At a Glance
- Tasks: Design and develop platforms that empower developers to enhance national security.
- Company: Join MI5, the UK's security service, dedicated to keeping the nation safe.
- Benefits: Enjoy a supportive environment, career growth, and opportunities for training and certifications.
- Other info: Collaborative culture with a focus on continuous learning and innovation.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in national security while working with cutting-edge technology.
- Qualifications: Experience in platform engineering or software development with strong problem-solving skills.
The predicted salary is between 40000 - 50000 £ per year.
Location: London
About the job
MI5 keeps the country safe from serious threats like terrorism and attempts by states to harm the UK, its people, and way of life. We carry out investigations by obtaining, analysing, and assessing intelligence, and then work with a range of partners including MI6 and GCHQ, to disrupt these threats. Through our protective security arm, we provide advice and guidance to government, businesses, and other organisations on how to keep themselves safe. A role in MI5 means you'll do unique and challenging work in a supportive and encouraging environment, making a real difference to UK national security.
Job description
As a Platform Engineer, you'll design, develop and operate platforms that give developers the tools they need to build critical technology that helps keep the country safe. Joining MI5 offers the opportunity to contribute to a growing technology capability while being part of an expanding engineering workforce, helping to enhance platforms and products delivered across the organisation.
Day to day, the role involves building developer tooling, managed services, and automation, along with self‑service solutions. Infrastructure‑as‑code is used to ensure consistency and reliability across cloud and on premise environments, enabling teams to move quickly with confidence.
A significant part of the role centres on working closely with our product teams, understanding pain points, prioritising what matters most, and shaping solutions that meaningfully improve the developer experience. The outcome is streamlined workflows, reduced friction, and more time for engineers to focus on delivering solutions to meet MI5's outcomes. You'll play a key part in contributing to our engineering community by sharing best practice standards, patterns, and establishing clear and consistent approaches that teams can adopt with confidence.
When issues arise, you'll get stuck in, troubleshooting platform problems and improving reliability, usability, and observability, while feeding those insights back into better design. Sharing knowledge across teams will be a big part of the role, as will helping to build a consistent, collaborative engineering culture. You'll also support other engineers, helping them build confidence and develop their skills.
We know that platform engineering evolves constantly, and the quality of this role depends on keeping pace with it. As a result, there is a regular protected time to horizon scan, research emerging trends, and pursue training or certifications relevant to your career.
Person specification
A natural problem solver, you enjoy tackling complex challenges and turning them into practical solutions. Experience may come from working as a Platform or DevOps Engineer across a range of technologies and customer environments, or from a Software Engineering background with demonstrable experience in solving platform and infrastructure‑related challenges in current or recent roles.
An understanding of the software development lifecycle in an enterprise or commercial environment is essential, alongside familiarity with design patterns and secure coding practices.
Working closely with engineers and technologists, this role focuses on understanding challenges and shaping effective platform solutions. Confidence communicating with both technical and non‑technical audiences is important, particularly when explaining ideas clearly, aligning on priorities, and building trust across teams.
You'll be comfortable working independently with a high level of autonomy, making pragmatic decisions and seeing work through from problem to solution. Being proactive in seeking support from senior engineers and leaders when needed, along with a willingness to learn and grow, is also important.
Proficiency in at least one modern programming language, such as Node.js, Python, or Java, is expected along with experience in core engineering practices including TDD, CI/CD pipelines, cloud services, and agile methodologies. Familiarity with infrastructure‑as‑code tools such as Terraform is also important.
Platform Engineer - MI5 The Security Service - HEO in London employer: Government Digital & Data
The Government Digital Service (GDS) is an exceptional employer, offering a unique opportunity to work at the forefront of digital transformation within the UK government. With hubs in vibrant cities like Bristol, London, and Manchester, GDS fosters a collaborative and inclusive work culture that prioritises employee growth and development, ensuring that every team member can thrive while making a meaningful impact on public services. Join us to be part of a dynamic team dedicated to harnessing technology for the public good, where your contributions will help shape the future of digital government.
Contact Details:
Government Digital & Data Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Platform Engineer - MI5 The Security Service - HEO in London
✨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 Government Digital & Data 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 Government Digital & Data.
✨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 Government Digital & Data.
✨Explore Job Boards Specifically for Tech Roles
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We think you need these skills to ace Platform Engineer - MI5 The Security Service - HEO in London
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 Government Digital & Data.
Craft a killer cover letter:Your cover letter is your chance to stand out—make it personal! Explain why you want to work at Government Digital & Data 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 Government Digital & Data
✨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 Government Digital & Data 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.
