Senior Platform Engineer (National Security)

Forward Role Recruitment; Cheltenham; Hybrid; GBP 75,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

Forward Role Recruitment is seeking a Senior Platform Engineer (National Security) in the Cheltenham/Gloucester area with hybrid work. Salary £75,000-£95,000+; active DV/eDV clearance is required. You will own platform development and work closely with software and cloud engineers on live national security programmes.

The role emphasizes secure cloud platforms, automation, and modern tooling within a technology-driven, engineering-led environment.

Qualifications

• Active DV or eDV clearance required.
• Experience in platform engineering rather than traditional infrastructure.
• Strong knowledge of AWS, Kubernetes and Terraform.

Responsibilities

• Build and evolve secure cloud platforms with automation.
• Collaborate with Software and Cloud Engineers on live programmes.
• Own deployment improvements and platform reliability.

Skills

AWS

Kubernetes

Terraform

Docker

Linux

CI/CD

Python

Bash

Infrastructure as Code

Monitoring

Automation

Platform reliability

Tools

Kubernetes

Terraform

Docker

Linux

CI/CD

Job description

Senior Platform Engineer (National Security)

Location: Cheltenham / Gloucester area
Hybrid: Flexible depending on programme
Salary: £75,000-£95,000+
Clearance: Active DV / eDV required

If you're spending more time maintaining platforms than improving them, this could be worth a look.

I'm supporting a small, engineering-led National Security SME that's built a strong reputation for doing things differently from the larger consultancies and primes.

The team is technically strong, low-ego and trusted to get on with the job. You'll have real ownership, direct input into technical decisions and the freedom to improve how things are built rather than simply inherit someone else's process.

What you’ll be working with

• AWS
• Kubernetes
• Terraform
• Docker
• Linux
• CI/CD
• Python / Bash
• Infrastructure as Code
• Monitoring, automation and platform reliability

The role sits firmly in Platform Engineering rather than traditional infrastructure support.

You'll be building and evolving secure cloud platforms, improving deployment and automation, and working closely with Software and Cloud Engineers across live National Security programmes.

Why it's worth a look

The strongest feedback I hear from engineers in environments like this is usually about the same things:

• More ownership
• Less red tape
• Better technical conversations
• Stronger team culture
• Modern tooling
• Progression without needing to move into management

It's the kind of place where good engineers are trusted rather than micromanaged.

Clearance

Active DV or eDV clearance is required due to the nature of the live programmes.

If you've been wondering what life looks like outside the larger consulta