At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead DevOps solutions, shape technical direction, 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 a comprehensive benefits package.
- 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 required.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 £ per year.
Your impact
Do you want to shape the future of DevOps across the UK’s most critical missions? At Leonardo, our Senior 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, and requires an active DV clearance.
What you will do as a Senior 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
Senior DevOps Engineer in Bristol employer: Leonardo
Contact Detail:
Leonardo Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior DevOps Engineer in Bristol
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with folks in the industry. Attend meetups, webinars, or even local tech events. You never know who might be looking for a Senior DevOps Engineer just like you!
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! Create a portfolio or GitHub repository showcasing your projects and contributions to open-source. This is a great way to demonstrate your expertise in CI/CD, automation, and container orchestration.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by brushing up on your technical knowledge and soft skills. Practice explaining complex concepts in simple terms, as you'll need to communicate effectively with both engineers and senior leaders.
✨Tip Number 4
Don't forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are genuinely interested in joining our team at Leonardo.
We think you need these skills to ace Senior DevOps Engineer in Bristol
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter to highlight your experience in DevOps, automation, and secure software delivery. We want to see how your skills align with the role, so don’t hold back on showcasing your expertise!
Showcase Your Technical Skills: When applying, emphasise your knowledge of CI/CD pipelines, containerisation, and cloud environments. Mention specific tools like GitHub Actions or Terraform that you’ve worked with, as this will help us see your hands-on experience.
Communicate Clearly: Strong communication skills are key for this role. In your application, be clear and concise about your achievements and how you’ve influenced technical strategies in past roles. We love a good story that shows your impact!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it’s super easy to do!
How to prepare for a job interview at Leonardo
✨Know Your Tech Inside Out
As a Senior DevOps Engineer, you need to be a technical authority. Brush up on your knowledge of CI/CD pipelines, container orchestration, and cloud environments. Be ready to discuss specific tools like GitHub Actions, Docker, and AWS, and how you've used them in past projects.
✨Showcase Your Problem-Solving Skills
Prepare to share examples of complex engineering challenges you've tackled. Think about how you approached feasibility studies or technology assessments, and be ready to explain your thought process and the impact of your solutions.
✨Communicate Like a Pro
Strong communication skills are key for this role. Practice explaining technical concepts in simple terms, as you'll need to engage with stakeholders at all levels. Consider doing mock interviews with friends to refine your delivery.
✨Emphasise Your Mentoring Experience
Since mentoring is part of the job, think about times you've guided others in their careers. Be prepared to discuss how you've raised capability within teams and contributed to the DevOps community, showcasing your leadership potential.