Senior Platform Engineer (linux)

National Physical Laboratory (NPL); Metropolitan Borough of Solihull; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Enhanced pension

Flexible working

Job summary

National Physical Laboratory (NPL) in the United Kingdom is seeking a Senior Platform Engineer to design, build and support Linux-based infrastructure across on‑premises and cloud environments. You will work across virtualization, container platforms and storage, delivering reliable, scalable platforms for research and engineering teams.

This role emphasizes automation with Terraform, Ansible, scripting and CI/CD pipelines, plus platform security, RBAC and monitoring.

Qualifications

• Strong Linux systems administration and platform engineering experience.
• Expertise in Docker, Kubernetes, virtualization, and cloud technologies (Azure).
• Experience with Infrastructure-as-Code, automation and CI/CD pipelines.
• Knowledge of enterprise technologies such as Citrix, monitoring and observability tools.
• Strong troubleshooting, problem-solving and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Engineer and support Linux-based infrastructure across on-premises and cloud environments.
• Manage virtualisation, container platforms and storage technologies.
• Build and maintain CI/CD pipelines and Infrastructure-as-Code solutions.
• Automate operational processes using tools such as Terraform, Ansible and scripting languages.
• Implement platform security, RBAC, secrets management and monitoring solutions.
• Troubleshoot complex infrastructure issues and provide expert technical support.
• Collaborate with security researchers, engineers and operational teams to deliver reliable, scalable platforms.

Skills

Linux administration

Platform engineering

Azure cloud

Infrastructure as Code

CI/CD pipelines

RBAC & secrets

Tools

Docker

Kubernetes

Terraform

Ansible

CI/CD tooling

Job description

Join UKTL and help build the secure, resilient platforms that support the UK's telecommunications security research. We're looking for a Senior Platform Engineer with strong experience in Linux and working across infrastructure, automation, cloud and container technologies. You'll play a key role in designing, building and supporting modern platforms used by our research and engineering teams.

About the Role

What You'll Do

• Engineer and support Linux-based infrastructure across on-premises and cloud environments.
• Manage virtualisation, container platforms and storage technologies.
• Build and maintain CI/CD pipelines and Infrastructure-as-Code solutions.
• Automate operational processes using tools such as Terraform, Ansible and scripting languages.
• Implement platform security, RBAC, secrets management and monitoring solutions.
• Troubleshoot complex infrastructure issues and provide expert technical support.
• Collaborate with security researchers, engineers and operational teams to deliver reliable, scalable platforms.

Successful Applicants must be able to commute to the UKTL offices in Birmingham at least twice a week.

We strive to offer a great work life balance - if you are looking for full time, part time or flexible options, we will try to make this work where business possible. This will be dependent on the kind of role you do and part of the business you work in.

About You

What You'll Bring

• Strong Linux systems administration and platform engineering experience.
• Expertise in Docker, Kubernetes, virtualisation and cloud technologies (particularly Azure).
• Experience with Infrastructure-as-Code, automation and CI/CD pipelines.
• Knowledge of enterprise technologies such as Citrix, monitoring and observability tools.
• Strong troubleshooting, problem-solving and communication skills.

If you're passionate about Linux, automation and cloud infrastructure, and want your work to have national impact, we'd love to hear from you.

We actively recruit citizens of all backgrounds, but the nature of our work in this specific area means that nationality, residency and security requirements are more tightly defined than others. To work in this role, you will need to hold an SC clearance with no restrictions. You are welcome to apply without already holding SC clearance; however, you will not be able to start in post until the clearance has been successfully granted.

Read more about UKTL here

About Us

• UKTL is building leading edge Telecoms testing facilities to keep our telecommunications networks safe, accelerate the roll-out of new technologies, and grow our world leading telecoms sector to maintain resiliency and security.
• Successful candidates will join a state-of-the-art facility and be supporting the team conducting testing and research on the latest technologies and innovations in the industry. You will work alongside our infrastructure and Cybersecurity professionals to ensure that the UK’s world class Telecoms infrastructure grows in a resilient and secure manner underpinning growth in other industry sectors.
• As a trusted and independent national capability, UKTL interacts with standards bodies, Academia, and Government Departments as well as Communications Service Providers and equipment vendors.

The National Physical Laboratory (NPL) is a world-leading centre of excellence that provides cutting-edge measurement science, engineering and technology to underpin prosperity and quality of life in the UK. Find out more about what it is like working here - The measure of us - Overview.

NPL and DSIT have strong commitments to diversity and equality of opportunity, and welcome applications from candidates irrespective of their background, gender, race, sexual orientation, religion, or age, providing they meet the required criteria.

Applications from women, disabled and black, Asian and minority ethnic candidates in particular are encouraged.

All disabled candidates (as defined by the Equality Act 2010) who satisfy the minimum criteria for the role will be guaranteed an interview under the Disability Confident Scheme.

We believe our success is a result of the diversity and talent of our people. We strive to nurture and respect individuals to ensure everyone feels valued by treating everyone on the basis of their own individual merits and abilities regardless of their own or perceived identity, as part of our commitment to diversity & inclusion, we ensure we’re creating an environment where all our colleagues feel supported and welcome.

• We offer a wealth of above industry standard benefits, such as enhanced pension scheme, flexible working, and more that can be found here rewards, benefits and recognition.

Our values are at the heart of what we do, and they shape the way we interact, develop our people and celebrate success.

To ensure everyone has an equal chance, we’re always willing to make reasonable adjustments to the recruitment process.