At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead DevOps teams to innovate and transform public services with cutting-edge technology.
- Company: Join the UK's largest government department focused on digital transformation.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, generous pension contributions, flexible hours, and a great work-life balance.
- Other info: Be part of a diverse community with excellent career growth and development opportunities.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on millions of users while shaping the future of public services.
- Qualifications: Experience in leading agile teams, CI/CD pipelines, and cloud platforms required.
The predicted salary is between 92522 - 92522 £ per year.
Pay up to £92,522 plus 28.97% employer pension contributions, hybrid working, flexible hours, and great work-life balance. This is a real and significant DevOps leadership role in the UK's largest government department. Here you will have the freedom and autonomy to drive the development of our technical landscape and define what DevOps looks like in DWP Digital with Purpose.
We're looking for someone who has the vision to lead multiple teams through the adoption of cutting-edge infrastructure and development technologies. You'll be a leading, expert voice in a DWP Digital community that is driving a once-in-a-generation transformation of public services. We have a unique purpose - putting better, more efficient services in the hands of DWP users.
The scale of our engineering challenge is huge: We have 1bn lines of code in over 12,000 code repos and 90 programming languages. We run around 294 days' worth of testing every day through automation. Our APIs receive 173 million requests, and we spin up 280,000 AWS servers every month. Over 22 million people - 1/3 of the UK's adult population access our services daily. Over 100,000 colleagues and agents use the kit, tools and systems we roll out. We build and maintain systems behind payments worth over £195bn annually.
What skills, knowledge and experience will you need?
- Experience of leading and supporting Engineers in multi-disciplinary teams in an agile environment and sharing knowledge and good practice with the wider organisation.
- Significant experience of version control systems as well as building and maintaining CI/CD pipelines e.g. git with GitLab CI or Jenkins.
- Significant experience of Infrastructure-as-code and configuration of code for one or more cloud providers.
- Experience of containerisation and container orchestration.
- Experience of multiple scripting and/or programming languages (e.g. Bash, Python).
- Significant experience of the full life cycle of Azure cloud-based platforms and applications from designing, through deployment to supporting and operating in production, test and development environments.
You and your role
Our Lead DevOps Engineers lead and set the strategy as well as build our products and applications with researchers, testers, architects, analysts and designers as part of multi-functional agile delivery teams. You'll also be part of a supportive Engineering community of practice, with hundreds of engineering experts from across the UK, united by passion and purpose. We'll give you the tools and time to build your capability, with coaching, mentoring, qualifications and formal learning, meet-ups or whatever else works for you.
Details
Location: You'll join us in one of our brilliant digital hubs in Birmingham, Blackpool, Leeds, Manchester, Newcastle or Sheffield, whichever is most convenient for you.
Hybrid Working: We work a hybrid model - you'll spend some time working at home and some time collaborating face to face in a hub.
Pay: We offer competitive pay of up to £92,522.
Pension: You'll get a brilliant civil service pension with employer contributions worth 28.97%, worth over £21,000 per year.
Holidays: A generous leave package starting at 26 days rising to 31 days over time. You can also take up to 3 extra days off a month on flexi-time. You'll also get all the usual public holidays.
We have a broad benefits package built around your work-life balance which includes:
- Flexible working including flexible hours and flex-friendly policies.
- Time off volunteering and charitable giving.
- Bring your authentic self to work with 'I Can Be Me in DWP'.
- Discounts and savings on shopping, fun days out and more.
- Interest-free loans to buy a bike or a season ticket, so it's even easier for you to get to work and start making a difference.
- Professional development, coaching, mentoring and career progression opportunities.
And we have an award-winning environment and culture:
- DWP have been recognised as 2024 Diversity Employer of the Year at the Computing Women in Tech Excellence awards.
- Diverse and Inclusive Leadership at Digital Leaders Awards 2024.
- Commended as Best Place to Work in Digital category in the Computing Digital Technology Leaders awards 2025.
- Recognised as one of the Best Public Sector Employers at 2025 Women In Tech Employer Awards.
Process: We know your time is valuable, so our application and selection process are just three stages:
- Apply: complete your application on Civil Service Jobs. There'll be full instructions when you click through.
- Presentation: A short 10 minute presentation on how you would mature a DevOps culture across multiple multidisciplinary teams.
- Interview: a single stage interview online.
CLICK APPLY for more information and to start your application.
Lead DevOps Engineer in North East employer: DWP Digital
Contact Detail:
DWP Digital Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Lead DevOps Engineer in North East
✨Tip Number 1
Get your networking game on! Connect with folks in the industry, especially those already working at DWP. LinkedIn is a great place to start – drop them a message and ask about their experiences. You never know, they might just give you the inside scoop or even refer you!
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for that presentation like it’s the final exam! You’ll need to showcase your vision for maturing a DevOps culture. Think about real examples from your past experience and how you can apply them to DWP. Practice makes perfect, so rehearse in front of friends or family.
✨Tip Number 3
Don’t underestimate the power of follow-ups! After your interview, shoot a quick thank-you email to your interviewers. It shows your enthusiasm and keeps you fresh in their minds. Plus, it’s a nice touch that can set you apart from other candidates.
✨Tip Number 4
Make sure to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, you’ll find all the details you need about the role and the application process there. Let’s get you that Lead DevOps Engineer position!
We think you need these skills to ace Lead DevOps Engineer in North East
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion: When writing your application, let your enthusiasm for DevOps shine through! We want to see your genuine interest in leading teams and driving innovation. Share specific examples of how you've made an impact in previous roles.
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the Lead DevOps Engineer role. Highlight relevant experience with CI/CD pipelines, cloud platforms, and agile methodologies. We love seeing how your skills align with our needs!
Be Clear and Concise: Keep your application clear and to the point. Use bullet points where possible to make it easy for us to read. We appreciate straightforward communication, so avoid jargon unless it's necessary!
Apply Through Our Website: Don't forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets to us directly. Plus, you’ll find all the details you need to complete your application smoothly.
How to prepare for a job interview at DWP Digital
✨Know Your DevOps Stuff
Make sure you brush up on your DevOps knowledge, especially around CI/CD pipelines and Infrastructure-as-Code. Be ready to discuss your experience with tools like GitLab CI or Jenkins, and how you've implemented these in past roles.
✨Prepare for the Presentation
You'll need to deliver a 10-minute presentation on maturing a DevOps culture. Structure it well, focusing on key strategies and examples from your experience. Practice makes perfect, so rehearse in front of friends or colleagues to get feedback.
✨Show Your Leadership Skills
This role is all about leading teams, so be prepared to share specific examples of how you've supported engineers in an agile environment. Highlight your ability to foster collaboration and share knowledge across teams.
✨Understand the Bigger Picture
Familiarise yourself with DWP's mission and the scale of their operations. Being able to articulate how your skills can contribute to their goal of improving public services will show that you're not just looking for a job, but are genuinely interested in making a difference.