AWS Technical Lead – 12 month contract - Gloucester
The opportunity
Lead the migration and modernisation of a business-critical Customer Services Platform from on-premises infrastructure to AWS. This is an opportunity for an experienced AWS Technical Lead with a strong enterprise Java background to shape the target architecture and guide delivery from initial discovery and planning through phased migration, cutover and operational handover. The platform supports customer-facing and operational processes through a customer portal, integrated applications and complex enterprise interfaces. Combining legacy and modern technologies, high transaction volumes and demanding availability requirements, the programme will require technical leadership and a practical approach to security, resilience and delivery.
What you’ll be doing
You’ll take end-to-end technical ownership of the migration, working closely with UK-based programme leadership, architects, implementation partners, suppliers, engineers, security specialists, operations teams and business stakeholders. Your responsibilities will include:
- Defining the programme’s technical scope, target AWS architecture, migration strategy and delivery roadmap.
- Leading architecture and design reviews, validating technology decisions and maintaining clear technical records.
- Assessing technical debt, migration complexity, risks and dependencies, and agreeing mitigation plans.
- Guiding multidisciplinary onshore and offshore teams through implementation, testing, deployment, migration cutover and operational handover.
- Establishing engineering, secure development, documentation and code-review standards.
- Driving cloud-native modernisation where appropriate, alongside DevSecOps, automation and Infrastructure as Code.
- Coordinating architecture, development, infrastructure, security and operations workstreams, including third-party supplier deliverables.
- Facilitating technical workshops, resolving cross-team dependencies and communicating recommendations to senior stakeholders and governance boards.
- Validating security, compliance, disaster recovery and operational readiness before production releases.
- Supporting knowledge transfer and establishing a sustainable cloud operating and support model.
What you’ll bring
Essential experience
- At least eight years’ experience in software engineering.
- At least four years’ experience in AWS architecture.
- A proven track record of leading large-scale AWS migration programmes.
- A strong enterprise Java background, including Java 17 or later; Java 21 is preferred.
- Significant technical leadership experience across multidisciplinary and distributed teams.
- Fluent written and spoken English.
Technical expertise
AWS architecture:
- AWS Well-Architected Framework, multi-account environments, landing zones, cloud governance, secure-by-design principles and disaster recovery.
AWS services:
- EC2, ECS and/or EKS, Lambda, API Gateway, S3, RDS, DynamoDB, EventBridge, SNS, SQS, IAM, CloudWatch, Systems Manager, Secrets Manager and Route 53.
Software and integration architecture:
- Java, REST APIs, event-driven architecture, microservices, distributed systems, enterprise integration patterns and Domain-Driven Design.
Architecture disciplines:
- Enterprise, solution, API and security architecture, alongside cloud migration strategy.
Engineering and DevOps:
- CI/CD pipelines, Git, GitHub, GitLab and/or Azure DevOps, Docker, Kubernetes, Terraform, Infrastructure as Code and automated testing.
Leadership and delivery skills
- Translating business objectives into practical technical solutions.
- Explaining complex technical concepts to non-technical audiences.
- Presenting recommendations, risks and dependencies to senior leaders and steering committees.
- Coordinating suppliers and resolving cross-supplier dependencies.
- Planning and prioritising technical workstreams, forecasting delivery and managing risks, issues and escalations.
- Coaching engineers and promoting collaborative problem-solving and knowledge sharing.
Desirable experience and qualifications
- Knowledge of ISO 27001, NIST, Cyber Essentials, GDPR and AWS security frameworks.
- Relevant certifications, such as AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Professional, AWS Certified DevOps Engineer – Professional, AWS Certified Security – Specialty, TOGAF, SAFe Agilist or Certified ScrumMaster.
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AWS Tech Lead in Gloucester employer: Morson Forces
Morson Forces provides a supportive work culture with opportunities to engage in critical aerospace projects. Employees can expect to develop their skills in a specialized environment focused on compliance and safety. The company values teamwork and professional growth, making it an attractive employer in the defense sector.
