Lead DevOps Engineer

Northrop Grumman UK; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible hybrid working

Compressed fortnight option

Private healthcare

Flexible benefits package

Holiday buy and sell

Annual performance incentive

Professional development

Mentoring opportunities

Job summary

Northrop Grumman UK is seeking a Lead DevOps Engineer to design, build and maintain secure, resilient systems in collaboration with architects, software engineers and infrastructure specialists. You will automate deployment, configure environments with IaC, and drive high-quality software delivery through mature CI/CD pipelines.

You'll work on cloud-ready, containerized architectures, supporting migration efforts and using modern DevSecOps practices.

Qualifications

• Experience building and maintaining CI/CD pipelines.
• Proficiency with automation scripting languages.
• Experience with cloud platforms and containerized environments.
• Familiarity with agile delivery tools (Jira, Confluence, Bitbucket).
• Knowledge of monitoring/observability tools like Elastic Stack and Grafana.

Responsibilities

• Design, build and maintain secure, resilient, mission-critical systems in collaboration with stakeholders.
• Automate deployment, configuration and operational activities using IaC and config management tools.
• Create, improve and maintain CI/CD pipelines that support reliable software delivery.
• Lead technical discussions and recommend DevOps tools and practices to solve challenges.
• Support cloud migration initiatives and containerized/microservices architectures.
• Monitor and continuously improve system performance and reliability.

Skills

CI/CD pipelines

Automation scripting

Cloud platforms

Containers & orchestration

Agile / Jira tools

Tools

Jenkins

Concourse

Maven

Bamboo

Ansible

Bash

PowerShell

Puppet

Python

VMware

Docker

Kubernetes

OpenShift

AWS

Azure

Google Cloud

Jira

Confluence

Bitbucket

Elastic Stack

Grafana

Job description

UK CITIZENSHIP REQUIRED FOR THIS POSITION: Yes

RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: Relocation assistance may be available

TRAVEL: Yes, 10% of the Time

Location: Manchester

Clearance: Highest Level of Uk Governement Clearance

What’s your possible?

At Northrop Grumman UK, you are part of a team driving innovation where it matters most, solving tomorrow’s challenges and shaping the technology solutions of the future. We call it Defining Possible.

This mindset goes beyond our customer solutions. It underpins how we invest in our people, support career development, and create opportunities to make a meaningful impact for our customers, communities, and colleagues.

This is more than just a job. It's a mission.

As a DevOps Engineer within our National Security Solutions business, you will play a critical role in helping deliver secure, resilient, and innovative technology solutions that support some of the UK's most important programmes.

Working alongside Architects, Software Engineers, Testers and Infrastructure specialists, you'll help build, automate, and optimise mission-critical environments. You'll be part of agile, multidisciplinary teams delivering real-world outcomes, using modern DevSecOps practices, cloud technologies, Infrastructure as Code, and CI/CD tooling to solve complex technical challenges.

Whether you're improving platform reliability, enabling faster software delivery, or helping organisations become cloud ready, your work will directly contribute to the success of systems that matter.

\"As a Lead DevOps Engineer I implement and improve end to end CI/CD pipelines to promote stable and efficient environments throughout the SDLC. Using multiple toolsets to automate repetitive processes, monitor and analyse system performance, and enable projects to focus on getting the best value from their tools. I document and share knowledge to help projects grow and learn from previous issues, mentoring junior colleagues to follow best practices.\"

Craig, Lead DevOps Engineer, National Security Solutions, Northrop

Grumman UK

What You'll Do

• Design, build and maintain secure, resilient, mission-critical systems in collaboration with technical and business stakeholders.


• Automate deployment, configuration and operational activities using Infrastructure as Code and configuration management tools.


• Create, improve and maintain CI/CD pipelines that support reliable and high-quality software delivery.


• Lead technical discussions and recommend effective DevOps tools and practices to solve complex project challenges.


• Support cloud migration initiatives and the adoption of containerised and microservices-based architectures.


• Monitor, analyse and continuously improve system performance, reliability and operational efficiency.

What We're Looking For

We're interested in hearing from people with experience in several of the following areas:

• Building and maintaining CI/CD pipelines using tools such as Jenkins, Concourse, Maven or Bamboo.


• Automation and scripting using Ansible, Bash, PowerShell, Puppet or Python.


• Managing virtualised and containerised environments including VMware, Docker, Kubernetes or OpenShift.


• Working with cloud platforms such as AWS, Microsoft Azure or Google Cloud.


• Using collaboration and delivery tools such as Jira, Confluence and Bitbucket within Agile environments.


• Monitoring and observability using tools such as Elastic Stack and Grafana.

Desirable Experience Includes

• Designing, deploying and administering Linux or Unix-based platforms.


• Implementing Infrastructure as Code and DevSecOps practices.


• Supporting cloud transformation and modernisation programmes.

Security Clearance

Due to the nature of our work, you must be a UK national and able to gain and maintain UK Government security clearance in line with the job role and requirements.

Benefits

• Flexible and hybrid working arrangements


• Compressed fortnight option with every other Friday off (where project requirements allow)


• Private healthcare, dental cover, life assurance and pension


• Flexible benefits package including critical illness cover and health cash plan


• Holiday buy and sell scheme
  
• Annual performance incentive programme


• Professional development, training and certification support


• Career development programmes and mentoring opportunities

Why Join Us?

A Mission to Believe In

Every day, we contribute to building a more secure and connected world. You'll work on meaningful programmes that protect national interests while having opportunities to support STEM initiatives, community engagement and employee-led networks.

A Place to Belong and Thrive

Diversity of thought, background and experience strengthens our teams and our solutions. We foster an inclusive culture where everyone is respected, supported and empowered to succeed.

Your Career, Your Way

Discover your possible through varied projects, access to emerging technologies, professional development opportunities, and a network of experienced colleagues committed to helping you grow.

Northrop Grumman is committed to hiring and retaining a diverse workforce, and encourages individuals from all backgrounds and all abilities to apply and consider becoming a part of our diverse and inclusive workforce.