Deputy Head of Engineering

Sanderson Government & Defence; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 150,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading government service provider is seeking an experienced Deputy Head of Engineering to support strategic goals and oversee engineering operations. This role involves leading projects that enhance technical excellence and foster team collaboration. The ideal candidate has extensive knowledge in cloud and security technologies, along with strong leadership and project management skills. This position offers a competitive day rate and flexibility in location, contributing to a significant digital transformation programme within the UK government.

Qualifications

• Experience in technical leadership within an engineering context.
• Hands-on experience with relevant technologies and cloud infrastructure.
• Ability to influence stakeholders at a senior level.

Responsibilities

• Support strategic direction for the Platform Engineering Team.
• Oversee engineering operations and resource planning.
• Lead governance, risk management, and stakeholder engagement.
• Champion DevOps culture and continuous improvement.

Skills

Cloud knowledge

Infrastructure knowledge

Security knowledge

Automation knowledge

Leadership skills

Communication skills

Project management skills

Tools

Azure

Intune

Entra

PKI

Containerisation technologies

Job description

Overview

Job Title: Deputy Head of Engineering

Day Rate: Circa £650+ per day, inside ir35
Clearance Required: SC clearance
Location: Milton Keynes OR Glasgow, 3 days per week.
Duration: 6 Months

We are seeking an experienced Deputy Head of Engineering to support the Head of Engineering in driving the strategic direction, operational excellence, and continuous improvement of the Platform Engineering Team. This is a key leadership role helping to shape and deliver the digital transformation goals of a major UK Government department. You will oversee engineering operations, resource planning, and the delivery of key initiatives, while fostering a culture of technical excellence, DevOps practices, and collaboration across teams.

Responsibilities

• Support the Head of Engineering in setting the strategic direction for the Platform Engineering Team.
• Oversee day-to-day engineering operations and resource planning to ensure successful delivery of key projects.
• Lead governance, risk management, and stakeholder engagement.
• Champion DevOps culture, automation, and continuous improvement.

Skills & Experience

• Broad technical knowledge across cloud, infrastructure, security, and automation.
• Hands-on experience with Azure, Intune, Entra, PKI, and containerisation technologies.
• Strong leadership, communication, and project management skills, with the ability to influence senior stakeholders.

This is a unique opportunity to play a pivotal role in a high-profile digital transformation programme, shaping engineering practices and delivering secure, cutting-edge platforms for government services.

Reasonable Adjustments:

Respect and equality are core values to us. We are proud of the diverse and inclusive community we have built, and we welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and perspectives. Our success is driven by our people, united by the spirit of partnership to deliver the best resourcing solutions for our clients.

If you need any help or adjustments during the recruitment process for any reason, please let us know when you apply or talk to the recruiters directly so we can support you.