At a Glance
- Tasks: Design and build scalable DevOps solutions for critical national programmes.
- Company: Fast-scaling defence technology consultancy with a start-up culture.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, bonus, flexible working, and clear career progression.
- Other info: Dynamic environment focused on innovation and solving complex problems.
- Why this job: Join a high-impact team shaping modern engineering in defence technology.
- Qualifications: 10+ years in software engineering or DevOps with strong technical leadership.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 £ per year.
Join a fast-scaling defence technology consultancy combining start-up engineering culture with strong financial backing, building secure, modern platform capabilities for critical national programmes.
About the Role
Our client is a high-growth technology consultancy operating with start-up speed, autonomy, and engineering intensity, supported by significant financial backing that enables long-term investment in platform engineering capability. Within its expanding Defence practice, the organisation is building a Principal-level DevOps capability to support the delivery of secure, scalable, cloud-native and hybrid systems across mission-critical environments. This role sits at the centre of modern platform engineering, bridging software development, infrastructure, security, and operations. The focus is on building robust delivery pipelines, scalable infrastructure, and highly automated environments that support continuous delivery of complex systems used in defence and national security contexts. You will take ownership of technical strategy across DevOps tooling, platform architecture, and automation, while also providing leadership across engineering teams and delivery programmes.
What You’ll Be Doing
- Designing and building scalable DevOps and platform engineering solutions across cloud and hybrid environments.
- Developing and scripting in Python, PowerShell, C#, Java, or C++ to support automation and platform tooling.
- Implementing Infrastructure as Code using tools such as Terraform, Packer, or Ansible.
- Building and maintaining containerised environments using Docker and Kubernetes.
- Designing and optimising CI/CD pipelines using tools such as Jenkins, TeamCity, GitHub Actions, or equivalents.
- Managing artifact repositories and code quality tools such as Artifactory and SonarQube.
- Implementing monitoring, logging, and observability solutions using ELK stack, Grafana, or equivalent platforms.
- Working across AWS, Azure, or GCP environments to deliver scalable infrastructure solutions.
- Supporting Windows and Linux system administration, including VMware vSphere and SAN-based infrastructure.
- Managing database environments, including Microsoft SQL Server or equivalent technologies.
- Working with Atlassian tooling to support delivery workflows and engineering collaboration.
- Implementing job scheduling and orchestration tools such as Control-M.
- Embedding security best practices, including secrets management, vulnerability scanning, and secure-by-design principles.
Ideal Background
We are looking for experienced platform and DevOps engineers with strong hands-on capability and proven technical leadership experience. You should bring:
- 10+ years of experience in software engineering, DevOps, or platform engineering roles.
- Strong experience building and maintaining CI/CD pipelines in complex environments.
- Deep understanding of cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, or GCP).
- Strong Infrastructure as Code experience using Terraform, Ansible, or Packer.
- Experience with containerisation and orchestration technologies (Docker, Kubernetes).
- Strong scripting and development capability in at least one core language (Python, PowerShell, C#, Java, or C++).
- Experience with monitoring, logging, and observability tooling.
- Understanding of secure infrastructure design and DevSecOps principles.
- Experience working in complex enterprise or regulated environments.
What You’ll Receive
- Salary between £100,000 and £140,000 + bonus
- Opportunity to join a rapidly scaling defence consultancy with strong financial backing and start-up engineering culture.
- High ownership role shaping platform engineering standards across defence programmes.
- Exposure to modern cloud-native and hybrid infrastructure at scale.
- Significant technical influence across tooling, architecture, and delivery pipelines.
- Flexible UK-wide working arrangements, with Newcastle as the preferred hub.
- Clear progression into broader platform and engineering leadership roles as the business expands.
Who Should Apply
This role is suited to Principal DevOps Engineers, Platform Engineers, Site Reliability Engineers, Cloud Infrastructure Engineers, and Senior DevOps Leads with strong experience in building and operating modern delivery platforms. The organisation is actively hiring high-calibre engineering talent across the UK, with a focus on individuals who can operate in high-ownership environments and help shape engineering culture at scale. The team is based in Newcastle, with strong interest in candidates from Manchester, the South West, and other UK regions as additional hubs are developed.
About the Environment
This is a defence-focused engineering organisation operating at the intersection of consultancy and product delivery. The environment is fast-moving, highly technical, and focused on solving complex problems with modern engineering practices. It combines the agility of a start-up with the backing and stability required to deliver at national scale.
Principal DevOps Engineer in Newcastle upon Tyne employer: ANSON MCCADE
Join a dynamic and rapidly growing defence technology consultancy that merges the agility of a start-up with robust financial support, fostering an innovative engineering culture. As a Principal DevOps Engineer, you will enjoy significant ownership in shaping platform engineering standards while benefiting from flexible working arrangements and clear pathways for career progression within a high-impact environment. This role offers the unique opportunity to work on mission-critical projects that contribute to national security, all while being part of a collaborative team based in Newcastle.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Principal DevOps Engineer in Newcastle upon Tyne
✨Join Local Tech Meetups
Get out there and mingle with fellow developers by joining local tech meetups. It’s a fantastic way to meet people who might be working at ANSON MCCADE or know someone who does. Plus, you can pick up some trendy tech skills and trends while you're at it!
✨Contribute to Open Source Projects
Show off your coding chops by jumping into open-source projects. Not only does this give you practical experience, but it also gets you noticed in the dev community. You'll create a killer portfolio that speaks volumes about your skills to ANSON MCCADE.
✨Tap into Online Developer Communities
Don’t underestimate the power of online developer communities like GitHub, Stack Overflow, and even Reddit. Participate in discussions, share your projects, and build your visibility. We can often find opportunities through these channels that can lead to a full-time gig at companies like ANSON MCCADE.
✨Explore Job Boards Specifically for Tech Roles
Keep your eyes peeled on job boards that focus on tech roles. Sites like TechCareers or Stack Overflow Jobs can often have listings for companies like ANSON MCCADE that might not show up on broader job sites. Make it a habit to check these regularly, and don’t hesitate to apply directly through our website!
We think you need these skills to ace Principal DevOps Engineer in Newcastle upon Tyne
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show off your coding skills:When applying for a software engineering role, it's super important to showcase your coding skills. Make sure your CV includes your tech stack, any relevant programming languages you’re comfortable with, and examples of projects you've worked on. If you have a GitHub profile, link it up! We love to see code in action.
Tailor your portfolio:For a full-time role, we’d expect to see some solid examples of your work in your portfolio. Make sure to include at least two or three projects that highlight your problem-solving skills and your ability to work with different technologies. Focus on the projects that are most relevant to the position at ANSON MCCADE.
Craft a killer cover letter:Your cover letter is your chance to stand out—make it personal! Explain why you want to work at ANSON MCCADE and how your skills align with the role. Show us your passion for software development. We dig enthusiastic candidates who understand the value of collaboration and continuous learning!
Be clear and concise:When it comes to writing your CV and cover letter, clarity is key. Avoid jargon that could confuse us and stick to simple, direct language. Highlight your achievements with quantifiable results where possible, and keep everything easy to read. A well-organised application goes a long way!
How to prepare for a job interview at ANSON MCCADE
✨Brush Up on Your Coding Skills
For a full-time software engineering role, it's crucial that we stay sharp with our coding abilities. Expect technical questions that might involve solving problems on the spot or discussing algorithms. Practise on platforms like LeetCode or HackerRank to get comfortable with the types of questions that often come up.
✨Know Your Tools and Frameworks
Make sure we’re well-acquainted with the tools and technologies listed in the job description. Familiarise ourselves with any specific frameworks or programming languages mentioned. If ANSON MCCADE uses React or Node.js, for instance, be ready to discuss how we’ve used them in previous projects or coursework.
✨Showcase Your Projects
Bring along a portfolio that highlights our best work. This could be code samples, GitHub repositories, or any side projects we’ve built. Make sure we can talk through our thought process for each project, especially the challenges we faced and how we solved them—this shows our problem-solving skills in action.
✨Prepare for Behavioural Questions
While technical skills are key, full-time positions also require cultural fit. Be ready to discuss our previous experiences and how we handle teamwork, conflict, and deadlines. Brush up on the STAR method—Situation, Task, Action, Result—to clearly articulate our past experiences when discussing how we've contributed to a team.
