At a Glance
- Tasks: Secure and enhance our platform's resilience and performance while collaborating with diverse teams.
- Company: Join Arbor, a mission-driven tech company transforming education for over 12,000 schools.
- Benefits: Enjoy 32 days holiday, wellness support, and a dedicated professional development budget.
- Other info: Flexible working, dog-friendly offices, and a commitment to diversity and equality.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in education while working with cutting-edge technology and AI systems.
- Qualifications: Extensive experience in cyber security and DevSecOps engineering is essential.
Location: Remote
Salary: £75,000 - £85,000
About us
At Arbor, we’re on a mission to transform the way schools work for the better. We believe in a future of work in schools where being challenged doesn’t mean being burnt out and overworked. Our MIS and school management tools are already making a difference in over 12,000 schools and trusts. At the heart of our brand is a recognition that the challenges schools face today aren’t just about efficiency, outputs and productivity - but about creating happier working lives for the people who drive education every day.
About the role
We are looking for an experienced and diligent Senior DevSecOps Engineer to join our DevSecOps team and help us secure the resilience, integrity, and performance of the Arbor platform as it scales. The remit and focus of the role is to combine deep security engineering with a secure-by-design mindset, using metrics, automation, and threat modelling to drive measurable improvements.
Core responsibilities
- Collaborate with stakeholders to pinpoint security enhancements across platform architecture and infrastructure, devising and executing strategic plans for implementation.
- Work closely with the Platform team to embed robust security processes, controls, and tooling across all system components.
- Threat model new and existing systems and translate findings into prioritised, actionable work.
- Strengthen our software supply chain: dependency and base-image hygiene, SBOM generation, artefact signing and provenance.
- Secure the use of AI across the SDLC, ensuring agentic coding tools operate within safe, well-scoped, and auditable boundaries.
- Contribute to the evolution of deployment frameworks, emphasising security, deployment speed, and system stability.
- Elevate platform security through strong secrets management and the safe handling of sensitive information.
- Play an active role in incident response, resolution, and blameless post-mortems.
- Participate in knowledge-sharing initiatives, including tech-talks and team-based learning sessions.
- Maintain meticulous, current documentation to facilitate knowledge dissemination.
About you
- Extensive experience in cyber security and associated engineering practices.
- Proven track record in DevOps / DevSecOps engineering within large-scale platforms.
- Proficiency in distributed cloud systems, particularly Amazon Web Services.
- Expertise in Infrastructure as Code (IaC) tooling such as Terraform and CloudFormation.
- Experience with languages such as PHP, Bash, or Python.
- Experience with Docker and containerisation, with a working understanding of container and runtime security.
- Software supply-chain security: SBOMs, dependency scanning, and artefact signing / provenance.
- Secrets management and detection.
- Security tooling across the SDLC: SAST, DAST, SCA, IaC scanning, and container scanning.
- Policy-as-code and guardrails, with an identity-centric / zero-trust approach to access.
- Familiarity with monitoring and detection tooling like DataDog, Prometheus, or similar platforms.
- A proactive problem-solving attitude coupled with strong teamwork and communication skills.
- Exceptional proficiency in written and spoken English.
AI security and safe AI usage
- Practical understanding of AI/LLM security risks and their mitigations.
- Experience securing AI-assisted and agentic development tooling.
- Familiarity with AI threat modelling and adversarial techniques.
- Awareness of AI governance and assurance frameworks.
- Confident, responsible use of AI tooling to accelerate security work.
Bonus skills
- Past experience with enterprise solutions running at scale.
- Familiarity with kanban and agile development processes.
- Familiarity with software best practices.
- Experience with compliance frameworks relevant to EdTech.
- Relevant certifications.
Benefits
- A dedicated wellbeing team who champion initiatives such as mindfulness and mental health support.
- 32 days holiday (plus Bank Holidays).
- Life Assurance paid out at 3x annual salary.
- Comprehensive wellness benefit provided by AIG Smart Health.
- Private Dental Insurance with Bupa.
- Salary sacrifice Pension provided by Scottish Widows.
- Enhanced maternity and adoption leave.
- Access to services such as Calm and Bippit.
- All of our roles champion flexible working.
- Social committees that plan team events.
- Dedicated professional development training budget.
- Volunteer with a charity of your choice for a day each year.
- Dog friendly offices!
Equal opportunities
Arbor Education is an equal opportunities organisation. Our goal is for Arbor to be a workplace which represents, celebrates and supports people from all backgrounds.
Senior DevSecOps Engineer employer: Arbor Education
At Arbor, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer dedicated to transforming the educational landscape while ensuring our employees thrive. With a strong focus on wellbeing, we offer 32 days of holiday, comprehensive wellness benefits, and a supportive work culture that champions flexibility and professional development. Join us in making schools happier places to work, where your contributions directly impact the future of education.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior DevSecOps Engineer
✨Get Involved in the Cybersecurity Community
Diving into the cybersecurity community is key for landing that full-time gig. Join forums like Reddit's r/cybersecurity or attend local meetups to connect with industry veterans and other job seekers. Networking is everything in this field—don’t just be a passive lurker!
✨Show Off Your Skills with Capture the Flag Competitions
Participate in Capture the Flag (CTF) competitions; these are not just a fun way to boost your skills but also a chance to showcase your talent to potential employers. Many companies, including Arbor Education, love seeing candidates who actively engage in these challenges.
✨Tailor Your Online Presence
Make sure your LinkedIn and any professional profiles reflect your cybersecurity expertise. Share your projects, whether they’re personal or from a previous role, to catch the eye of hiring managers. This is how they’ll find your passion and commitment to the field!
✨Apply Directly Through Arbor Education
Don’t forget to head straight to our website and check out any openings for cybersecurity roles at Arbor Education. Applying directly can sometimes give you an edge, especially if you can mention that you've been following our work or engaging in the community.
We think you need these skills to ace Senior DevSecOps Engineer
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show off your technical skills:In cybersecurity, it's crucial to highlight your technical prowess. Make sure your CV showcases specific skills like network security, penetration testing, or threat analysis. If you have relevant certifications (like CEH or CISSP), pop those on the front page to grab attention!
Tailor your portfolio for the role:Even for a full-time role, a portfolio can set you apart. If you've worked on any cybersecurity projects—be it CTF challenges, security assessments, or research papers—include these in your application. This demonstrates not just your skills, but also your hands-on experience!
Use real-world examples:When writing your cover letter, don’t just stick to your qualifications. Share real-world examples of how you’ve tackled security issues or vulnerabilities. This gives the hiring team at Arbor Education insight into your practical problem-solving abilities and makes your application memorable.
Demonstrate your passion for cybersecurity:Cybersecurity is an ever-evolving field, so show us that you’re always learning! Mention any recent courses, webinars, or industry events you’ve attended. This not only exhibits your enthusiasm but also signals to Arbor Education that you’re committed to staying ahead in the game.
How to prepare for a job interview at Arbor Education
✨Sharpen Your Technical Skills
For a role in cybersecurity, it’s essential to be up-to-date with the latest tools and techniques. Brush up on your knowledge of firewalls, intrusion detection systems, and vulnerability assessment tools. Be ready to discuss specific scenarios where you’ve applied these skills, as hands-on experience can really set us apart in interviews.
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect the interviewers at Arbor Education to throw in some hypothetical situations to see how you’d handle them. Think about common security breaches or incidents and be prepared to explain how you would respond. This not only shows your problem-solving skills but also your understanding of real-world cybersecurity challenges.
✨Highlight Your Certifications
Certifications like CompTIA Security+, CISSP, or CEH can give you a significant edge in a full-time role in cybersecurity. Make sure to mention these during your interview and be prepared to discuss what you learned through those certifications and how they relate to the position at Arbor Education.
✨Show Your Passion for Cybersecurity
Since you’re going for a full-time gig, showing genuine enthusiasm for the field can make all the difference. Share any personal projects, blogs, or communities you’re part of that relate to cybersecurity. This not only showcases your passion but also your commitment to staying engaged in this ever-evolving field.
