Cloud Engineer - FinOps

Scottish Government; Dundee, Glasgow; On-site; GBP 47,000 - 58,000; Full time

Job summary

A government body is looking for a Cloud Engineer – FinOps to join the Chief Digital Office. This role involves optimising cloud costs, utilising AWS tools, and collaborating with engineering, finance, and architecture teams. The ideal candidate will have strong analytical abilities, a proactive mindset, and experience in cloud financial accountability. This position offers a competitive salary and is fixed term for 47 months, based in Dundee or Glasgow.

Benefits

£5,000 annual DDAT pay supplement

Professional development opportunities

Qualifications

• Experience in cloud cost management and financial accountability.
• Strong analytical skills and proactive problem-solving abilities.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with various teams.

Responsibilities

• Provide specialist technical support to projects.
• Coach and mentor junior team members.
• Monitor and diagnose AWS anomalies.
• Support cost management and analysis.

Skills

AWS Cost Explorer

Terraform

CloudWatch

CloudTrail

Quicksight

Job description

Overview

Salary: £47,730 - £57,151. Pay supplement amount if applicable: +£5,000 Digital, Data and Technology (DDaT) pay supplement after 3 month qualifying period.

Location: Dundee or Glasgow. Hours: 35 hours per week. Closing Date: 8th January 2026 at 23:55. Reference: 3010. Employment Type: Fixed Term Appointment.

Overview

Social Security Scotland is currently seeking a Cloud Engineer – FinOps to join our Chief Digital Office. The Chief Digital Office is responsible for delivering the infrastructure, capability and digital solutions that support Social Security Scotland.

Our FinOps team ensures cloud investments deliver maximum value while promoting financial accountability.

You will optimise cloud costs through automation and real-time monitoring. If you’re passionate about identifying efficiencies and influencing infrastructure decisions, this role is for you.

As a Cloud Engineer in FinOps, you’ll work with engineering, finance, and architecture teams to monitor, analyse, and optimise cloud spending. You’ll use tools like AWS Cost Explorer, Cloudwatch, and Terraform to identify savings, support cost transparency, and implement cost-effective solutions.

Collaboration and technical expertise are essential, along with strong analytical skills and a proactive mindset — you’ll diagnose issues, suggest improvements, and help ensure our cloud infrastructure remains secure, efficient, and aligned with business needs.

Please note this post is a Fixed Term Appointment for 47 months.

Responsibilities

• Provide specialist technical support and assistance to projects, ensuring delivery of non-functional requirements and continual service improvement.
• Be responsible for preparations and support of IT operations solutions and services - physical or virtual - according to industry and organisational best practices, standards, service requirements and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) throughout the product life cycle.
• Coach and mentor junior team members.
• Assist in the provision of first class services and consistent levels of capability, as required by the organisation.

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.

Main Duties

Cost Management and Analysis

• Support ‘Show back’ and ‘Charge back’ processes using AWS Cost Explorer and Quicksight, utilising system awareness and stakeholder engagement to identify cost savings, analyse pricing and risks.
• Conduct technical analysis with cloud monitoring tools (AWS Console, CloudWatch, CloudTrail, Kibana) and implement Infrastructure as Code (Terraform) updates to reduce costs.
• Manage AWS assets to ensure accurate records, secure configurations, and verify their location and status.
• Analyse impact of changes, develop, document, and implement change requests.

Operational and Incident Management

• Monitor and diagnose AWS anomalies, investigating causes and owning resolutions until issues are mitigated or transferred.
• Initiate investigations into patterns and trends, driving resolution of operational problems.
• Use management tools to investigate issues, collect performance data, and generate reports.

System Optimisation and Stakeholder Engagement

• Manage AWS hosting components to meet performance and business needs.
• Identify process improvement opportunities and contribute to the development of solutions.
• Optimise system performance, forecast resource needs, and implement preventative measures.
• Engage with users and stakeholders to gather requirements and assess risks.

Technical Skills and Compliance

• Demonstrate awareness of scripting tools and software in use.
• Ensure secure configuration and accurate documentation of assets.
• Collaborate with AWS and Cloud Engineering specialists.

Further Information

Social Security Scotland are a Disability Confident Employer. We will consider and implement any reasonable adjustments you may require throughout the recruitment process and during the course of your employment, should you be successful in securing a post. If you feel you may require assistance with any part of our recruitment process, please contact us at [e-mail].