Senior AI & Automation Engineer

Klipboard; North East; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Klipboard is seeking a Technical Lead within our AI & Automation team to deliver automation, Infrastructure as Code (IaC) and AI-powered solutions across Azure and OCI. You will drive an AI-first, automation-first approach to improve resilience and efficiency while mentoring engineers and promoting best practices.

The role may include on-call duties and involves collaborating with Cloud Operations to design scalable, secure deployments and cost-aware automation across our cloud environments.

Qualifications

• 10+ years' experience in infrastructure, automation or platform engineering.
• Strong automation and scripting skills across multiple languages.
• Advanced Azure/OCI Infrastructure as Code (Terraform, Bicep).
• Experience delivering CI/CD pipelines and automation solutions.
• AI/LLM tooling or agent development experience.
• Knowledge of security, identity management and secrets management.
• Understanding of resilience, disaster recovery and high availability.
• Experience mentoring engineers and leading technical initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design, development, and delivery of complex automation, IaC, and AI-powered solutions across Azure and OCI environments.
• Develop and implement reusable automation frameworks, standards, and engineering patterns to improve consistency, scalability, and operational efficiency.
• Drive the adoption of AI-first ways of working by introducing innovative automation and AI capabilities that enhance service delivery and operational effectiveness.
• Lead initiatives to automate provisioning, reduce manual effort, and improve operational resilience across cloud operations functions.
• Design and maintain Infrastructure as Code solutions using industry-standard tools and practices to ensure secure, reliable, and repeatable deployments.
• Build and enhance CI/CD pipelines to support efficient, automated, and compliant deployment processes.
• Embed security, identity management, access controls, and secrets management into automation solutions by default, ensuring secure-by-design practices.
• Drive improvements in system resilience, recovery capabilities, and operational performance through well-engineered automation solutions.
• Implement cost-optimisation and FinOps practices within automation and cloud provisioning processes to improve resource efficiency and reduce waste.
• Provide technical leadership on complex automation, cloud engineering, and AI initiatives, serving as a trusted subject matter expert for the team.
• Mentor, coach, and develop engineers, improving automation, AI, and cloud engineering capabilities across the Cloud Operations function.
• Lead code reviews, technical knowledge-sharing sessions, training workshops, and demonstrations to promote engineering excellence and adoption of best practices.
• Collaborate with internal technology teams and stakeholders to evaluate, implement, and optimise cloud, automation, and AI tooling.
• Champion engineering standards that improve security, compliance, reliability, and the protection of customer data and services.
• Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives, team strategy development, and the advancement of automation and AI capabilities across the organisation.
• Lead by example in fostering a collaborative, innovative, and learning-focused culture that encourages the adoption of modern cloud, automation, and AI practices.
• Support technical decision-making and provide leadership coverage on complex engineering matters when required.
• Ensure automation solutions align with organisational security, compliance, governance, and operational standards.

Skills

Automation

Scripting

Azure/OCI IaC

CI/CD pipelines

AI/LLM tooling

Security & IAM

Disaster recovery

Mentoring engineers

Tools

Terraform

Bicep

CI/CD tooling

Job description

Klipboard provides integrated ERP and SaaS solutions to wholesalers, distributors, merchants and retailers worldwide. With offices across the UK, Ireland, Europe, Africa and North America, we help customers source effectively, stock efficiently, sell profitably and service competitively.

As a growing global business, we embrace AI and emerging technologies to improve customer outcomes and the way we work. We're looking for curious, adaptable people who are excited to learn, innovate and combine technology with strong human insight and communication.

A technical lead within our AI & Automation team, responsible for delivering automation, Infrastructure as Code and AI-driven solutions across Azure and OCI. The role drives an AI-first, automation-first approach, improving resilience and efficiency while mentoring engineers and promoting best practices across Cloud Operations teams.

This role may include working as part of an on-call rota to provide out-of-hours support. On-call is a compensated rota, with the details set out in our on-call policy.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead the design, development, and delivery of complex automation, Infrastructure as Code (IaC), and AI-powered solutions across Azure and Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI) environments.
• Develop and implement reusable automation frameworks, standards, and engineering patterns to improve consistency, scalability, and operational efficiency.
• Drive the adoption of AI-first ways of working by introducing innovative automation and AI capabilities that enhance service delivery and operational effectiveness.
• Lead initiatives to automate provisioning, reduce manual effort, and improve operational resilience across cloud operations functions.
• Design and maintain Infrastructure as Code solutions using industry-standard tools and practices to ensure secure, reliable, and repeatable deployments.
• Build and enhance CI/CD pipelines to support efficient, automated, and compliant deployment processes.
• Embed security, identity management, access controls, and secrets management into automation solutions by default, ensuring secure-by-design practices.
• Drive improvements in system resilience, recovery capabilities, and operational performance through well-engineered automation solutions.
• Implement cost-optimisation and FinOps practices within automation and cloud provisioning processes to improve resource efficiency and reduce waste.
• Provide technical leadership on complex automation, cloud engineering, and AI initiatives, serving as a trusted subject matter expert for the team.
• Mentor, coach, and develop engineers, improving automation, AI, and cloud engineering capabilities across the Cloud Operations function.
• Lead code reviews, technical knowledge-sharing sessions, training workshops, and demonstrations to promote engineering excellence and adoption of best practices.
• Collaborate with internal technology teams and stakeholders to evaluate, implement, and optimise cloud, automation, and AI tooling.
• Champion engineering standards that improve security, compliance, reliability, and the protection of customer data and services.
• Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives, team strategy development, and the advancement of automation and AI capabilities across the organisation.
• Lead by example in fostering a collaborative, innovative, and learning-focused culture that encourages the adoption of modern cloud, automation, and AI practices.
• Support technical decision-making and provide leadership coverage on complex engineering matters when required.
• Ensure automation solutions align with organisational security, compliance, governance, and operational standards.

Skills, Knowledge & Experience

Required:

• 10+ years' experience in infrastructure, automation or platform engineering
• Strong automation and scripting skills across multiple languages
• Advanced Azure/OCI Infrastructure as Code (Terraform, Bicep)
• Experience delivering CI/CD pipelines and automation solutions
• AI/LLM tooling or agent development experience
• Knowledge of security, identity management and secrets management
• Understanding of resilience, disaster recovery and high availability
• Experience mentoring engineers and leading technical initiatives

Desirable:

• FinOps and cloud cost optimisation experience
• Familiarity with ISO 27001, SOC 2 or GDPR
• Experience developing engineering standards and reusable frameworks
• Interest in AI and emerging technologies, with a willingness to learn and adapt as the field evolves.

Equal Opportunities

As a global company, we value and respect the diversity of our workforce, aiming to empower everyone to embrace each other's differences. We are committed to creating an inclusive workplace where diversity, equity, and inclusion are integral to our company and culture. We recognize the benefits of a diverse workforce, where creativity and valuing differences enable us all to thrive and sparks innovation.

If you require any help, adjustments and/or support during the interview and offer process then please advise our TA or HR team.

Research shows that women and other underrepresented groups are less likely to apply for a role unless they meet every listed requirement. However, we recognise that skills and experience come in many forms, and we encourage you to apply even if you don't meet every criterion. If you are passionate about this role and believe you have the right mindset and transferrable skills, we would love to hear from you!