Lead DevOps Engineer

Sanderson Government & Defence; Cheltenham; On-site; GBP 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Sanderson Government & Defence is seeking a Lead DevOps Engineer to drive the design, build, and operation of secure cloud and data platforms for Defence, National Security, and Government programmes. You will lead hands‑on delivery, mentor engineers, and champion DevSecOps practices with zero‑trust principles across AWS and hybrid clouds.

The role requires strategic leadership, cloud engineering excellence, and the ability to guide complex, regulated projects while ensuring reliability,

Qualifications

• 5+ years delivering production‑grade cloud solutions in complex enterprise or secure environments.
• Strong DevSecOps experience with Zero Trust Architecture implementations.
• Experience deploying and operating across AWS and hybrid cloud environments; knowledge of cloud security best practices.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design, build, test, and deployment of secure cloud infrastructure and applications.
• Develop and maintain CI/CD pipelines and Infrastructure‑as‑Code solutions for automated deployments.
• Build and operate secure cloud environments for data platforms and real‑time analytics.
• Mentor engineers, champion best practices, and shape engineering delivery direction.
• Produce technical documentation covering deployments and operations.

Skills

DevSecOps

Zero Trust

AWS

Kubernetes

CI/CD

Terraform

Ansible

GitHub/GitLab

Atlassian Suite

TDD

Leadership

Tools

Terraform

Ansible

GitHub

GitLab

Atlassian Suite

Kubernetes

Docker

ECS

EKS

AKS

Kafka

Apache Flink

Job description

Lead DevOps Engineer

Clearance Required: Active SC Clearance (Mandatory)

The Opportunity

We're seeking an experienced Lead DevOps Engineer to join a high-performing team delivering mission-critical solutions across Defence, National Security, and Government environments.

This is an exciting opportunity to work on complex, high-impact programmes where security, reliability, and innovation are paramount. You'll play a leading role in designing, building, and operating secure cloud and data platforms, helping customers modernise their technology estates and unlock greater value from their data.

Working alongside talented engineers and architects, you'll leverage modern DevSecOps practices, cloud-native technologies, automation, and Infrastructure-as-Code to deliver scalable, resilient, and secure solutions. In addition to providing hands‑on technical leadership, you'll mentor engineers, champion best practices, and help shape the future direction of engineering delivery.

Please note: Active SC Clearance is an essential requirement for this position. Due to the nature of the work, candidates must already hold current and active SC Clearance. Unfortunately, sponsorship or clearance applications cannot be supported for this role.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the design, build, testing, and deployment of secure cloud-based infrastructure and applications using modern DevOps and DevSecOps methodologies.
• Develop and maintain CI/CD pipelines and Infrastructure-as-Code solutions to enable automated, repeatable, and reliable deployments.
• Build and operate secure cloud environments supporting data platforms and batch and real‑time analytical workloads.
• Contribute to the development and enhancement of automated testing frameworks, ensuring quality throughout the software development lifecycle.
• Maintain and optimise deployment scripts, automation tooling, and engineering processes in line with evolving requirements.
• Support the setup, maintenance, and optimisation of development, test, and production environments.
• Provide production support through incident investigation, troubleshooting, root cause analysis, and resolution.
• Perform ongoing application and platform maintenance to ensure operational stability, performance, and resilience.
• Conduct gap analysis and identify improvements, recommending practical and scalable technical solutions.
• Support contingency planning and disaster recovery activities, including backup and restoration strategies.
• Produce and maintain technical documentation covering systems, deployments, and operational procedures.
• Mentor and support engineers across the team, fostering collaboration, technical excellence, and continuous improvement.

Skills & Experience

Essential

• 5+ years' experience delivering production‑grade cloud solutions within complex enterprise or secure environments.
• Strong experience working within DevSecOps environments and implementing Zero Trust Architecture principles.
• Proven experience deploying and operating infrastructure, platforms, and applications across AWS and hybrid cloud environments.
• Strong knowledge of both open‑source and commercial technologies within cloud‑centric environments.
• Experience using GitHub, GitLab, and Atlassian Suite for source control, collaboration, code reviews, and deployment management.
• Expertise with CI/CD pipelines and Infrastructure-as-Code technologies, including Terraform and Ansible.
• Experience applying Test-Driven Development (TDD) methodologies and automated testing frameworks.
• Strong knowledge of containerisation and orchestration technologies including Kubernetes, Docker, ECS, EKS, and AKS.
• Experience working with distributed event‑streaming technologies such as Kafka and Apache Flink.
• Strong troubleshooting skills with the ability to resolve complex technical and operational issues.
• Proven ability to lead, mentor, and develop engineers within Agile delivery environments.

Desirable

• Experience delivering solutions within Defence, National Security, Government, or other highly regulated sectors.
• Knowledge of secure data platforms, cloud transformation programmes, and modern data architectures.
• Exposure to multi‑cloud technologies and cloud security best practices.
• Experience supporting customer engagements, technical workshops, and stakeholder management.
• Relevant cloud certifications across AWS, Azure, or Kubernetes technologies.

What You'll Bring

• A passion for cloud engineering, automation, and modern DevOps practices.
• Strong technical leadership skills combined with a hands‑on approach to delivery.
• A security‑first mindset and experience building solutions within regulated or secure environments.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to engage both technical and non‑technical stakeholders.
• A proactive, collaborative approach and a commitment to engineering excellence.
• The ability to thrive in fast‑paced environments whilst delivering high‑quality outcomes to demanding customers.

Security Clearance - Mandatory Requirement

Candidates must hold current and active SC (Security Check) Clearance at the time of application

Applications from candidates who are eligible for clearance, willing to undergo clearance, or whose clearance has expired cannot be considered for this position.

This is an exceptional opportunity to work on some of the UK's most important and technically challenging programmes, delivering secure, cloud‑native solutions that make a genuine impact while working alongside highly skilled engineers and technology professionals.

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.