Lead DevOps Engineer (Cloud Infrastructure)

Placements24; George; Hybrid; ZAR 1,000,000 - 1,800,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Remote work flexibility

Health insurance

Professional development allowances

Generous paid time off

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a highly skilled Lead DevOps Engineer to design, build, and manage scalable cloud infrastructure in a fully remote SA-based role. You will lead a DevOps team, drive CI/CD adoption, and enforce IaC practices to deliver secure, reliable systems.

You will mentor engineers, collaborate with development and operations, and champion automation and best practices. Ideal candidates bring 7+ years of DevOps experience and strong cloud, CI/CD, and scripting skills.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of experience in DevOps, Systems Engineering, or Cloud Infrastructure.
• Proven experience designing and managing cloud environments (AWS, Azure, or GCP).
• Strong expertise in CI/CD tools (Jenkins, GitLab CI, CircleCI).
• Proficiency with IaC tools such as Terraform, Ansible, or CloudFormation.
• Experience with Docker and Kubernetes.
• Scripting in Python, Bash, or Go.
• Strong networking, security, and monitoring knowledge.
• Excellent leadership and remote communication skills.
• Ability to work autonomously and manage multiple priorities in a remote setting.

Responsibilities

• Design, implement, and manage cloud infrastructure across AWS, Azure, or GCP.
• Develop and maintain CI/CD pipelines for automated build, test, and deploy.
• Implement and manage IaC using Terraform/CloudFormation/Ansible.
• Develop automation scripts for operational tasks and system management.
• Monitor performance, ensure high availability and scalability.
• Apply security best practices for cloud environments.
• Manage containers and orchestration (Docker, Kubernetes).
• Provide technical leadership and mentor the DevOps team.
• Collaborate with development to optimize deployment and performance.
• Troubleshoot infrastructure issues and maintain documentation.

Skills

Cloud infrastructure

CI/CD

IaC

Docker

Kubernetes

Scripting (Python/Bash/Go)

Leadership

Security best practices

Networking

Education

Bachelor's degree in CS/IT or related field

Tools

Terraform

Ansible

CloudFormation

Jenkins

GitLab CI

CircleCI

Job description

About the Role

Our client is seeking a highly motivated and experienced Lead DevOps Engineer to build and manage their cloud infrastructure. This is a fully remote position, offering the flexibility to work from anywhere within South Africa. As a Lead DevOps Engineer, you will be instrumental in designing, implementing, and maintaining scalable, reliable, and secure cloud-based systems. You will lead a team of DevOps professionals, mentor junior engineers, and drive the adoption of best practices in continuous integration, continuous deployment (CI/CD), and infrastructure as code (IaC). The role involves working closely with development and operations teams to ensure smooth and efficient software delivery pipelines. We are looking for a strategic thinker with a passion for automation and a deep understanding of cloud technologies. This role is perfect for someone who thrives in a remote-first environment and is eager to make a significant impact on a growing organization.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, implement, and manage cloud infrastructure on platforms like AWS, Azure, or GCP.
• Develop and maintain CI/CD pipelines for automated building, testing, and deployment of applications.
• Implement and manage Infrastructure as Code (IaC) using tools like Terraform or CloudFormation.
• Develop automation scripts for operational tasks and system management.
• Monitor system performance, identify bottlenecks, and implement solutions to ensure high availability and scalability.
• Implement robust security measures and best practices for cloud environments.
• Manage containerization and orchestration technologies (e.g., Docker, Kubernetes).
• Provide technical leadership and mentorship to the DevOps team.
• Collaborate with software development teams to optimize application deployment and performance.
• Troubleshoot and resolve complex infrastructure and operational issues.
• Maintain comprehensive documentation for infrastructure and processes.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related field, or equivalent work experience.
• 7+ years of experience in DevOps, Systems Engineering, or Cloud Infrastructure.
• Proven experience designing and managing cloud environments (AWS, Azure, or GCP).
• Strong expertise in CI/CD tools (e.g., Jenkins, GitLab CI, CircleCI).
• Proficiency in IaC tools such as Terraform, Ansible, or CloudFormation.
• Experience with containerization technologies like Docker and orchestration tools like Kubernetes.
• Proficient in scripting languages such as Python, Bash, or Go.
• Strong understanding of networking concepts, security principles, and system monitoring tools.
• Experience with database administration and management in a cloud context.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work autonomously and manage multiple priorities effectively in a remote setting.

Benefits

• This role offers a highly competitive salary package, reflecting the seniority and expertise required.
• As a fully remote position, you will enjoy the freedom and flexibility to work from your preferred location.
• Our client provides a comprehensive benefits package, including premium health, dental, and vision insurance.
• We support professional development through allowances for online courses, certifications, and conference attendance.
• Generous paid time off is provided to ensure a healthy work-life balance.
• You will be part of a collaborative and forward-thinking team, with opportunities to influence technology strategy.
• Access to cutting-edge tools and technologies is guaranteed.