At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead DevOps initiatives and enhance developer experience across the UK's largest government department.
- Company: Join DWP, a leader in digital transformation for public services.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, generous pension contributions, flexible hours, and ample holiday leave.
- Other info: Award-winning culture with diverse teams and excellent career growth opportunities.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on millions of users while shaping the future of technology in public services.
- Qualifications: Experience in DevOps, CI/CD pipelines, and cloud solutions with strong leadership skills.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 £ per year.
Pay up to £80,664 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.
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 also 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?
- Proven experience of writing and maintaining Infrastructure, and Configuration as Code.
- Demonstrable experience of using Unix/Linux/Windows in a support and/or development environment including scripting languages.
- Demonstrable experience of working in a DevOps environment - Continuous Integration & Deployment, Delivery methods and techniques, including agile scrum experience.
- Significant experience in implementing and maintaining CI/CD pipelines.
- Influential, with significant experience of supporting, guiding, and developing Engineers across multi-disciplinary teams in an agile environment.
- Significant demonstrable experience of designing, implementing, and managing an internal developer portal (e.g., Backstage, Port) that delivers software catalogues, self-service capabilities, and standardised workflows at scale.
You will join our Developer Experience team and play a key role in making life easier for engineers across DWP. You'll help build and evolve our internal developer platform, creating the tools, automation and self-service capabilities that enable teams to develop, deploy and operate services more efficiently.
Working with AWS and modern DevOps tooling, you'll design scalable, resilient cloud solutions, develop reusable CI/CD components and drive automation wherever possible. You'll work closely with teams across the organisation to improve developer experience, promote engineering ownership and help embed consistent standards and best practices, providing technical leadership, supporting and mentoring engineers while helping shape the future of our platform and engineering community.
Location: You'll join us in one of our brilliant digital hubs in Leeds, Manchester or Newcastle, 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 £80,664.
Pension: You'll get a brilliant civil service pension with employer contributions worth 28.97%, worth over £16,000 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 two stages:
- Apply: complete your application on Civil Service Jobs. There'll be full instructions when you click through.
- Interview: a single stage interview online.
CLICK APPLY for more information and to start your application.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior DevOps Engineer in Cardiff
✨Join the IT Consultancy Buzz
Get involved in local or virtual IT consultancy meetups and forums. This is where we can rub shoulders with industry professionals, get insights into what DWP values, and even spot unadvertised opportunities. Don't miss out on these chances to make a name for ourselves in the IT world!
✨Show Off Your Skills
Create a personal project or case study relevant to the challenges DWP might face. Use platforms like GitHub or Medium to share your findings. This not only demonstrates our consulting skills but shows a proactive attitude, making us stand out from the crowd when applying for that full-time gig.
✨Leverage LinkedIn for Connections
Follow and engage with the relevant thought leaders and influencers in IT consultancy on LinkedIn. Share insightful content and join discussions to gain visibility. A well-placed comment or shared article could catch the attention of someone at DWP!
✨Direct Apply to DWP
Let's not forget to apply directly through the DWP website! Tailor your application to showcase our understanding of their consulting style and how we can contribute to their projects. A personalised approach can make a huge difference in landing that full-time position!
We think you need these skills to ace Senior DevOps Engineer in Cardiff
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Your Problem-Solving Skills:In IT consulting, it's all about problem-solving, so make sure your CV highlights your analytical skills and any relevant projects you've tackled. Mention specific technologies or methodologies you've used to resolve issues or improve processes; this shows you can think critically and deliver results, which is vital for us at DWP.
Highlight Relevant Certifications:Certifications like ITIL, PMP, or even specific tech stack qualifications can really make you stand out. Make sure to include these in your CV, as they not only demonstrate your expertise but also your commitment to staying current in the field. We love seeing candidates who are proactive about their professional development!
Tailor Your Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to connect personally with us at DWP. Share stories about your experiences in IT consulting, and how they shaped your desire to join our team. Mention why you’re excited about this particular role, and how you see yourself contributing to our projects.
Keep It Clear and Concise:We're all busy, so make sure your application is easy to read. Use bullet points for key achievements, and don’t overload us with jargon. A clean, professional layout goes a long way. Remember, the clearer your application, the more likely we are to invite you in for an interview!
How to prepare for a job interview at DWP
✨Brush Up on Your Technical Skills
For an IT consulting role, be ready to demonstrate your technical prowess. You might face questions on systems integration, cloud technologies, or even troubleshooting specific software. If you have experience with tools like AWS, Azure, or even specific programming languages, make sure you can talk about them fluently.
✨Showcase Your Problem-Solving Approach
IT consulting is all about solving problems for clients. Think about how you can illustrate your approach to a past challenge using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result). It's a great way to show how you tackle complex issues and come up with effective solutions.
✨Know the Business Impact of IT Solutions
When discussing your experiences, focus not just on the tech solutions you implemented, but also on their business impact. Employers want to see that you can connect IT with organisational goals. Prep examples that highlight how your tech contributions improved efficiency or reduced costs for past clients or projects.
✨Prepare for Behavioural Questions
Since IT consulting often involves teamwork and client interactions, expect behavioural questions that assess your interpersonal skills. Be prepared with examples that demonstrate your adaptability, communication skills, and how you handle client feedback. Before the interview, think of situations where you worked closely with clients to create effective IT strategies or changes.
