. Ability to work effectively within multidisciplinary teams, sharing knowledge and expertise to support capability building, knowledge transfer and the adoption of DevOps best practices.

Attributes

8. Delivers Outcomes
9. Promotes Collaboration
10. Committed Learner

Attributes as per Ofwat's Framework for Success for the relevant salary grade. You can read more about Attributes here.

Benefits

Why You Should Join Us:

Our people are at the heart of Ofwat, and our People Strategy defines the goals that keep this focus central to everything we do. Our 2025 People Survey highlights several key strengths. Nine in ten colleagues say that they are treated with respect and that Ofwat values individual differences. The same proportion say that their work is meaningful and that they are being trusted to carry out their roles effectively. 79% of our people rated their manager highly, and 85% described their team environment as positive.

You will also benefit from:

• Good employer pension contributions.
• 25 days’ annual leave (increasing to 30 with each year of service) plus bank holidays and an extra 2.5 days of privilege leave
• Access to exclusive discounts on a variety of goods and services, including retail outlets, theatre tickets, holidays, insurance, and a gym membership
• Flexible working arrangements that suit your lifestyle
• Fees paid for membership of relevant professional bodies
• Up to 3 volunteering days per year
• Recognition vouchers scheme
• Generous shared parental leave and pay
• Enhanced sick pay
• Regular development opportunities
• Health and wellbeing initiatives
• Cycle-to-work scheme
• Season ticket loan for home-to-office travel
• Free eye tests and contribution to lenses/spectacles for VDU users

Moving to Ofwat from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax-Free Childcare. Find out more at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/.

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

How to apply

Apply through the Civil Service Jobs website where you’ll be asked to create an account and complete an application form (CV and personal statement). If you’re unable to make an electronic application, please contact recruitment@ofwat.gov.uk and we will support you in completing your application.

Please see the candidate guidance on our website for more detail and tips on how to best make your application and prepare for interview.

Please ensure you have submitted your application in full ahead of the deadline listed below. Unfortunately, we won't be able to consider late applications.

Selection timetable

• Closing date: 01 November 2026
• Sifting: Week commencing 02 November 2026
• Interview date(s): Week commencing 09 November 2027

Assessment process

Sift Stage - Blind Sifting

We operate a blind sifting model to eliminate bias. All candidate identifying information will be removed from applications.

At sift stage we will assess your application (CV and personal statement) against essential criteria 1, 2, 3 and 4 listed above. Please provide enough evidence in your application form to demonstrate how you meet these criteria.

Use your personal statement to address the lead criterion and tell us about:

1. Lead criterion: Significant experience delivering Azure DevOps CI/CD solutions for complex cloud, data or analytics platforms, including source control, automated pipelines and release management.
2. Lead Criterion 2: Experience deploying and managing Microsoft Fabric, Power BI and Azure data services using DevOps practices, source control and release automation.
3. Strong automation and infrastructure-as-code skills, with experience delivering scalable, maintainable and reusable solutions.
4. Good understanding of secure delivery practices in Azure, including access controls, secrets management, governance and operational risk management.

*In the event of receiving a large number of applications, a pre-sift may take place on just the lead criterion.

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 Civil Service candidate guidance on use of AI for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use. . This guidance refers to ' Civil Service Success Profiles' framework, Ofwat do not use this in our assessments, for our assessment framework, please refer to our Framework for Success.

** Please note that if a high volume of candidates meet the minimum pass mark at sift stage, we will only progress the highest scoring candidates to interview. Candidates not invited to interview, who have achieved the minimum pass mark, will be placed 'on hold' until the final stage of the assessment process is completed. Should the role/s remain unfilled, candidates placed 'on hold' may be invited to interview in merit order.

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

Ofwat is recognised as an Official Sensitive department and a Security Check (SC) is a requirement for this role. Applicants are normally expected to have been resident in the UK for the last five years to meet the standard residency requirements for SC clearance. Successful candidates must obtain SC clearance to a standard satisfactory to Ofwat within the first six months of employment

Interview Stage - Transparent Interviews and Presentation

At interview stage we will test against essential skills, experience, knowledge and attributes set out above.

Our transparent interview process involves candidates receiving a selection of attribute-based questions in advance. This has been proven to help neurodiverse candidates and others to perform better at interview and is part of our inclusive culture.

You can read more about attributes and our Framework for success here.

As part of the interview process, we will require a short presentation. Further details will be provided to candidates upon invitation to interview.

Please ensure anything you present in your interview answers is factually accurate, and you are not presenting the ideas and experience of others, or generated by AI, as your own. You may expect follow up questions.

Please note that the interviews will be conducted via video conferencing software (Microsoft Teams).

It may be necessary for a second stage interview, which will be communicated to the successful candidates, if required.

If the assessment process identifies more appointable candidates than roles available, a reserve list will be created for 12 months from which further appointments in merit order can be made.

If you have any queries about any aspect of this role, selection process, or you require any reasonable adjustments, please email recruitment@ofwat.gov.uk.

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.The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

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

Job contact :

• Name : recruitment@ofwat.gov.uk
• Email : recruitment@ofwat.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : recruitment@ofwat.gov.uk

Further information

Complaints procedure - The process of recruitment and assessment embraces the principles of fair and open competition and best practice. The first is to maintain the principle of selection for appointment to the Civil Service on merit on the basis of fair and open competition as outlined in the Civil Service Recruitment Principles. The second is to promote an understanding of the https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/civil-service-code/the-civil… which sets out the constitutional framework in which all civil servants work and the values they are expected to uphold, and to hear and determine appeals made under it. If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the recruitment principles and you wish to make a complaint, you should contact recruitment@ofwat.gov.uk in the first instance. If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from us, you can contact the Civil Service Commission at info@csc.gov.uk

Attachments

Senior DevOps Engineer Candidate SA Pack Oct 26-0F33B7G23493BF Opens in new window (pdf, 686kB)