Lead DevOps and Automation Engineer

At Sopra Steria Aerospace, Defence & Security (ADS), we work on some of the UK's most critical Defence and National Security programmes, delivering technology solutions that help protect the UK and support those responsible for keeping our country safe.

We are looking for a Lead DevOps & Automation Engineer to take technical and people leadership of our DevOps and Automation capability, working within highly secure, technically complex environments where the work you do has a real purpose and impact.

This is an opportunity to shape how DevOps and automation are delivered across mission-critical services, leading a team of skilled engineers while driving innovation, modernising infrastructure and introducing smarter, more efficient ways of working. You'll have the autonomy to influence technical direction, champion engineering best practice and develop automation solutions that make a lasting difference.

The role offers a rewarding balance of technical leadership, hands-on engineering and people development. You'll work with a broad range of technologies, including infrastructure as code, CI/CD pipelines and automation tooling, while collaborating with architects, engineering teams and senior stakeholders to solve complex challenges and deliver high-quality solutions.

We're equally committed to your development. Whether you're looking to strengthen your leadership capabilities, deepen your technical expertise or take the next step in your career, you'll have access to training, development opportunities and a collaborative environment that encourages innovation, knowledge sharing and continuous learning.

You'll also benefit from flexible benefits and excellent career progression opportunities within a business that offers exposure to a wide range of technologies, projects and career pathways.

What you'll be doing

• Leading and developing our DevOps & Automation capability, setting technical direction, establishing engineering standards and embedding modern DevOps practices across complex, secure environments.
• Building and supporting a high-performing engineering team, providing technical leadership, mentoring and coaching while developing the skills, capabilities and career progression of DevOps Engineers.
• Driving automation and infrastructure modernisation, designing and implementing scalable solutions using infrastructure as code, configuration management and scripting technologies to improve efficiency and reliability.
• Taking ownership of technical solutions, overseeing automation initiatives from initial concept and design through to development, implementation and successful delivery.
• Solving complex engineering challenges, providing technical expertise and guidance across infrastructure, automation pipelines and integrated systems while identifying opportunities for innovation and continuous improvement.
• Influencing technical strategy and future opportunities, collaborating with architects, delivery teams, customers and pre-sales colleagues to understand challenges, shape technical requirements and develop effective solutions.

What you'll bring

• Strong experience in DevOps, Automation or Infrastructure Engineering, with the technical credibility to lead engineers and shape engineering practices within complex enterprise environments.
• Experience leading, mentoring or developing technical teams, with the ability to build capability, encourage collaboration and drive high standards of engineering delivery.
• Strong hands-on knowledge of Microsoft Windows and Linux infrastructure, supporting secure, highly available systems and resolving complex technical challenges.
• Proven experience with infrastructure as code and automation technologies, including Ansible, Terraform or equivalent tools, with the ability to design and deliver scalable automation solutions.
• Strong scripting and development skills, using PowerShell, Bash or Python to build automation, improve infrastructure management and support efficient delivery.
• The ability to take ownership of complex technical initiatives, identify risks and improvement opportunities, influence stakeholders and drive solutions from concept through to implementation.

Employment Type: Full-time, Permanent

Location: Gloucestershire

Security Clearance Level: Holding an active eDV

Internal Recruiter: Rebecca

Salary: £competitive, based on experience

Benefits: Bonus, £5,400 car allowance, 25 days annual leave with the option to buy additional days, private medical, life assurance, pension, and generous flexible benefits fund.

Loved reading about this job and want to know more about us?

Sopra Steria's Aerospace, Defence and Security business designs, develops and deploys digital solutions to Central Government clients. The work we do makes a real difference to the client's goal of National Security, and we operate in a unique and privileged environment. We are given time for professional development activities, and we coach and mentor our colleagues, sharing knowledge and learning from each other. We foster a culture in which employees feel valued and supported and have pride in their work for the customer, delivering outstanding rates of customer satisfaction in the UK's most complex safety- and security-critical markets