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- Tasks: Lead a dynamic team to innovate and enhance DNS technology for key internet services.
- Company: Join Nominet, a leading domain name registry making a positive societal impact.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible hybrid work, early finish Fridays, generous leave, and health perks.
- Why this job: Be part of a mission-driven company shaping the future of internet infrastructure.
- Qualifications: 7+ years in engineering with leadership experience; strong DNS and networking knowledge required.
- Other info: Opportunity to engage in global forums and drive innovation in a collaborative environment.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 84000 £ per year.
Location
Hybrid, with a minimum of 20% in the Oxford and London offices per month
About Us
We’reNominet – a world-leading domain name registryoperatingat the heart of the UK internet. Whilewe\’rebest known for running .UK domains, our DNSexpertisealso underpins critical internet infrastructure that government services, including the NHS, rely on.
As a public benefit company, our work has a positive impact on society. Alongside our work as the national domain name registry, we support programmes that use technology to improve people’s lives by making the internet safe and resilient.
The Role
As the Head ofEngineeringfor DNS servicesat Nominet, you will lead a core technology engineering team to deliver industry-leadingsystems for the internet.This is a critical role with responsibility for engineering one of Nominet’smain businesslines. You will manage a highly skilled team who are either deep experts in the Domain Name System (DNS)or software engineers who will develop custom applicationsandautomationwhichunderpinsour DNS Services.
This role requires a good understanding of distributed systems and modern software engineering and would suit someone from a Site Reliability Engineering or DevSecOps background with extensive experience in managing mission-critical systems based on open source software.
To be successful in this role, you will need to build on our existing DNS product and balance service delivery with the broader strategic goals of the organisation. You will take a data-driven approach to technology and have a relentless focus on simplicity and working software. This way of working will inform your decision-making and provide a feedback loop to drive incremental improvements.
Overall, youwill be a natural problem solver with the mindset for excellence across the entire software development lifecycle – architecture, engineering, and into operations.
What You’ll Be Doing
- Lead the DNS Engineering function: Manage and mentor engineers, fostering a collaborative and innovative team culture.
- Technical leadership: Partner with senior DNS experts to guide the design, delivery, and operation of Nominet’s DNS products and services, ensuring they are robust, scalable, and aligned with industry best practices.
- Design authority alignment: Work closely with DNS architects and principal engineers to ensure expert thinking is embedded in our products and services.
- Strategic direction: Collaborate with the CTO, Technology Leadership Team, Architecture, and Product to shape and deliver the DNS strategy.
- Software and service design: Ensure DNS software and services meet current and future business needs, with a focus on innovation and continuous improvement.
- Project delivery: Deliver DNS initiatives on time, within budget, and to high quality standards, managing risk and ensuring rigorous testing.
- Operational excellence: Ensure DNS services meet or exceed SLAs for uptime and performance through proactive monitoring, maintenance, and optimisation.
- Stakeholder collaboration: Work closely with Network Engineering, Security, Platforms, and SRE to ensure DNS services are fully integrated and aligned with organisational goals.
- People development: Recruit, develop, and retain top DNS talent, fostering continuous learning and keeping skills aligned with advances in DNS technology.
About You
- 7+ years of engineering experience with 3+ years in senior leadership roles, ideally within telco, internet, or service provider environments, or alternatively in near real-time, distributed, or streaming systems.
- Strong understanding of Linux-based systems and cloud platforms (AWS preferred).
- Hands-on experience designing and managing large-scale distributed systems, web applications, and microservices.
- Knowledge of distributed architectures, internet protocols, and networking fundamentals (IP addressing, routing, load balancing).
- Knowledge of BGP and IP Anycast a plus.
- Strong software engineering background (Java, Python, or similar).
- Experience developing and commercialising solutions/products.
- Understanding of security practices, including encryption, DDOS mitigation, and working in highly secure environments.
- Data and analytics expertise with the ability to translate insights into strategic decisions.
- Proven experience in system design, planning, organisation, and full product lifecycle management.
- Familiarity with Agile development methodology.
- Adaptable, flexible, and able to thrive in evolving Dev/Ops environments; motivated to learn and embrace new challenges.
What To Expect Next
- 1st stage: Introduction call with a member of the TA team (30-45 mins)
- 2nd Stage: Hiring Manager and Leadership Capability Interview (60 mins)
- 3rd Stage: Technical Deep Dive (60 mins)
- 4th Stage: Psychometric Assessment, System Design Interview & Exec Interview (90 mins)
What We Offer
Hybrid & Flexible Working
Early Finish Friday – Working week of 34 hours with full-time pay. (Finish at midday on Friday)
30 days of annual leave plus bank holidays, with the ability to purchase an additional 5 days.
Private Medical Insurance + Employee Assistance Programme
Pension Scheme (Matched to 7%)
Annual Bonus Scheme
Family Leave (Enhanced)
Electric vehicle scheme with on-site charging points* Rewards platform with access to discounts at hundreds of shops, restaurants etc.*
Diversity Statement
We\’re passionate about creating a workplace where every individual is valued, respected, and empowered. Somewhere we can benefit from all forms of diversity and discover the true value in our differences. If there are any adjustments we could make to the recruitment and selection process to support you, please let us know
Security Statement
Nominet is committed to the safeguarding and welfare of the internet and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment by participating in the relevant security and screening processes. All roles working for Nominet will be subject to a Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) check. Some roles due to the nature of their work, will require additional security clearance.
Job Segment
Open Source, Embedded, Cloud, Testing, Linux, Technology
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Head of DNS Engineering employer: Nominet
Contact Detail:
Nominet Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of DNS Engineering
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with the latest DNS technologies and protocols, such as DNSSEC and DoH. Being well-versed in these areas will not only boost your confidence during discussions but also demonstrate your expertise to the hiring team.
✨Tip Number 2
Network with professionals in the DNS field by attending relevant conferences or online forums. Engaging with industry experts can provide insights into current trends and challenges, which you can reference during interviews to showcase your knowledge.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare to discuss your leadership style and how you've successfully managed teams in the past. Highlight specific examples where you've fostered collaboration and innovation, as this aligns with the role's emphasis on team development.
✨Tip Number 4
Research Nominet’s recent projects and initiatives related to DNS services. Understanding their strategic goals and how you can contribute will help you articulate your fit for the role and your enthusiasm for joining their mission.
We think you need these skills to ace Head of DNS Engineering
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights relevant experience in DNS engineering and leadership. Emphasise your technical skills, particularly in DNS architecture and protocols, as well as your ability to manage teams effectively.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: In your cover letter, express your passion for DNS technology and how your vision aligns with Nominet's goals. Mention specific projects or achievements that demonstrate your expertise and leadership capabilities.
Showcase Your Problem-Solving Skills: Provide examples in your application of how you've tackled complex problems in previous roles. Highlight your data-driven approach and how it has led to successful outcomes in DNS projects.
Highlight Community Engagement: If you have experience representing your organisation in industry forums or communities, make sure to include this. It shows your commitment to the DNS ecosystem and your ability to collaborate with stakeholders.
How to prepare for a job interview at Nominet
✨Showcase Your DNS Expertise
Make sure to highlight your deep understanding of DNS technologies during the interview. Be prepared to discuss specific protocols like DNSSEC and DoH/T/Q, as well as your experience with nameserver implementations. This will demonstrate your technical proficiency and alignment with the role.
✨Emphasise Leadership Experience
Since this role requires senior leadership skills, share examples of how you've successfully managed and mentored engineering teams in the past. Discuss your approach to fostering a collaborative environment and how you’ve driven innovation within your teams.
✨Align with Strategic Goals
Be ready to talk about how you can align DNS product and service delivery with broader organisational goals. Show that you understand the importance of strategic direction and how your previous experiences can contribute to Nominet's mission.
✨Demonstrate Problem-Solving Skills
Prepare to discuss specific challenges you've faced in previous roles and how you approached solving them. Highlight your data-driven decision-making process and your ability to implement solutions that enhance operational excellence.
