At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a team to enhance site reliability and maintain digital services for the justice system.
- Company: Join Justice Digital, where technology drives impactful change in government services.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, hybrid working model, and opportunities for career development.
- Other info: Be part of a vibrant community of over 150 engineers with mentorship opportunities.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in the justice system while working with cutting-edge technologies.
- Qualifications: Experience in site reliability engineering and a passion for collaboration.
The predicted salary is between 71381 - 80219 € per year.
Full-time (Permanent) National: £71,381 - £80,419, London: £75,674 - £85,257. Published on 21 January 2026. Deadline 1 February 2026.
Location: East Midlands (England), East of England, London (region), North East England, North West England, Scotland, South East England, South West England, Wales, West Midlands (England), Yorkshire and the Humber.
About the job:
We offer a hybrid working model, allowing for a balance between remote work and time spent in your local office.
The Role:
We’re recruiting for a Lead Site Reliability Engineer here at Justice Digital, to lead our site reliability engineering team in HMPPS Digital. Within the team, you will be helping to build and maintain platforms that underpin the digital services we are delivering. You will work closely with development teams, cloud platforms teams, live service teams and security teams to help maintain and develop services. We use modern best practices like DevOps and agile, use cloud native architectures and prefer modern open-source tools. This role aligns against the Lead DevOps Engineer role from the Government Digital and Data Framework.
About Us:
At Justice Digital, we’re dedicated to leveraging technology to drive impactful change across the justice system. As a Lead Site Reliability Engineer, you’ll play a pivotal role in enhancing access to justice and improving outcomes for users through innovative digital solutions.
Responsibilities:
- You’ll be working on our acclaimed open-source public services, with user needs at the heart of everything, helping us transform Government for the future.
- Working as part of a multi-disciplinary team, you’ll be helping define how we do what we do and making sure that our systems are built to be changed rapidly, leading teams of site reliability engineer specialists across teams.
Collaboration:
You’ll collaborate closely with software developers, product managers, designers, delivery managers, technical architects and content specialists who share our vision of leveraging technology to transform government services.
Technologies:
We use a diverse range of technologies, and we’re seeking individuals who specialise in one or more and are eager to learn new languages and frameworks. Our tech stack includes:
- Cloud infrastructure: AWS
- Infrastructure as code: Terraform, AWS CloudFormation
- CI/CD deployments: GitHub Actions, Concourse, CircleCI
Learning and Support:
Once part of Justice Digital, we’ll support you in mastering our tech stack, regardless of your current experience. Explore our GitHub for insights into our technologies and the services we develop and maintain.
Our Community:
Join over 150 experienced software and site reliability engineers who form our vibrant engineering community across the MoJ. You’ll have opportunities to mentor junior colleagues and participate in informal support networks with peers. We encourage active engagement in shaping our engineering culture and community.
Career Development:
We take pride in our supportive and effective line management. Your skills are highly valued, and we’re committed to helping you expand them within the civil service. You’ll have opportunities to move between teams or departments, explore new technologies, and take on increased responsibilities aligned with your career goals.
Explore Further:
Dive deeper into our work and culture by visiting our Developer Blog and Justice Digital Blog.
Key Responsibilities:
- Provide strong leadership to set the future site reliability engineering strategy for a fast paced, demanding environment.
- Take ownership of improving the site reliability engineering capability across the large number of diverse development and engineering teams.
- Work with the Head of Profession, the wider engineering leadership team and development operations community to ensure we build maintainable and sustainable digital products across Digital.
Lead Site Reliability Engineer - Ministry of Justice - G6 employer: Manchester Digital
Justice Digital is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic hybrid working model that promotes a healthy work-life balance while allowing you to contribute to meaningful digital transformations within the justice system. With a strong focus on employee growth, our vibrant engineering community encourages collaboration, mentorship, and continuous learning, ensuring that your skills are nurtured and valued as you help shape the future of government services.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Lead Site Reliability Engineer - Ministry of Justice - G6
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to current or former employees at Justice Digital on LinkedIn. A friendly chat can give you insider info and might even lead to a referral, which is always a bonus!
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for the interview by brushing up on your technical skills and understanding the latest in site reliability engineering. We recommend practising common interview questions and scenarios related to DevOps and cloud technologies.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your passion for technology and innovation during interviews. Share examples of how you've used modern tools and practices in past roles. This will help us see how you can contribute to our mission at Justice Digital.
✨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, it shows you’re serious about joining our team at Justice Digital.
We think you need these skills to ace Lead Site Reliability Engineer - Ministry of Justice - G6
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Lead Site Reliability Engineer role. Highlight your experience with cloud infrastructure, DevOps practices, and any relevant technologies from our tech stack. We want to see how your skills align with what we do!
Showcase Your Collaboration Skills:Since this role involves working closely with various teams, it’s essential to demonstrate your ability to collaborate effectively. Share examples of past projects where you’ve worked with developers, product managers, or other stakeholders to achieve a common goal.
Highlight Your Leadership Experience:As a Lead Site Reliability Engineer, leadership is key! Be sure to mention any previous roles where you’ve led teams or initiatives. We’re looking for someone who can inspire and guide others, so let us know how you’ve done that in the past.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website for the best chance of success. It’s the easiest way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to join our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Manchester Digital
✨Know Your Tech Stack
Familiarise yourself with the technologies mentioned in the job description, especially AWS, Terraform, and CI/CD tools like GitHub Actions. Be ready to discuss your experience with these tools and how you've used them in past projects.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
As a Lead Site Reliability Engineer, you'll need to demonstrate strong leadership. Prepare examples of how you've led teams or projects, focusing on collaboration and driving results in a fast-paced environment.
✨Understand the Role of SRE
Brush up on the principles of Site Reliability Engineering and how they apply to the public sector. Be prepared to discuss how you can improve site reliability and what strategies you would implement to enhance service delivery.
✨Engage with Their Mission
Justice Digital is all about leveraging technology for impactful change. Show genuine interest in their mission and be ready to discuss how your values align with theirs. This will help you stand out as a candidate who truly cares about the role.