Senior Platform Engineer

Job summary

We are seeking a Senior Platform Engineer to take a pivotal role in the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA). You will drive technical delivery for large-scale, public-facing digital services, ensuring they are resilient, secure and cost‑effective, with a mandate for continuous improvement.

This senior role focuses on delivering digital change and embedding a code‑first approach to infrastructure. You will contribute to and support the implementation of enterprise technical strategy and standards across a mixed‑discipline team operating key digital services. Your expertise in Infrastructure‑as‑Code (IaC) is essential for establishing consistent standards and an efficient path‑to‑live. You will ensure alignment with the Principal Cloud Engineer’s strategy while also helping shape delivery.

Our core platform relies on AWS, though knowledge across multiple cloud providers (Azure) and integrations (GitHub Actions etc.) is advantageous. We require an engineer with the leadership skills to guide teams with mixed maturity, elevating performance and embedding high engineering standards.

Can you... Champion and enforce DevOps principles and a code‑first approach to infrastructure design and automation. Provide technical direction and hands‑on implementation to the wider scrum team, ensuring alignment with the Principal Cloud Engineer’s strategy. Engage effectively with engineers, developers and testers across the delivery lifecycle, including those with varying technical maturity, to improve engineering practices.

Do you... Possess deep expertise in AWS and strong knowledge of wider technology stacks and practices, including Linux, CICD, Docker, GitHub Actions, AWS Landing Zone, Puppet (optional) and Jenkins (optional). Demonstrate exceptional leadership, pragmatism, analytical and influencing skills, with a track record of high‑performance Agile delivery in mixed‑maturity teams.

Have you... A proven background in driving excellence in digital delivery, standardisation and technical governance within a scrum team, explicitly leveraging IaC for infrastructure implementation and automation. Experience designing, implementing and maintaining cost‑effective, resilient cloud‑based digital infrastructure.

If so, we’d love to hear from you.

Joining our department comes with many benefits, including:

• Employer pension contribution of 28.97% of your salary. Read more about Civil Service Pensions here
• 25 days annual leave, increasing by 1 day each year of service (up to a maximum of 30 days annual leave), plus 8 bank holidays a privilege day for the King’s birthday
• Flexible working options where we encourage a great work-life balance.

Read more in the Benefits section below!

Find out more about what it's like working at Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency - Department for Transport Careers

Job description

Your responsibilities will include, but aren’t limited to:

As the Platform/DevOps Engineer, you'll be instrumental in building, designing and automating DVSA's large-scale cloud services, primarily on AWS. You'll be a core member of a product team, enforce code-first IaC standards, and be a key decision maker for the path-to-live for a critical digital services. You'll champion technical excellence, influence strategy, and collaborate across teams to ensure highly available, value-driven service delivery.

Your responsibilities will include, but aren’t limited to:

1. Hands-On Technical Delivery & Strategic Alignment: Provide hands-on technical direction and influence in project teams, ensuring their work is consistently aligned with the Principal Cloud Engineer's technical strategy and Civil Service values.
2. Standardisation & Governance: Adhere as well as continue to mature the definition, and enforcement of DevOps standards and procedures across the delivery lifecycle (IaC, CI/CD). Continuously review and provide hands-on assurance of the designs of others to embed security controls and high standards.
3. Team Specialism Contribution: Act as a cloud and DevOps Subject Matter Expert to proactively collaborate and mentor other team members. This will include those with varying maturity levels, fostering a continuous learning environment and providing practical, technical support.
4. Hands-On Cloud & Security Design: Contribute proactively to the design and architecture of highly available, cost-effective, and secure services on major cloud platforms (specifically AWS, with Azure awareness), ensuring solutions meet performance targets and business needs.
5. Infrastructure Automation (IaC) Implementation: Drive the code-first implementation and hands-on automation of infrastructure using configuration management tools like Terraform and Puppet, prioritising and executing automation opportunities to improve delivery efficiency.
6. End-to-End Delivery and Environment Ownership: Take hands-on technical ownership of the service journey from concept to live deployment, including the management, maintenance, and patching of pre-production environments to ensure a smooth, secure, and effective path-to-live. This should follow robust Agile and Scrum principles
7. Live Service Resolution & Support: Act as a recognised Subject Matter Expert to provide technical guidance and work hands-on with Service Management functions, leading the resolution of complex live technical issues and managing maintenance programs.
8. Process Optimisation & Stakeholder Engagement: Actively participate in Agile ceremonies and delivery processes, collaborating with senior stakeholders, Product Owners, and cross-functional stakeholders to align technical solutions with business goals and drive continuous process optimisation.

For further information on the role, please read the attached role profile. Please note that the role profile is for information purposes only - whilst all elements are relevant to the role, they may not all be assessed during the recruitment process. This job advert will detail exactly what will be assessed during the recruitment process.

Person specification

Required Experience:

To be successful in this role you will need to have the following experience:

1. Experience showing leadership qualities within a scrum team to deliver technical excellence meeting the business requirements.
2. Experience of cloud delivery and contributing to wider cloud maturity with mixed maturity teams.
3. Experience delivering large scale, complex cloud deliverables in a highly regulated environment.

Additional Information

If successful you will be required to undergo BPSS, and may also be required to gain SC clearance once in post.

Government Digital and Data Allowance

The role is part of the Government Digital and Data (or Government Security Profession Career Framework) profession and utilises an enhanced Capability–Based Pay Framework which provides access to a Digital and Data allowance.

The base pay is £44,241. In addition to this the role includes a Digital and Data allowance of up to £14,756.

The value of allowance awarded will be based on an assessment of your skills and experience as demonstrated through the selection process. Here are more details on the pay framework.

Working hours, office attendance and travel requirements

Full time roles consist of 37 hours per week.

Whilst we welcome applications from those looking to work with us on a part time basis, there is a business requirement for the successful candidate to be able to work at least 30 hours per week.

Occasional travel to other offices will be required, which may involve overnight stays.

This role is suitable for hybrid working, which is a non-contractual arrangement where a combination of workplace and home-based working can be accommodated subject to business requirements.

The expectation at present is a minimum of 60% of your working time a month will be spent at either your designated workplace (one of the locations cited in the advert) or, when required for business reasons, in another office/work location. There may be occasions where you are required to attend above the minimum expectation.

If you have a question about hybrid working, part time/job share hours, flexible working, travelling for work, or require a reasonable adjustment, please contact the Vacancy Holder during the recruitment process to avoid possible disappointment later in the process should your working arrangements not be compatible with the requirements of the role (see below for contact details).

Visa Sponsorship

Please note that we do not hold a UK Visa & Immigration (UKVI) Skilled Worker Licence sponsor and are unable to sponsor any individuals for Skilled Worker Sponsorship. Candidates must ensure they have the appropriate rights to work in the UK before application.

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Leadership
• Changing and Improving
• Managing a Quality Service

Technical skills

We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

• Coding and scripting - Level: awareness
• Information security - Level: working
• IT infrastructure - Level: practitioner
• Modern development standards - Level: practitioner
• Technical understanding - Level: practitioner
• Testing - Level: working
• Troubleshooting and problem resolution - Level: practitioner

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £44,241, Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency contributes £12,816 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

Being part of our brilliant Civil Service means you will have access to a wide range of fantastic benefits:

• Employer pension contribution of 28.97% of your salary. Read more about Civil Service Pensions here
• 25 days annual leave, increasing by 1 day each year of service (up to a maximum of 30 days annual leave).
• 8 Bank Holidays plus an additional Privilege Day to mark the King’s birthday.
• Access to the staff discount portal.
• Excellent career development opportunities and the potential to undertake professional qualifications relevant to your role paid for by the department, such as CIPD, Prince2, apprenticeships, etc.
• 24-hour Employee Assistance Programme providing free confidential help and advice for staff.

Find out more about the benefits of working at DfT and its agencies (opens in a new window).

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 (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.

How to Apply:

Our selection process ensures a comprehensive assessment of each applicant's qualifications, skills, and potential fit within our organisation.

The selection process for this role will be:

Stage 1: Sift of CV and Personal Statement

Stage 2: Interview, a Coding Exercise and Technical Assessment

You must be successful at each stage to progress to the next stage.

Stage 1: Sift

At sift, you will be assessed against the following Success Profile elements:

Experience – you will be asked to provide a CV (unlimited wordcount) and Personal Statement (1000 wordcount) Please provide evidence of your experience of the following:

• AWS cloud experience in a complex enterprise environment
• IAC and code first approach with experience of Terraform and typescript solutions
• DevOps and CI/CD maturity as well as the use of automation (particularly GitHub Actions).
• Excellent maturity in Agile delivery using Scrum. The usage of Jira and Confluence particularly in a mixed discipline team.
• Evidence of an inclination for continuous improvement as well as Linux, opensource technology and Docker experience in an enterprise setting.

The sift will take place week commencing 15th June 2026.

Stage 2: Interview & Assessment

At interview stage, you will be assessed against the following Success Profile elements:

Behaviours

• Leadership
• Changing and Improving
• Managing a Quality Service

Experience

• Enforcing standards under pressure and continuous improvement mindset

Candidates will also be required to participate in a coding exercise and a technical assessment at interview which will assess the following technical skills:

• Coding and scripting - Level: awareness
• Information security - Level: working
• IT infrastructure - Level: practitioner
• Modern development standards - Level: practitioner
• Technical understanding - Level: practitioner
• Testing - Level: working
• Troubleshooting and problem resolution - Level: practitioner

The interviews will take place week commencing 22nd or 29th June 2026.

This interview will be conducted online via Microsoft Teams. Further details will be provided to you should you be selected for interview.

For more information about how we hire, useful tips on submitting your application and interview guidance for this role, visit theHow We Hire page of our DfT Careers website. You can find detailed information about the recruitment process and what to expect when applying for a role.

Please note that we will try to meet the dates set out in the advert. There may be occasions when these dates will change.

Further information on the selection process

Feedback on your application can only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

We will also hold a12 month reserve list for this role, which may lead to potential opportunities beyond the role you applied for. You can read more about our reserve lists here.

Should we receive a large number of applications, we may invite a shortlist of the highest performing candidates to interview. This means that some applications that meet the required standard could be placed ‘on hold’ after the sift and invited to interview if the vacant position(s) remain unfilled. You will be notified if your application is being put ‘on hold’ once the sift has been completed.

Appointments for this position will be made in order of merit. If you are successful in the selection process but there are no further available posts for the advertised role, you may be contacted to discuss an offer for a lower graded role (with similar experience and responsibility requirements).

If you are unsuccessful in the selection process, your application may be considered for a lower graded position if your demonstrated skills and experience meet the requirements of the alternative position. Candidates will be considered in order of merit.

Reasonable Adjustments

As a Disability Confident Leader employer, we are committed to ensuring that the recruitment process is fair, accessible and allows all candidates to perform at their best. If a person with a visible or non-visible disability is substantially disadvantaged, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.

Complete the “Assistance required” section in the “Additional requirements” page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need during the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at an interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional.

If you need a reasonable adjustment so that you can complete your application, you should contact Government Recruitment Service via dftrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.

Document Accessibility

This job advert contains links to the DfT Careers website. Our website provides useful guidance and information that can support you during the application process. If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert or the information on our website, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.

Pre-employment Checking

If your application is successful but you have been dismissed from the Civil Service, your application could be removed at the pre-employment checking stage depending on the nature of the dismissal.

Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening, subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant’s details held on the IFD will be refused employment. A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5-year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.

All External applicants and current employees of accredited non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs) will be required to undergo a Social Media Check. A Social Media Check is a review of your publicly available online activity, typically across platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, and others. The purpose is to identify any public posts or content that could raise concerns for employers, such as:

Hate speech or discriminatory behaviour

Threats or acts of violence

Illegal activity or substance misuse

Sexually explicit material

Extremist views or affiliations

Importantly, this check does not involve hacking into your accounts or accessing private messages. It only considers content you have chosen to make public. Employers use this kind of screening to help ensure their workplace remains safe, inclusive, and aligned with company values. It’s not about judging your personality or lifestyle—it’s about checking for potential red flags that might affect the role or company culture. If you have questions or concerns about the social media check, we would be happy to explain in more detail what’s being looked at and how your data is handled securely and fairly.

For further information on National Security Vetting please visit the Demystifying Vetting website.

Feedback

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.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 : DVSA Digital Recruitment Team
• Email : Digitalrecruitment@dvsa.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : dftrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

Further information

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 Government Recruitment Services via email: dftrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.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 Here

Attachments

Role Profile Opens in new window (docx, 798kB)