DevOps Architect/ SME- Terraform

Randstad Technologies Recruitment; Newcastle upon Tyne; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Randstad Technologies Recruitment is seeking an experienced DevOps Architect to lead the design, build and assurance of robust DevOps tooling platforms within highly secure, air-gapped environments for a UK Government account.

You will drive architecture across GitLab, Jira, Confluence and Ansible, ensure compliance with security policies, and work directly with stakeholders at multiple sites to deliver secure, scalable pipelines and documented runbooks.

Qualifications

• Proven leadership in secure, high-assurance environments.
• Experience designing and supporting GitLab, Jira, Confluence, and Ansible.
• Strong VMware virtualization experience.
• Air-gapped environment work experience.
• Secure CI/CD pipeline design with access control and auditability.
• IaC and automation principles knowledge.
• Scripting in Bash or Python.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Architecture: Design and implement comprehensive DevOps tooling platforms.
• Innovate in Air-Gapped Environments: Design and deliver integrated DevOps ecosystems for offline environments.
• Manage Secure Lifecycles: Develop secure mechanisms for software promotion, patching, updates, and artifact control in disconnected settings.
• Ensure Compliance: Guarantee all solutions meet security standards and accreditation requirements.
• Drive Best Practices: Establish DevOps standards including automation, repeatability, auditability, and configuration control.
• Deliver Technical Assurance: Conduct design reviews, compliance checks, and security assessments.
• Produce Documentation: Create and maintain design and runbooks.
• Provide Operational Support: Assist with incident management and platform optimization.

Skills

Leadership

VMware

Air-gapped environments

CI/CD design

IaC

Bash/Python scripting

Tools

GitLab

Jira

Confluence

Ansible

Job description

DevOps Architect/SME

Duration: 07 Months

Location: Farnborough, Erskine, Newcastle- 2 days onsite

The candidate must have fully transferrable DV clearance.

About the Role

We are seeking an experienced DevOps Architect to lead the design, build, and assurance of robust DevOps tooling platforms within highly secure, offline (air-gapped) environments.

In this technical leadership role, you will deliver and sustain integrated DevOps capabilities supporting a UK Government secure account. Operating within a high-assurance environment, you will ensure strict alignment with customer security policies while engaging directly with stakeholders across various customer sites. If you excel at solving complex architectural challenges in disconnected ecosystems, this is the role for you.

What You Will Do

• Lead the Architecture: Design and implement comprehensive DevOps tooling platforms, encompassing GitLab (CI/CD, Source Control), Jira (Work Management), Confluence (Collaboration), and Ansible (Automation).
• Innovate in Air-Gapped Environments: Design and deliver integrated DevOps ecosystems specifically for offline environments, ensuring secure operations, maintainability, and controlled workflows.
• Manage Secure Lifecycles: Develop secure mechanisms for software promotion, patching, updates, plugin management, and artifact control in disconnected settings.
• Ensure Compliance: Guarantee all solutions meet rigorous Client/Customer security standards and accreditation requirements.
• Drive Best Practices: Establish and promote DevOps standards including automation, repeatability, auditability, and strict configuration control.
• Deliver Technical Assurance: Conduct design reviews, compliance checks, and security assessments.
• Produce Documentation: Create and maintain formal design and operational documentation (HLDs, LLDs, Security Architecture, SOPs, and runbooks).
• Provide Operational Support: Assist with incident management, advanced troubleshooting, and platform optimization.

What We Are Looking For

• Proven Leadership: Demonstrable experience operating as a DevOps Architect or Senior SME within secure, regulated, or high-assurance environments.
• Core Tooling Expertise: Deep experience designing, building, and supporting GitLab, Jira, Confluence, and Ansible.
• Virtualization Skills: Solid experience working with VMware technology.
• Air-Gapped Experience: Strong background operating in offline/disconnected environments, including secure installations, package mirroring, artifact control, and controlled patching.
• Secure Pipeline Design: Expertise in building secure CI/CD pipelines with robust access control, segregation of duties, and comprehensive auditability.
• Infrastructure as Code (IaC): Strong understanding of configuration management and automation principles.
• Scripting Proficiency: Strong scripting and automation skills using Bash, Python, or Ansible YAML.
• Security & Accreditation: Experience supporting security accreditation activities, including risk management, evidence production, and compliance validation.
• Communication: Excellent stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to bridge the gap between delivery, security, and operational teams.