devops engineer

devops engineer Sheffield, England

Home Office
Full Time Sheffield, England 77550 - 65500 GBP ANNUAL Today
Job description

Details

Reference number

304055

Salary

£65,500 - £77,550
National £65,500 min - £72,050 max. London: £70,500 min - £77,550 max. An additional allowance of up to £13,700 is available for candidates with exceptional skills & experience

Job grade

Grade 6

Contract type

Permanent

Business area

HO - Digital Data and Technology

Type of role

Digital
Engineering
Fast Stream
Information Technology

Working pattern

Flexible working, Full-time, Part-time, Compressed Hours

Number of jobs available

1

Contents

    Location

    About the job

    Benefits

    Things you need to know

    Apply and further information

Location

Sheffield S3 8NU, Manchester M5 3LZ, or Croydon CR0 9YA

About the job

Job summary

This is a Principal DevOps Engineer role. You'll work with other principals and seniors whilst coaching a range of engineers.

As a Principal DevOps Engineer you’ll develop our approach to build, improve and maintain critical services and think about how to embed DevOps across the full product lifecycle.

We are interested in people with:

  • Expertise in Infrastructure as Code to support automation
  • Highly experienced in the administration and use of container-orchestration systems
  • Implementing and improving continuous integration (CI) and continuous delivery (CD) pipelines
  • Skilled in architecting and troubleshooting DevOps toolchains to support scalable and efficient enterprise solutions
  • Experienced setting standards and agile ways of working for engineering teams
  • Experienced acting as a point of technical escalation for complex queries and providing technical ownership of complex DevOps toolchains
  • Experienced with AWS, Docker, Kubernetes, Terraform/CloudFormation etc

Your application will be assessed against these essential skills. Please include as much detail as possible in your personal statement and application that relates to the above skills.

What we offer

Great work life balance! We offer a lot of autonomy and flexible working patterns that can be agreed based on your personal needs. We currently offer a hybrid working model from home with an expectation to be in the office from time to time for team activities which is agreed locally (around 40% in the office).

We know that great software requires great coding practices. Here are some key practices which we insist upon across our teams that allow us to release with speed and quality:

  • Agile methodology
  • Test-driven development with a focus on automation
  • Continuous integration and continuous delivery
  • Review code via pull requests
  • Pairing smartly
  • Infrastructure as code and a modern DevOps environment
  • Upskilling and training across our tech stack

Job description

We’re passionate about building software that solves problems. We’re home to some of the most important public services in the United Kingdom and are transforming how we use data and technology to improve these.

You could be designing, building and supporting solutions to help people prove their identity or apply for visas or working on the critical IT systems that support policing and counter terrorism and help protect UK borders. Our success in this role depends on our ability to exploit the latest technologies to create leading-edge, world class solutions whilst ensuring they are secure and resilient.

We develop over 500 services which have millions of users worldwide. If these types of projects excite you, we'd love for you to join us!

Our tech stack

We have an extremely large range of tech and tools used in the Home Office, below are some of the main things we use:

Backend: Java, Node.js, C#, Python, PHP, Scala

Frontend: React, JavaScript, Typescript, Angular

Data: PostgreSQL, Microsoft SQL Server, Mongodb, Apache Cassandra

DevOps: AWS, Kubernetes, Azure, Jenkins, Docker, Ansible, Terraform

Here is a link to our digital careers guide - https://careers.homeoffice.gov.uk/role/digital-data-and-technology

Person specification

The Principal DevOps is responsible for key elements of our platforms, CI/CD (Continuous Integration/Delivery) pipelines and overall automation approaches. Your role is to support the delivery, update or evolution of these systems as well as to provide expert technical advice. You will also be expected to set the technical direction for our future platforms, be this through hands on delivery or design.

You will frequently collaborate with and take part in planning with senior business stakeholders to ensure that security, stability and capacity are embedded in the development and deployment of services. You will identify and explore opportunities for technology service and business improvement.

What you will be doing

Your main day to day responsibilities will be:

  • Carrying out challenging platform build, maintenance and evolution activities; being the technical expert in your area
  • Developing new platforms/systems as well as maintaining guidance for others building/using them
  • Developing patterns for platforms use, proposing new and improved approaches
  • Supporting teams working with our platforms; advising on automation and platform use to meet our systems objectives
  • Demonstrating an advanced appreciation of security issues and advising delivery teams on how to build secure services

Other day to day activities

All our engineers will be expected to embody an open and positive approach, supporting the Home Office in:

  • Progressing the DDaT profession, understanding all roles and helping to build our community
  • Working and assessing to appropriate standards: for instance, accessibility, the GDS service standard and our own community practices
  • Improving our skills and approaches as well as keeping up to speed with the technology landscape

For more information of the responsibilities please review the attached Role Definition.

How to apply

*Please read before applying*

When applying your application must:

  • Demonstrate how you meet the essential criteria set out in the job advert. Don't just do a list of languages / platforms - provide context
  • You should include enough information and examples that demonstrate your skills and experience, without sufficient detail we cannot fairly assess your capability.
  • You should give yourself plenty of time. You can start an application and come back to complete it before the job advert closes.
  • Your application will be assessed against the essential skills. Please include as much detail as possible in your application that relates to the essential skills above.

Essential skills

You’ll have a demonstrable passion for modern DevOps & site reliability practices, with the following skills or experience:

  • Acted as a technical leader with experience designing complex technical solutions
  • Strong theoretical knowledge and practical experience of deployment and use of at least one container runtime
  • Strong practical experience in the administration and use of container-orchestration systems like Kubernetes
  • Highly skilled in architecting and troubleshooting DevOps toolchains to support scalable and efficient enterprise solutions
  • Expert and advocate of scripting and Infrastructure as Code to support automation making use of tools such as Terraform
  • Appreciation for setting standards and agile ways of working for engineering teams around engineering, data management, security, test and support providing mentoring and coaching with AWS, Docker, Kubernetes, Terraform/CloudFormation etc

SFIA capability framework

Skills for the information age (SFIA) is the technical framework that sets the standard capability and development of all engineering levels in the Home Office.

We use set SFIA technical skills to form our interview questions.

Technical skills

We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

  • Data Management (DATM) - Level 5
  • Software Design (SWDN) - Level 6
  • Programming/Software Development (PROG) - Level 5
  • Testing (TEST) - Level 5
  • Systems Integration and Build (SINT) - Level 6
  • Application Support (ASUP) - Level 5

Benefits

  • Learning and development tailored to your role
  • An environment with flexible working options
  • A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
  • A Civil Service pension with an average employer contribution of 27%

Things you need to know

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Experience and Technical skills.

Sift Stage

As part of the application process you will be asked to complete a CV and Personal Statement (Max Word Limit: 500). Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.

In your personal statement please explain why you are suitable for the role and what skills and experience you have that align to our Essential Criteria in the advert. Please ensure you include sufficient detail so we can fairly assess your suitability for the role.

In the employment history section of our application please include as much detail and context as possible highlighting your skills and experience in the most current and previous positions.

The sift will be based on the Personal Statement and CV.

(Do NOT include e-mail addresses or links to online profiles, resumés, or prior work, either personal or business. Active links or e-mail addresses will result in your application being rejected)

Technical test stage

Candidates who pass the sift will be provided with a programming exercise / coding exercise to complete, details will be provided prior to the interview.

This coding test will assess your ability to effectively perform in the advertised role. You will be sent detailed instructions along with an invitation to take the test. Please make us aware if you require any reasonable adjustments in order to participate in the test.

Interview stage

Candidates showing the required standard will then be invited to attend an interview, to be held via MS Teams. The interview will assess your Technical Skills and experience using technical and experience based oral questions.

Sift and Interview dates

Sift will be conducted week commencing 07th August 2023.

Interviews will be held week commencing 28th August 2023. (Subject to panels operational requirements/priorities)

Please note, interviews will be held remotely, via MS Teams. Further details and instructions will be provided closer to the scheduled interview and these dates may be subject to change.

Further information

Please read the essential skills for this position carefully. We will only consider those who meet the listed requirement. If you have previously made an unsuccessful application for a role with the same essential skills and are not able to demonstrate how you have developed these skills since your last application please reconsider applying as your application is unlikely to be successful.

For meaningful checks to be carried out, individuals need to have lived in the UK for a sufficient period of time to enable appropriate checks to be carried out and produce a result which provides the required level of assurance. You should normally have been resident in the United Kingdom for the last 3 years if the role requires CTC clearance, 5 years for SC clearance and 10 years for DV. A lack of UK residency in itself is not necessarily a bar to a security clearance and applicants should contact the Vacancy Holder/Recruiting Manager listed in the advert for further advice.

UK residency and security requirements

  • You need to have lived in the UK for the past 5 years. This is because this post requires the successful candidate to have Security Check (SC) clearance, and you need to have been a resident in the UK long enough for sufficient checks to take place. These checks will only take place after the job offer has been accepted.
  • Visa sponsorship -we are unable to sponsor any individuals via Skilled Worker Sponsorship / Tier 2 (General) work visas as we do not hold a UK Visa & Immigration (UKVI) Skilled Worker License.

A reserve list may be held for a period up to 12 months from which further appointment may be made.

We often have similar roles available at different grades. If a candidate is suitable for a similar role or a lower grade than they have applied for, we may offer the candidate that role without the need to go through a further selection process providing the role has the same competencies and essential skills.

Every day, Home Office civil servants do brilliant work to develop and deliver policies and services that affect the lives of people across the country and beyond. To do this effectively and fairly, the Home Office is committed to representing modern Britain in all its diversity, and creating a welcoming, inclusive workplace where all our people are able to bring their whole selves to work and perform at their best.

We are flexible, skilled, professional and diverse. We work to recruit and retain disabled staff and area Disability Confident Leader. We are proud to be one of the most ethnically diverse departments in the civil service. We are a Social Mobility Foundation top 75 employer.

New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.

Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening, subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant's details held on the IFD will be refused employment.

For further information please see the attached notes for candidates which must be read before making an application.

Existing Civil Servants should note that some of the Home Office terms and conditions of employment have changed. It is the candidate’s responsibility to ensure they are aware of the Terms and Conditions they will adopt should they be successful in application and should refer to the notes for candidates for further details.

Transfer Terms: Voluntary.

If you are invited to an interview you will be required to bring a range of documentation for the purposes of establishing identity and to aid any pre-employment checks.

Please see the attached list of Home Office acceptable ID documents.

Any move to the Home Office from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk

Reasonable Adjustments

If a person with disabilities is at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.

If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:

  • Contact Government Recruitment Service via [email protected] as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs
  • Complete the “Assistance Required” section in the “Additional Requirements” page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you're deaf, a language service professional

If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the ‘Contact point for applicants’ section.

Feedback


Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window).

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

  • UK nationals
  • nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
  • nationals of the Republic of Ireland
  • nationals from the EU, EEA or Switzerland with settled or pre-settled status or who apply for either status by the deadline of the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
  • relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals working in the Civil Service
  • relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals who have built up the right to work in the Civil Service
  • certain family members of the relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals
Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.
The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

Apply and further information

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.
Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

Recruitment team

Further information

If you feel that your application has not been treated in accordance with the recruitment
principles, and wish to make a complaint, then you should contact in the first instance
[email protected]. If you are not satisfied with the response that you receive, then you can contact the Civil Service Commission.

devops engineer
Home Office

careers.homeoffice.gov.uk
London, United Kingdom
Mark Sedwill
Unknown / Non-Applicable
10000+ Employees
Government
National Services & Agencies
1782
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