Lead AWS DevOps Engineer - Managed Services

Hippo Digital Limited; United Kingdom; Hybrid; GBP 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Contributory Pension Scheme

25 Days Holiday

Perkbox access

Private health options

Cycle-to-work

Job summary

Hippo Digital Limited is seeking a Lead DevOps Engineer to shape the architectural direction within our Managed Services team. You will lead strategic technical engagements, mentor engineers and partner with C-suite stakeholders to drive digital transformation.

This role requires senior DevOps/Architect experience with strong AWS and multi-cloud design, Python automation, Kubernetes (EKS), Terraform IaC, and a proven consultancy/pre-sales track record.

Qualifications

• Senior-level DevOps/Technical Architect with leading large-scale transformations.
• Expert with AWS and multi-cloud architectures.
• Proficient in Python for automation.
• Hands-on Kubernetes (EKS) and CI/CD tooling.
• Infrastructure-as-Code using Terraform.
• Ability to influence C-suite stakeholders.
• Strong security, networking and governance knowledge in cloud.
• Consultancy background with pre-sales experience.
• Mastery of Agile across large distributed teams.
• Proven mentoring of engineers and architects.
• Eligible for SC Clearance.

Responsibilities

• Define architectural vision, standards and best practices across Hippo’s delivery practice.
• Advise senior client stakeholders, C-level, on long-term tech strategy and transformation.
• Lead complex engagements with oversight of automated infrastructure.
• Mentor DevOps and senior engineers to grow their skills and impact.
• Drive pre-sales and bids, shaping new opportunities.
• Contribute to Hippo’s thought leadership via public speaking and writing.
• Make key architectural decisions impacting multiple projects or clients.
• Lead recruitment of engineers and grow the Managed Services community.

Skills

AWS

Kubernetes (EKS)

Terraform

Python

CI/CD

IaC

Stakeholder mgmt

Security & Governance

Pre-sales

Agile

Mentoring

SC Clearance

Job description

About The Role

Hippo is a rapidly growing digital consultancy passionate about building and delivering transformative digital solutions. We are recruiting for a Lead DevOps Engineer to join our Hippo Herd as part of our Managed Services Team. We work at the intersection of strategy, design, and technology to solve complex problems and create lasting value. Our collaborative and agile culture empowers our teams to make a genuine impact.

As a Lead DevOps Engineer in our Managed Services Team, you will play an important role in making Hippo the best Consultancy out there. You will be a leader and trusted advisor, responsible for shaping the architectural vision and technical strategy for both our clients and our internal practice. You will influence C-suite level stakeholders, define architectural standards, and help to drive our technical direction in a high-impact, influential capacity.

You will act as a Lead Consultant providing technical expertise in DevOps and engineering practices both internally and to our clients. Lead DevOps Engineers at Hippo are experts in their field who provide strategic technical guidance and hands‑on leadership within squads and the wider Hippo community.

Our solutions empower our customers to build and support secure, scalable, and well‑engineered systems. We leverage deep data insights and continuous innovation to deliver awesome platforms that allow our customers to get the most from their digital services. The Lead DevOps Engineer (Managed Services) will be a key player and implementer in this mission.

There is an on‑call requirement as part of our Managed Services Team. All applicants must be willing to be part of the rota.

Please note we are looking for candidates who are looking for growth at the Lead level; therefore, the advertised salary band represents the entry point for this level, allowing for clear progression within the role, which we are very keen to support.

Your Role in a Nutshell

• Help define and evangelise the architectural vision, standards, and best practices across the entire Hippo Digital delivery practice.
• Serve as a trusted advisor to senior client stakeholders, including C-level executives, to guide their long‑term technical strategy and digital transformation initiatives.
• Lead complex and strategic technical engagements, providing oversight and quality assurance for automated infrastructure.
• Mentor and coach our team of DevOps engineers and senior engineers, helping them grow their skills and impact.
• Drive pre‑sales and business development activities, leading the technical response to bids and shaping new opportunities.
• Contribute to Hippo Digital's thought leadership through public speaking, writing, and community engagement.
• Act as a technical authority, making and communicating key architectural decisions that impact multiple projects or clients.
• Lead in the recruitment of other engineers and ensure Hippo’s Managed Services, DevOps and Engineering communities contribute at a strategic level.

Skills and experience that you need

Essential Experience

• Extensive, senior‑level experience as a DevOps or Technical Architect, with a proven track record of leading large‑scale digital transformations.
• Expert proficiency with AWS cloud services and designing complex architectures, including multi‑cloud strategies.
• Expertise in Python for advanced automation and scripting.
• Deep, strategic understanding of cloud‑native technology stacks, with hands‑on experience in Kubernetes (EKS) and advanced CI/CD tooling.
• Exceptional skills in Infrastructure‑as‑Code, with extensive experience using Terraform for complex, repeatable deployments.
• Proven ability to influence and communicate effectively with C‑suite and executive‑level stakeholders.
• Expert‑level knowledge of security, networking, and governance principles in a cloud context.
• Experience in a consultancy environment, including contributing to pre‑sales and business growth.
• Mastery of Agile methods and their application across large, distributed teams.
• Proven record of providing technical leadership and mentoring to other engineers and architects.
• Eligible for SC Clearance.

Desirable Experience

• Significant experience delivering high‑profile GOV/NHS or global consultancy projects.

What makes us great

Alongside working with some of the most talented people out there and on‑top of a competitive salary, which we’re transparent about from the outset, you can also expect a range of benefits:

• Contributory Pension Scheme (Hippo 6% & Employee 2%)
• 25 Days Holiday plus UK Public Holidays
• Perkbox access for a wide range of discounts
• Critical illness cover
• Life assurance and death in service cover
• Volunteer days
• Cycle‑to‑work scheme for the avid cyclists
• Salary sacrifice electric vehicles scheme
• Season ticket loans
• Financial and general wellbeing sessions
• Flexible benefits scheme with options of:
• Private health cover
• Private dental cover
• Additional company pension contributions
• Additional holidays (up to an extra 2 days)
• Wellbeing contribution
• Charity contributions
• Tree planting

Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging at Hippo

At Hippo, we’re dedicated to creating a diverse, equitable and inclusive workplace that works for everyone. We understand that having a diverse team unlocks our capacity for innovation, creativity and problem solving. Only by building a community of diverse perspectives, cultures and socio‑economic backgrounds can we create an environment where all can contribute and thrive.

We actively encourage applications from underrepresented groups including women, ethnic minorities, LGBTQ+, neurodivergent and people with disabilities. We are committed to providing an inclusive and accessible recruitment process that reflects our workplace culture. We are a registered Disability Confident Employer, Mindful Employer, Endometriosis Friendly Employer and a member of the Armed Forces Covenant. Hippo continually strives to remove barriers, provide accommodations and offer reasonable adjustments to ensure equity throughout our practices.

Hi, we’re Hippo

At Hippo, we design with empathy and build for impact. We do this by combining data‑informed evidence, human‑centred design and software engineering. We're a digital services partner who is genuinely invested in helping our clients thrive as modern organisations. Our delivery methodology is truly agile, from concept to reality, supporting innovation and continuous improvement to achieve your desired outcomes.

We firmly believe that technology should serve humanity, not the other way around. We take a human‑centred approach to everything we do because we understand that complex problems require a service design approach. This means understanding how users behave and ensuring our solutions work for them in the real world.

Our combination of data, design, and engineering delivers bespoke digital services that make a positive and meaningful impact on organisations and society.

Have a look through our Website at Our Story & Purpose, Our Culture & Values, Case Studies and Our Solutions & Services to find out some more!

Hippo Locations

We are headquartered in Leeds and have offices across the UK in Glasgow, Manchester, Birmingham, London and Bristol. We're on the lookout for top talent nationwide but you need to be located within reasonable travelling distance from one of our offices. Given the dynamic nature of a consulting business, you may be required to work on‑site at a Hippo office or at an in/out of town client location for a number of days per week (client dependent) and therefore candidates will need to be open/flexible to travel and working on one of those sites at least 2 days per week. We offer a generous relocation support package of up to £8,000 (please ask for terms and conditions) to help make your move a smooth one.