At a Glance
- Tasks: Design and implement automation solutions for private cloud infrastructure using cutting-edge technologies.
- Company: Join a forward-thinking tech company focused on innovation and collaboration.
- Benefits: Competitive daily rate, remote work flexibility, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Work remotely in a supportive team with excellent career advancement potential.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by leading automation projects in a dynamic environment.
- Qualifications: 5+ years in DevOps or automation engineering with expertise in IaC and CI/CD.
The predicted salary is between 43200 - 46800 £ per year.
This range is provided by NP Group. Your actual pay will be based on your skills and experience — talk with your recruiter to learn more.
Contract Details
- Contract: Automation Architect
- Start Date: ASAP
- Duration: 6 months
- Location: Remote - UK
- Rate: circa £550 - £590 per day outside of IR35
- Reference: 20059
Role Overview
This role is for a highly skilled and experienced Automation Architect responsible for the end‑to‑end delivery of on‑premise private cloud infrastructure automation solutions. The ideal person will bridge the gap between architectural design, process analysis, and hands‑on implementation, ensuring that infrastructure is provisioned and managed efficiently via Infrastructure as Code (IaC) principles utilizing a robust CI/CD pipeline orchestrated by Git runner technology. This automation will specifically target the deployment and management of environments hosting Containers (e.g., Kubernetes, OpenShift) and traditional Virtual Machines (VMs).
Responsibilities
- Strategy and Analysis
- Architectural Design: Design and document the target state architecture for private cloud infrastructure automation, ensuring scalability, security, and maintainability for both VM‑based and containerised platforms.
- Feasibility Analysis: Analyse and evaluate available on‑premise automation technologies, tools, and platforms (e.g. OpenStack, Ansible, Terraform, configuration management tools) to determine the optimal approach for implementing IaC and CI/CD within the private data centre.
- Process Flow Definition: Create detailed process flow diagrams and technical specifications outlining the complete lifecycle of private cloud infrastructure deployment and teardown through the automated pipeline.
- Tooling Selection: Recommend and justify the specific tools and technologies required for the CI/CD pipeline, Git runner orchestration, and IaC implementation targeting the private cloud environment.
- Development Guidance and Enablement
- Technical Leadership: Provide expert guidance and mentorship to development and infrastructure teams on best practices for IaC, CI/CD methodology, and Git runner configuration, specifically tailored for on‑premise automation.
- Platform Expertise: Guide development of IaC modules for provisioning and configuring resources required to host Containers and stand‑alone VMs.
- Standardisation: Define and enforce coding standards, security policies, and deployment patterns for all automated infrastructure deployments in the private cloud.
- Code Review: Participate in code reviews to ensure quality, efficiency, adherence to design specifications, and proper integration with the automation ecosystem.
- Delivery and Quality Assurance
- End‑to‑End Accountability: Maintain full accountability for the delivery and successful functioning of the developed on‑premise automation solutions.
- QA Testing: Design, implement, and execute comprehensive QA test cases and scripts to validate the functionality and idempotency of the automation outcome before release to client teams.
- UAT Participation: Actively participate in the User Acceptance Testing phase with client teams, gathering feedback on functionality, usability, and identifying defects or areas for improvement related to the automated provisioning of container and VM infrastructure.
- Defect Management: Triage, track, and manage all issues and enhancement requests arising from QA and UAT, ensuring their timely resolution.
- Documentation: Ensure all architectural designs, process flows, test results, and operational runbooks for the private cloud automation are accurately documented and maintained.
Required Skills and Qualifications
- Proven experience (5+ years preferred) in a similar role focused on on‑premise infrastructure, DevOps, or automation engineering.
- Must haves: Private cloud experience, Greenfield automation, Ansible/Terraform, GitLab, CI/CD.
- Infrastructure as Code (IaC): Deep expertise with at least one major IaC tool (e.g. Terraform, Ansible) for provisioning and configuration management, including integration with private cloud APIs (e.g. OpenShift, OpenStack).
- Private Cloud/Virtualisation: Strong expertise in virtualization technologies and platforms and managing the underlying infrastructure for VMs and container hosts.
- Container Infrastructure: Solid understanding of the infrastructure requirements for hosting and managing container orchestration platforms (e.g. Kubernetes, OpenShift).
- CI/CD: Extensive knowledge and practical experience designing and implementing end‑to‑end CI/CD pipelines (e.g. Jenkins, GitLab CI, GitHub Actions) and configuring Git runners for private cloud deployments.
- Scripting: Proficiency in scripting languages (e.g. Python, Bash, PowerShell) for developing automation glue logic and utility scripts.
- Analytical Skills: Excellent ability to analyse complex technical problems, map out process flows, and propose clear, actionable solutions.
- Communication: Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, capable of presenting technical concepts to both technical and non‑technical audiences.
Automation Architect in England employer: NP Group
As a Network Consulting Systems Engineer at our globally recognised technology solutions provider, you'll thrive in a dynamic hybrid work environment that fosters innovation and collaboration. With a strong commitment to employee development, you will have access to extensive training and career progression opportunities while working alongside a high-performing team on cutting-edge technologies. Enjoy competitive compensation, a generous travel allowance, and a culture that values continuous learning, making this an exceptional place to advance your career in the heart of London.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Automation Architect in England
✨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 NP Group!
✨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 Automation Architect position at NP Group, 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 NP Group 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 Automation Architect role at NP Group!
We think you need these skills to ace Automation Architect in England
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 NP Group 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 NP Group
✨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 NP Group.
✨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 NP Group, 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.
