Senior DevOps Engineer (Clearable)

Forward Role; Devon and Torbay; On-site; GBP 72,000 - 88,000; Full time

Job summary

Forward Role is recruiting for a Senior DevOps Engineer (Clearable) to join a large technology consultancy across multiple UK sites. The role centers on building secure, highly available cloud platforms for central government and critical infrastructure sectors.

You will work hands-on with AWS, Kubernetes, Terraform and CI/CD tooling, while progressing through a SFIA-based path into technical ownership and leadership. UK vetting eligibility is required, but active DV remains optional.

Qualifications

• Must be eligible for UK security vetting and willing to obtain vetting.
• Experience deploying secure, highly available platforms.
• Hands-on software engineering with cloud tooling.

Skills

Cloud engineering

DevOps practices

Security vetting eligibility

Tools

AWS

Kubernetes

Docker

Helm

Terraform

GitLab CI/Jenkins

Prometheus

Grafana

Elastic (ELK)

Job description

Senior DevOps Engineer (Clearable)

Locations: Manchester, Bristol, Cheltenham or Plymouth
Salary: Up to £80,000 base + wider package
Level: Mid-level to Senior | broadly SFIA 3-5
Clearance: No active clearance required, but you must be eligible and willing to go through UK security vetting

A genuinely rare one for this market:

You do not need to already hold DV/eDV clearance.

I'm supporting a large technology consultancy hiring DevOps Engineers into its Intelligence & Innovation-style division, delivering bespoke technical solutions across Central Government, Defence, National Security, Critical National Infrastructure and Law Enforcement.

The team builds secure, highly available platforms for complex government customers, with a strong emphasis on hands-on engineering, modern cloud tooling and long-term technical development.

What you’ll be working with

• AWS
• Kubernetes, Docker and Helm
• Terraform
• GitLab CI / Jenkins
• Prometheus, Grafana and Elastic
• Automation and secure deployment
• Platform monitoring and reliability
• Troubleshooting across complex secure environments

AWS is a key requirement here.

You'll be joining at mid-to-senior level, with scope to stay hands-on while progressing through a clear SFIA structure into broader technical ownership, mentoring and leadership.

Why it’s worth a look

• Rare route into secure government work without already holding active clearance
• Broad exposure across multiple government and critical infrastructure sectors
• Strong technical communities and engineering guilds
• Structured coaching, training and progression
• Project variety without needing to leave the business to broaden your remit
• Established regional teams with a collaborative, less corporate feel than you might expect from a larger consultancy

This is particularly relevant if you've built a strong AWS / DevOps background commercially and have previously found the clearance barrier difficult to get around.

You'll need to meet the eligibility requirements for UK security vetting and be willing to go through the process.

If you're already working across AWS, DevOps, Platform or SRE and want a route into more secure, complex engineering work, this is well worth a conversation.