At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the management of ServiceNow environments and orchestrate all releases for a complex platform.
- Company: Join BAE Systems, a leader in defence and technology solutions.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, flexible working options, and opportunities for personal growth.
- Other info: Inclusive workplace culture that values diversity and supports career development.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in digital transformation while developing your skills in a collaborative environment.
- Qualifications: Experience with ServiceNow or similar platforms and strong team management skills.
The predicted salary is between 40016 - 50000 £ per year.
Job Location: Preston or Frimley – Hybrid – 1 x quarter onsite. We offer a range of hybrid and flexible working arrangements – please speak to your recruiter about the options for this particular role.
Salary: £60,000 depending on experience.
Who we are: Join BAE Systems and you’ll be part of something bigger. As a valued member of our global colleague network, you’ll bring your unique skills and perspectives to help pioneer progress and protect what matters most. You’ll be trusted to play your part in delivering the advanced, technology-led defence, aerospace and security solutions of tomorrow – shaping a safer future, for all of us.
Role Description: The ServiceNow Release & Environments Lead is accountable for the strategic management and governance of the organisation’s ServiceNow environment landscape, spanning 11 non-production environments and a single production instance across a complex, multi-product platform (including ITSM, HRSD, CSM, SPM, SecOps, S2P, and ITOM). Reporting to the Platform Owner, this role leads the planning and orchestration of all releases, from high-frequency BAU deployments through to large-scale programme deliveries and major platform upgrades. Operating within an Agile environment transitioning to SAFe, the role ensures releases are delivered in a controlled, consistent, and low-risk manner, aligned to a central release calendar and governance processes. As a team lead, this role provides leadership and direction to the release and environment management capability, coordinating cross-functional teams to ensure robust release readiness, effective risk and issue management, and seamless deployment execution. The role champions best practice in DevOps and automation, driving the adoption of CI/CD pipelines, automated testing, and continuous improvement initiatives to enhance delivery speed and quality. Acting as the central point of coordination across in-house delivery teams, the role ensures alignment across concurrent initiatives, maintaining platform stability while enabling the successful delivery of both incremental change and complex transformation programmes.
Core Duties:
- Own and govern the end-to-end ServiceNow environment strategy, managing 11 non-production environments and the production instance to ensure stability, integrity, and optimal usage.
- Lead the planning, scheduling, and orchestration of all releases, from frequent BAU changes to complex, large-scale programme and platform releases.
- Manage the central release calendar, ensuring alignment across multiple concurrent initiatives and adherence to governance and CAB processes.
- Coordinate deployment activities across cross-functional, in-house delivery teams, ensuring smooth and controlled promotion of changes through the environment stack.
- Collaborate with Platform Owner, Platform teams, and Delivery Leads to align release plans with business priorities and delivery roadmaps.
- Drive continuous improvement in release and environment management processes, embedding best practice and increasing delivery efficiency.
Essential Skills:
- An understanding of the ServiceNow platform (preferred) or similar sized platform, coordination of capability releases across multiple environments.
- Implementation of family releases, patches, incident fixes, problem, stories across the entire SDLC lifecycle.
- Proven track record of managing complex teams and deliverables.
- Ability to anticipate and mitigate risk well in advance within a complex delivery environment.
- Experience to manage any issue that arise and be apt in solution delivery and release management.
The ServiceNow Product team: Our ServiceNow Product Team sits at the centre of digital transformation in the organisation, partnering with cross functional and sector stakeholders across the business to deliver intuitive, high-value solutions that improve employee experience, streamline processes, and drive measurable outcomes. When you join us, you’ll have the opportunity to support and influence our product strategy, and turn innovative ideas into real-world capabilities used by thousands of people. You’ll work alongside talented professionals in a collaborative, forward-thinking agile environment where continuous improvement, experimentation, and learning are strongly encouraged. Whether you’re passionate about product management, platform innovation, user experience, or delivering business value, you’ll play a key role in helping us unlock the full potential of the ServiceNow platform. This is a chance to make a visible impact, develop your skills, and help shape the future of our digital services.
Why BAE Systems? Here you’ll build a career with purpose and limitless possibilities. With lifelong learning and meaningful work – this is a place where you can grow your career with confidence and be empowered to be your best. You’ll be recognised for your contribution and enjoy rewards tailored to what’s most important to you and your family – support for your financial and personal wellbeing, as well as a balanced lifestyle. In an environment embracing sustainable ways of working and with a strong sense of shared purpose, our supportive culture is a place you can feel you belong and proud of the difference you make.
A place where everyone can thrive: We’re committed to building an inclusive workplace where everyone feels valued and supported. We know that a diversity of backgrounds, perspectives and experiences strengthens our teams and is vital to the work we do.
Please be aware that many roles at BAE Systems are subject to both security and export control restrictions. These restrictions mean that factors such as your nationality, any nationalities you may have previously held, and your place of birth can restrict the roles you are eligible to perform within the organisation. All applicants must as a minimum achieve Baseline Personnel Security Standard. Many roles also require higher levels of National Security Vetting where applicants must typically have 5 to 10 years of continuous residency in the UK depending on the vetting level required for the role, to allow for meaningful security vetting checks.
Closing Date: 14th August 2026. We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.
ServiceNow Release & Environments Lead in Frimley employer: BAE Critical Skills
BAE Systems is an exceptional employer that offers a dynamic work environment in Barrow-in-Furness, where you can contribute to pioneering defence and aerospace solutions. With a strong commitment to employee growth, lifelong learning, and a culture of inclusivity, you'll find ample opportunities to develop your skills while being recognised for your contributions. Enjoy a balanced lifestyle with tailored rewards and relocation support, all within a supportive community that values diversity and shared purpose.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land ServiceNow Release & Environments Lead in Frimley
✨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 BAE Critical Skills 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 BAE Critical Skills.
✨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 BAE Critical Skills.
✨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 BAE Critical Skills 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 ServiceNow Release & Environments Lead in Frimley
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 BAE Critical Skills.
Craft a killer cover letter:Your cover letter is your chance to stand out—make it personal! Explain why you want to work at BAE Critical Skills 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 BAE Critical Skills
✨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 BAE Critical Skills 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.