At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead DevOps initiatives, shape technical strategies, and mentor engineers in a dynamic environment.
- Company: Join Leonardo, a global leader in Aerospace, Defence, and Security.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible working, generous leave, and access to 4,000+ online courses.
- Other info: Be part of an inclusive team that values diversity and innovation.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on critical missions while advancing your career.
- Qualifications: Expertise in CI/CD, automation, and cloud environments is essential.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 £ per year.
hackajob is collaborating with Leonardo to connect them with exceptional professionals for this role.
Your impact
Do you want to shape the future of DevOps across the UK’s most critical missions? At Leonardo, our Lead DevOps Engineers (Technical Specialists) are recognised authorities in automation and secure software delivery. They set technical direction, act as subject matter experts across programmes, and ensure our DevOps solutions remain robust, secure, and innovative. Your work at Leonardo UK will see you take the lead in solving customer problems in an agile, innovative and team-centric manner. The role will involve working full time at the customers site.
What you will do as a Lead DevOps Engineer:
- Act as the technical authority for DevOps across programmes, shaping architectures and guiding technical delivery.
- Define and influence DevOps roadmaps, innovation, and future strategies for automation and secure delivery.
- Lead feasibility studies, technology assessments, and solution recommendations for complex engineering challenges.
- Provide advanced guidance in CI/CD, infrastructure as code, and container orchestration across environments.
- Mentor Principal, Senior, and Early-career Engineers to raise capability across the DevOps community.
- Represent Leonardo at customer reviews, technical boards, and industry events, presenting and defending solutions.
- Contribute expert input to bids, proposals, and technical strategy.
- Champion secure-by-design principles, accreditation alignment, and engineering governance.
What you’ll bring:
- Recognised expertise as a technical authority in DevOps and automation.
- Ability to influence technical strategy and represent Leonardo externally as a subject matter expert.
- Strong communication skills to engage with stakeholders from engineers to senior leaders.
Core areas (must have):
- Expert knowledge of CI/CD pipelines, automation, and orchestration (GitHub Actions, GitLab CI, Jenkins, Terraform, Ansible, Helm).
- Strong expertise in containerisation and orchestration (Docker, Kubernetes, OpenShift/Tanzu).
- Deep knowledge of cloud environments (AWS, Azure) and hybrid deployments.
- Experience embedding cyber security controls and DevSecOps practices into pipelines and infrastructure.
- Proficiency in scripting and automation (Python, Bash, PowerShell).
- Familiarity with accreditation, assurance, and governance requirements in secure environments.
Desirable:
- Recognised expert certifications (e.g. Kubernetes CKA/CKAD, AWS/Azure Architect, HashiCorp Terraform/ Vault).
- Experience influencing organisational DevOps standards and best practices.
- Contributions to research, publications, or professional forums in DevOps/automation.
- Knowledge of service mesh, GitOps, and policy-as-code approaches.
- Experience with monitoring/logging and observability platforms (ELK, Prometheus, Splunk).
This is not an exhaustive list, and we are keen to hear from you even if you might not have experience in all the above. The most important skill is a good attitude and willingness to learn.
Security Clearance
This role is subject to pre-employment screening in line with the UK Government’s Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS). An additional range of Personnel Security Controls referred to as National Security Vetting (NSV) may apply, this could include meeting the eligibility requirements for The Security Check (SC) or Developed Vetting (DV).
Why join us
At Leonardo, our people are at the heart of everything we do. We offer a comprehensive, company-funded benefits package that supports your wellbeing, career development, and work–life balance. Whether you're looking to grow professionally, care for your health, or plan for the future, we’re here to help you thrive.
- Time to Recharge: Enjoy generous leave with the opportunity to accrue up to 12 additional flexi-days each year.
- Secure your Future: Benefit from our award-winning pension scheme with up to 15% employer contribution.
- Your Wellbeing Matters: Free access to mental health support, financial advice, and employee-led networks championing inclusion and diversity (Enable, Pride, Equalise, Armed Forces, Carers, Wellbeing and Ethnicity).
- Rewarding Performance: All employees at management level and below are eligible for our bonus scheme.
- Never Stop Learning: Free access to 4,000+ online courses via Coursera and LinkedIn Learning.
- Refer a friend: Receive a financial reward through our referral programme.
- Tailored Perks: Spend up to £500 annually on flexible benefits including private healthcare, dental, family cover, tech & lifestyle discounts, gym memberships and more.
- Flexible working: Flexible hours with hybrid working options. For part time opportunities, please talk to us about what might be possible for this role.
For a full list of our company benefits please visit our website.
Leonardo is a global leader in Aerospace, Defence, and Security. Headquartered in Italy, we employ over 53,000 people worldwide including 8,500 across 9 sites in the UK. Our employees are not just part of a team—they are key contributors to shaping innovation, advancing technology, and enhancing global safety.
At Leonardo we are committed to building an inclusive, accessible, and welcoming workplace. We believe that a diverse workforce sparks creativity, drives innovation, and leads to better outcomes for our people and our customers. If you have any accessibility requirements to support you during the recruitment process, just let us know.
Be part of something bigger - apply now!
Primary Location: GB - Bristol - Coldharbour Lane
Contract Type: Permanent
Hybrid Working: Onsite
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Lead DevOps Engineer (Bristol)
✨Get Involved in Local Automation Meetups
We can’t stress this enough – getting your face out there in the automation and control systems community can really set you apart. Look for local meetups or workshops where you can chat with industry professionals, learn about what’s trending, and even discover hidden job gems. Who knows, you might meet someone from a company like Leonardo!
✨Show Off Your Projects
Make sure you have a portfolio of your work ready to roll. Whether it’s academic projects, internships or personal experiments, showcase how you’ve tackled automation challenges. When you apply for the Lead DevOps Engineer (Bristol) position at Leonardo, linking your portfolio gives your application that extra oomph and demonstrates your practical knowledge.
✨Leverage Your Uni Career Services
If you’re fresh out of uni, don’t forget about your career services! Many universities have established connections with companies in the automation field. They may know when Leonardo is looking for fresh talent or even have internships that lead to full-time positions. So, hit them up!
✨Keep an Eye on Industry Certifications
While hunting for roles, consider getting certified in relevant automation technologies. It shows dedication and gives you a leg up in the job market. Plus, many organisations offer job boards or networking events to certified professionals. This might just lead you to that coveted Lead DevOps Engineer (Bristol) role at Leonardo!
We think you need these skills to ace Lead DevOps Engineer (Bristol)
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Technical Skills:When applying for an automation-control-systems role, it’s crucial to highlight your technical skills. Whether it's your proficiency in programming languages like Python or understanding control systems, make sure your CV showcases these prominently. Don't forget to mention any specific software or tools you're experienced with – that’s music to the ears of hiring managers!
Tailor Your Projects to Automation:If you've worked on any relevant projects, especially those involving automation or control systems, make them stand out in your CV. Use a dedicated section to highlight these projects, explaining your role and the impact of your contributions. This could be the difference between getting noticed and getting overlooked!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to shine, so tell us why you’re passionate about automation-control-systems! Discuss specific experiences that sparked your interest in this field. Maybe it's a university project or a previous job that truly got you hooked. We love seeing that spark! Make sure to reference how you can contribute to Leonardo and its goals.
Quantify Your Achievements:In the world of automation, results matter. When listing your experiences, quantify your achievements wherever possible. Did you improve system efficiency by a percentage? Did you reduce downtime? Putting numbers to your successes not only demonstrates your impact but also lets us see the tangible outcomes of your efforts. It makes your application pop!
How to prepare for a job interview at Leonardo
✨Master Your Technical Knowledge
In the automation control systems field, you need to brush up on your technical know-how. Be prepared to talk about specific control systems you’ve worked with, such as PLCs or SCADA systems, and expect technical questions or even hands-on problem-solving scenarios during the interview.
✨Showcase Your Projects
Whether it's freelance projects or your academic work, come ready to showcase your portfolio of automation projects. Bring along any diagrams, code samples, or automation solutions you’ve implemented—these can really set you apart and demonstrate your applied skills to Leonardo.
✨Understand Industry Trends
Stay updated on the latest trends in automation technologies and methodologies, like Industry 4.0 or IIoT. We'll want to discuss how these concepts may affect the role and future projects at Leonardo, so showing that you're knowledgeable about current and emerging technologies can give you an edge.
✨Commit to Continuous Learning
As this is a full-time role, it's essential to express your eagerness for continuous improvement and learning. Share how you plan to enhance your skills and keep pace with the evolution of automation in the workforce – companies love candidates who are committed to growth and adaptability.
