At a Glance
- Tasks: Design and operate secure infrastructure for National Security programmes using modern engineering practices.
- Company: Join a growing engineering consultancy with a collaborative culture and strong reputation.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, bonus, flexible working, private healthcare, and generous leave options.
- Other info: Opportunities for career progression into architecture and leadership roles.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in National Security while working with smart, pragmatic teams.
- Qualifications: Experience in cloud infrastructure, automation, and secure software delivery preferred.
The predicted salary is between 40000 - 80000 £ per year.
Location: Opportunities available across Gloucestershire, Manchester and London
Hybrid: Secure-site working patterns vary by programme
Salary: £40,000 – £80,000 plus bonus and benefits, depending on experience and SFIA grading
Clearance: Active DV / eDV clearance preferred
The Opportunity
You will be joining a growing engineering consultancy delivering secure software and platform capability into highly classified National Security and Defence environments. The organisation has built a strong reputation for combining modern engineering practices with a genuinely collaborative and engineering-led culture. Teams remain intentionally small, giving engineers broader technical exposure, closer collaboration with leadership and far greater influence over delivery than is typical within larger defence primes. Many engineers join from larger organisations looking for less process-heavy delivery structures, broader project exposure and the opportunity to work more closely with both customers and engineering teams. The environment particularly appeals to engineers who enjoy working alongside smart, pragmatic people solving difficult problems collaboratively rather than operating inside narrow technical silos. As the organisation continues expanding capability across both West and North sites, there is a strong focus on maintaining engineering quality, community and reputation as the teams grow. There are also increasingly clear opportunities to progress into architecture and leadership roles as the business continues to scale.
The Role
As a Platform Engineer you will help design, build and operate the infrastructure and tooling that underpins secure software delivery across a range of National Security programmes. You will work closely with software engineers, architects and operational stakeholders to improve automation, scalability, operational resilience and secure delivery practices across cloud and containerised environments.
Typical responsibilities include:
- Building and maintaining secure infrastructure using Infrastructure as Code tools such as Terraform and Ansible
- Deploying and operating containerised platforms using Docker and Kubernetes
- Supporting cloud-native platform delivery across AWS and Azure environments
- Designing and improving CI/CD pipelines and modern software delivery workflows
- Implementing observability and monitoring using tooling such as Grafana, Elastic Stack and cloud-native monitoring platforms
- Supporting platform reliability, operational resilience and secure delivery practices across engineering teams
- Contributing to modernisation programmes involving secure data environments and legacy platform transformation
- Collaborating directly with multidisciplinary teams and customers to evolve platform standards, tooling and automation approaches
The teams tend to value pragmatic engineers who can communicate well, work closely with stakeholders and balance technical quality with real-world operational constraints. The organisation places far more emphasis on engineering mindset, adaptability and collaborative delivery than on matching a rigid checklist of technologies. These roles are particularly well suited to engineers who enjoy broad technical exposure and operating across cloud infrastructure, automation and secure software delivery rather than specialising in a single narrow technology area.
Security Requirements
Due to the nature of the work, active UK*C DV clearance is preferred. Candidates should typically be sole UK nationals and willing to travel to secure customer sites where required.
Benefits
- 10% clearance bonus
- 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays
- Buy or sell up to 5 days leave per year
- 8% employer pension contribution
- Private healthcare
- Life assurance
- EV car scheme via salary sacrifice
- EMI share scheme
- Flexible working and flexi-time
- Dedicated training allowance and individual development plans
Platform Engineer (National Security) employer: Forwardrole
Join a dynamic engineering consultancy that prioritises collaboration and innovation in the National Security sector. With opportunities across Gloucestershire, Manchester, and London, we offer a supportive work culture that values adaptability and broad technical exposure, alongside competitive benefits such as a 10% clearance bonus, generous leave policies, and a dedicated training allowance for personal growth. Our small teams ensure that every engineer has a significant impact on projects, making this an ideal environment for those seeking meaningful and rewarding employment.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Platform Engineer (National Security)
✨Network Like a Pro
Get out there and connect with people in the industry! Attend meetups, webinars, or even just grab a coffee with someone who works in National Security. Building relationships can open doors that a CV just can't.
✨Show Off Your Skills
When you get the chance to chat with potential employers, don’t hold back! Share your experiences with Infrastructure as Code, Docker, and Kubernetes. Let them know how you've tackled challenges in secure software delivery.
✨Tailor Your Approach
Every conversation is an opportunity! Make sure to tailor your discussions to highlight how your skills align with their needs. Talk about your adaptability and collaborative mindset – they’re looking for engineers who can think on their feet.
✨Apply Through Us!
Don’t forget to check out our website for the latest job openings. Applying directly through us not only shows your interest but also gives you a better chance of landing that interview. We’re here to help you every step of the way!
We think you need these skills to ace Platform Engineer (National Security)
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV reflects the skills and experiences that align with the Platform Engineer role. Highlight your experience with Infrastructure as Code, cloud platforms, and any relevant security clearances to catch our eye!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Use your cover letter to tell us why you're passionate about working in National Security. Share specific examples of how you've collaborated with teams or solved complex problems, showing us your engineering mindset.
Showcase Your Technical Skills:Don’t just list your technical skills; demonstrate them! Mention specific projects where you’ve used tools like Terraform, Docker, or Kubernetes. We love seeing practical applications of your knowledge.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website for the best chance of getting noticed. It’s the easiest way for us to keep track of your application and ensure it reaches the right people!
How to prepare for a job interview at Forwardrole
✨Know Your Tech Inside Out
Make sure you’re well-versed in the technologies mentioned in the job description, like Terraform, Ansible, Docker, and Kubernetes. Brush up on your knowledge of cloud platforms like AWS and Azure, as well as CI/CD pipelines. Being able to discuss these tools confidently will show that you're ready to hit the ground running.
✨Showcase Your Collaborative Spirit
This role values teamwork and collaboration, so be prepared to share examples of how you've worked effectively with others in the past. Think about times when you’ve solved problems alongside colleagues or contributed to a team project. Highlighting your ability to communicate and work well with multidisciplinary teams will set you apart.
✨Demonstrate Your Problem-Solving Skills
Expect questions that assess your problem-solving abilities, especially in high-pressure situations. Prepare to discuss specific challenges you've faced in previous roles and how you approached them. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your answers and make them impactful.
✨Understand the Security Landscape
Given the nature of the work, having a solid grasp of security practices is crucial. Familiarise yourself with secure software delivery and operational resilience. Be ready to discuss how you would approach security in platform engineering, and any relevant experiences you have in this area.
