At a Glance
- Tasks: Support and enhance cloud infrastructure for AQA's assessment technology.
- Company: Join AQA, a leader in education technology with a focus on modernisation.
- Benefits: Flexible hybrid working, 25-30 days annual leave, and excellent pension contributions.
- Other info: Diverse and inclusive workplace committed to equity and representation.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on education while developing your cloud engineering skills.
- Qualifications: Experience with Microsoft Azure and Infrastructure as Code technologies.
Join AQA's Assessment Technology team and play a key role in supporting the systems that help deliver millions of GCSE and A-level results every year. This is an exciting opportunity to work at the heart of a team that is modernising critical platforms, adopting new technologies and driving continuous improvement across cloud infrastructure and application services.
Purpose of the role
As a Cloud Infrastructure Engineer, you'll help ensure the reliability, security and performance of the infrastructure that supports AQA's scanning and marking services. You'll work closely with technology teams, suppliers and business users to deploy, support and enhance cloud-based solutions, while contributing to the ongoing modernisation of our platform services. This role offers the opportunity to work with Microsoft Azure technologies, infrastructure as code practices and modern DevOps approaches in an environment where your work directly supports learners and educators across the UK.
Key responsibilities
- Deploying, supporting and improving cloud-based applications and infrastructure within Microsoft Azure using modern DevOps practices and infrastructure as code technologies.
- Monitoring, maintaining and optimising platform performance, security and availability while helping resolve infrastructure and application issues, including taking part in the agreed out-of-hours support roster during live exam series.
- Working collaboratively with development teams, technology colleagues, suppliers and business users to deliver reliable services and support ongoing platform modernisation.
What we are looking for
- Strong hands-on experience with Microsoft Azure and the ability to troubleshoot and resolve cloud infrastructure issues.
- Experience working with Infrastructure as Code technologies such as Bicep, Terraform or ARM templates.
- Experience using CI/CD pipelines and DevOps tooling to deploy and support applications and infrastructure.
- Strong communication skills and the ability to build effective relationships with technical and non-technical stakeholders.
What's in it for you
- This is an opportunity to develop your cloud engineering career while working on platforms that make a genuine difference to education across the UK.
- Exposure to large-scale, business-critical technology platforms supporting millions of learners.
- The opportunity to work with new technologies as part of a significant modernisation programme.
- A 35-hour working week with flexible, hybrid working.
- 25 days' annual leave (rising to 30), plus Christmas closure days.
- Excellent pension (up to 11.5% employer contribution).
Diversity and Inclusion Statement
At AQA, we are committed to fostering a workplace that celebrates diversity and promotes equity and inclusion. We believe that a diverse team brings richer perspectives and drives better outcomes. Our ED&I strategy ensures that everyone-regardless of religion, ethnicity, gender identity or expression, age, disability, sexual orientation, or background-is valued, respected, and empowered to thrive. We actively promote inclusive language, avoid stereotypes, and strive for representation across all dimensions of diversity. We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds and lived experiences.
Application Process
Application deadline: Wednesday 5 August 2026
First stage interviews (online): 17 and 19 August 2026
Final stage interviews (Milton Keynes): 25 August 2026
Cloud Infrastructure Engineer employer: AQA
AQA is an exceptional employer located in Manchester, offering a dynamic work environment where education specialists can thrive. With a strong focus on employee well-being, we provide generous benefits such as 25 days of annual leave and private medical insurance, alongside a hybrid working model that promotes work-life balance. Our commitment to professional development and community engagement ensures that you will have meaningful opportunities to grow and make a positive impact in the education sector.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Cloud Infrastructure Engineer
✨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 AQA 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 AQA.
✨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 AQA.
✨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 AQA 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 Cloud Infrastructure Engineer
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 AQA.
Craft a killer cover letter:Your cover letter is your chance to stand out—make it personal! Explain why you want to work at AQA 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 AQA
✨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 AQA 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.
