At a Glance
- Tasks: Design and maintain Infrastructure as Code for secure, automated environments.
- Company: Leading defence technology firm focused on innovation and security.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, comprehensive benefits, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Inclusive workplace encouraging diverse applicants and career development.
- Why this job: Join a mission-driven team making a real impact in defence technology.
- Qualifications: Experience in Infrastructure as Code and strong technical leadership skills.
The predicted salary is between 75000 - 85000 € per year.
Location: Stoke-on-Trent, Permanent Onsite
Salary: £75,000–£85,000 (DOE) + benefits
The Senior Platform Automation Engineer is responsible for designing, delivering, and maintaining Infrastructure as Code (IaC) that underpins the secure, repeatable, and compliant delivery of Collaborative Working Environments (CWEs) for defence customers and their supply‑chain partners. The purpose of this role is to reduce manual infrastructure build and configuration, improve consistency and reliability, and enable rapid, auditable deployment of environments that meet defence‑grade security and assurance standards.
Strategic & Principal Responsibilities
- Contribute to the strategic direction for on-premise platform automation
- Define automation standards, patterns, and reference architectures for secure on-premise infrastructure
- Shape the long‑term roadmap for Infrastructure as Code adoption, modernising traditional infrastructure practices safely within defence environments
- Act as a technical authority and decision maker for platform automation approaches, tools, and designs
- Influence senior stakeholders, architects, security teams, and delivery leads on platform strategy, risk, and investment priorities
Infrastructure as Code & Automation Delivery
- Design, build, and maintain Infrastructure as Code (IaC) for the automated provisioning and lifecycle management of on‑premise CWEs
- Develop reusable, version‑controlled automation artefacts to standardise infrastructure builds across environments
- Lead the transition from manual and bespoke builds to repeatable, code‑driven infrastructure delivery
- Ensure all infrastructure changes are auditable, reproducible, and aligned with secure delivery practices
Security, Assurance & Compliance
- Embed defence‑grade security controls, identity integration, and configuration hardening into all automation
- Design infrastructure automation to support accreditation, assurance, and audit requirements
- Work closely with security and compliance teams to ensure platforms meet customer and regulatory expectations
CI/CD & Environment Lifecycle Management
- Integrate Infrastructure as Code into CI/CD pipelines to support controlled, repeatable platform changes
- Define and implement safe promotion models across development, test, and production environments
- Automate environment provisioning, modification, and decommissioning to support customer lifecycle needs
Operational Reliability & Continuous Improvement
- Improve reliability and reduce operational risk by identifying automation gaps and replacing manual processes
- Support incident analysis and drive preventative improvement through enhanced automation
- Actively manage technical debt within platform automation codebases
- Continuously refine automation to improve efficiency, quality, and resilience
Leadership, Coaching & Enablement
- Provide senior technical leadership and mentoring to Junior and Graduate engineers
- Set expectations for coding quality, automation practices, and operational ownership
- Enable delivery and operations teams to safely consume platform automation through clear guidance and tooling
- Contribute to engineering culture, promoting automation‑first, code‑driven delivery
Essential Experience Education and Experience Requirements
- Significant, hands‑on experience designing, building, and operating on‑premise infrastructure platforms within enterprise or highly regulated environments
- Proven experience delivering Infrastructure as Code (IaC) to automate the provisioning and lifecycle management of infrastructure
- Demonstrable experience working in security‑constrained or regulated environments, such as defence, government, or critical national infrastructure
- Experience contributing to or establishing technical standards, automation patterns, and strategic direction for platform engineering
Technical Experience
- Strong experience with Nutanix hyperconverged infrastructure, including cluster design, operation, and automation
- Experience supporting or automating Citrix platforms (e.g. virtual apps and desktops) within secure enterprise environments
- Solid understanding of traditional data‑centre technologies including compute, storage, networking, and identity services
- Hands‑on experience building, configuring, and automating SQL Server platforms
- Experience supporting multi‑tier enterprise applications hosted on on‑premise infrastructure
- Understanding of how collaboration platforms are underpinned by identity, database, and application services
Automation & Infrastructure as Code
- Strong practical experience with Infrastructure as Code tools (e.g. Terraform, Ansible, PowerShell DSC, or equivalent)
- Proven ability to create reusable, version‑controlled automation artefacts
- Experience integrating infrastructure automation into CI/CD pipelines
- Experience embedding security controls, identity integration, access models, and configuration hardening into automated builds
- Familiarity with accreditation, assurance, and audit processes in secure environments
- Experience supporting live platforms, responding to incidents, and driving automation‑led improvements
Leadership & Professional Experience
- Experience operating as a senior technical engineer, providing guidance and technical leadership to peers
- Proven ability to influence technical direction and challenge legacy approaches with pragmatic, automation‑led solutions
- Comfortable acting as a trusted technical advisor to architects, security teams, and delivery stakeholders
We welcome applications from all individuals, regardless of background or identity, and we encourage candidates who may not meet every listed requirement to still apply. If you require any adjustments or support during the recruitment process, please let us know and we will work with you to ensure a fair and accessible experience.
Senior Platform Automation Engineer in Stoke-on-Trent employer: Free-Work UK
As a Senior Platform Automation Engineer in Stoke-on-Trent, you will join a forward-thinking company that prioritises innovation and employee development. With a strong emphasis on collaboration and continuous improvement, the company offers a supportive work culture, competitive salary, and comprehensive benefits, including opportunities for professional growth and mentorship. This role not only allows you to make a significant impact in the defence sector but also fosters an environment where your contributions are valued and recognised.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Platform Automation Engineer in Stoke-on-Trent
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to folks in the industry, attend meetups, and connect with people on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! Create a portfolio showcasing your Infrastructure as Code projects. This is a great way to demonstrate your hands-on experience and technical prowess to potential employers.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by brushing up on common questions related to platform automation and IaC. Practice explaining your past projects and how you've tackled challenges in secure environments.
✨Tip Number 4
Don't forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, we love hearing from passionate candidates like you!
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Platform Automation Engineer in Stoke-on-Trent
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV reflects the skills and experiences that align with the Senior Platform Automation Engineer role. Highlight your hands-on experience with Infrastructure as Code and any relevant projects you've worked on.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Use your cover letter to tell us why you're passionate about automation and how your background fits our needs. Be specific about your experience in security-constrained environments and how you can contribute to our team.
Showcase Your Technical Skills:Don’t shy away from listing your technical proficiencies, especially with tools like Terraform or Ansible. We want to see your practical experience and how you’ve applied these skills in real-world scenarios.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website for a smoother application process. It helps us keep track of your application and ensures you don’t miss out on any important updates!
How to prepare for a job interview at Free-Work UK
✨Know Your IaC Inside Out
Make sure you’re well-versed in Infrastructure as Code tools like Terraform and Ansible. Be ready to discuss your hands-on experience with these tools, including how you've used them to automate provisioning and lifecycle management in previous roles.
✨Showcase Your Security Savvy
Since this role involves working in security-constrained environments, prepare examples of how you've embedded security controls into your automation processes. Highlight any experience you have with compliance and audit requirements, especially in defence or regulated sectors.
✨Demonstrate Leadership Skills
As a Senior Platform Automation Engineer, you'll need to provide technical leadership. Think of instances where you've mentored junior engineers or influenced technical direction. Be ready to share how you set expectations for coding quality and operational ownership.
✨Prepare for Technical Challenges
Expect to face technical questions that assess your problem-solving skills. Brush up on your knowledge of Nutanix hyperconverged infrastructure and Citrix platforms, and be prepared to discuss how you’ve tackled automation gaps in past projects.
