At a Glance
- Tasks: Design and maintain cloud infrastructure while driving security and automation.
- Company: Join Oxford Dynamics, a fast-growing deep-tech company in AI and robotics.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, flexible hours, private healthcare, and 29 days holiday.
- Other info: Collaborative culture with rapid career progression and meaningful ownership.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in high-stakes environments and shape the future of technology.
- Qualifications: Proven DevOps experience with AWS, Kubernetes, and CI/CD expertise.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 £ per year.
Contract: Permanent or Contract considered
Location: Greater Oxford Area
Working Pattern: Hybrid (2-3 days in office)
Salary: Competitive
A note from the Founders
Oxford Dynamics is at an inflection point. We operate in some of the most complex and high‑stakes environments in the world - defence, national security, AI and robotics. The decisions we make now will define not just how fast we grow, but who we become. You will work closely with all the team. You will be trusted with judgment calls. You will influence the business. And you will see the impact of your work every day in the work we do. If you are excited by ownership, pace and purpose - and by building something that genuinely matters - we would love to hear from you.
Who We Are
Founded in 2020, Oxford Dynamics (OD) is a fast‑growing UK deep‑tech company developing AI and robotic systems designed to operate in mission‑critical environments. Our flagship AVIS (A Very Intelligent System) AI framework fuses multi‑modal data - text, imagery, telemetry and sensor feeds - enabling operators to interrogate complex information at speed and make better decisions under pressure. Our STRIDER robotic platform performs autonomous tasks in hazardous environments, protecting people while extending operational reach. Our ambition is simple but demanding: to converge AI and robotics so machines can sense, understand and act in complex, real‑world environments. We work with defence and security organisations internationally to help protect nations, infrastructure and lives.
What you will be doing here/ why this role matters
Oxford Dynamics is a small team who rely on a collaborative and positive approach and so the right attitude for this role is equally as important as experience. We are at an important stage and time in our growth, and as a Senior DevOps Engineer you will be an essential part of our success. We are looking for a seasoned DevOps professional with deep hands‑on expertise in AWS, Kubernetes and modern CI/CD who can also drive cloud‑native security. You will design, build and audit scalable infrastructure, automate delivery pipelines and champion cost‑efficient, highly available platforms while owning key processes that will help OD remain compliant with our various certifications also.
Key Responsibilities
- End-to-end cloud ownership – architect, implement and maintain multi‑account, multi‑region environments using IaC (Terraform, CloudFormation, Helm).
- Platform reliability & automation – manage Kubernetes clusters (EKS/OpenShift), container registries and service meshes; create GitHub Actions / Argo CD pipelines for zero‑touch deployments.
- Security hardening – lead security‑posture reviews, implement GuardDuty, CloudWatch and IAM best practices.
- SRE & monitoring – uphold SLAs through observability stacks, proactive alerting and performance tuning of distributed systems.
- Collaboration & enablement – automate repetitive tasks, mentor developers and champion DevSecOps best practice across teams.
- Policy & audit ownership - steward the regular audits we need to put in place to remain compliant with industry standards ensuring provenance.
- Backup & DR - design AWS Backup plans, run annual restore drills, maintain RPO/RTO dashboards.
- Capacity & cost optimisation - run the monthly Capacity & Availability Checklist; leverage Compute Optimizer, Savings Plans and Graviton.
- Drift detection & golden images - operate Terraform/Helm drift alerts, AMI & container image pipelines with Inspector v2 scanning.
- Incident & hot‑fix response - coordinate emergency changes, rollbacks and post‑incident reviews.
What you can bring to Oxford Dynamics
A collaborative and supportive attitude to work is essential for this role. You will be expected to operate at multiple levels within the company, with a strong focus on delivery and attention to detail. You will be comfortable working alone, supporting team members as well as interacting with clients if required.
Qualifications, experience and skills
- Proven experience in DevOps / SRE, with recent focus on AWS cloud engineering.
- Expert in AWS core services (EC2, VPC, IAM, S3, ALB/ELB, CloudFront, ECR/ECS, Elastic Beanstalk, Control Tower) and security tooling (GuardDuty, IAM Identity Center, CloudWatch).
- Strong Kubernetes (EKS/OpenShift) administration, Helm packaging and service‑mesh know‑how.
- Proficient in IaC (Terraform, Terraform Cloud, CloudFormation), containerisation (Docker, Docker Compose) and Linux systems.
- Solid CI/CD engineering with GitHub Actions and Argo CD.
- Experience integrating SAST and DAST best practices.
- Scripting in Bash and Python or Go for automation.
- Demonstrated success delivering cloud cost‑optimisation and high‑security solutions for enterprise clients.
- Expertise in implementing SSO across a variety of industry standard software.
Preferred/ Bonus
- Experience with MLOps (Softwares such as Sagemaker, Kubeflow or ZenML).
- Deployment of on‑premise Kubernetes.
- Prometheus (or other stacks) observability.
- Experience with AWS Karpenter & Compute Optimizer.
- Compliance literacy - ISO 27001, NIST SSDF/OWASP SAMM, GDPR basics.
Soft skills
- Process‑driven, documentation‑friendly mindset.
- “Can‑do” attitude, quick learner and unafraid of complex challenges.
- Excellent teammate with strong cross‑functional communication.
Why This Role?
You will join a culture that values secure, automated delivery and encourages experimentation. If you thrive on scaling cloud platforms, tightening security and shaving milliseconds (and money) off every deployment, we’d love to meet you.
Why Oxford Dynamics?
Join the most exciting growth area in the UK: AI and Robotics! Every member of the Oxford Dynamics team has a major impact on the products and services we provide. Regardless of job title, you’ll get to make a real difference and learn from colleagues about all areas of our business.
Benefits include
- Salary: negotiable based on experience and attitudes
- Rapid career progression with meaningful ownership of core systems
- Opportunity to shape the future of a fast‑growing, successful, early‑stage business
- Flexible working hours
- Hybrid working model
- Company pension (UK Government NEST scheme) with company contributions at 4%
- Private Healthcare
- 29 days holiday in addition to public holidays (Full Time Equivalent)
Oxford Dynamics is committed to creating an inclusive team experience for all. Regardless of race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, age, disability, or parental status, we believe our work is at its best when everyone feels free to be their authentic self.
Senior Devops Engineer employer: Oxford Dynamics Limited
Oxford Dynamics is an exceptional employer, offering a unique opportunity to lead a talented team of engineers in the fast-paced field of AI and robotics. With a strong focus on employee growth, competitive salaries, and a flexible working environment, we empower our staff to make meaningful contributions that directly impact national security and defence. Our inclusive culture ensures that every team member can thrive and be their authentic self, making this an ideal place for those seeking a rewarding career in a mission-driven organisation.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Devops Engineer
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to folks in the industry, attend meetups, and connect with people on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! Create a portfolio or GitHub repository showcasing your projects and contributions. This is your chance to demonstrate your expertise in AWS, Kubernetes, and CI/CD practices to potential employers.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by practising common DevOps questions and scenarios. Think about how you would handle real-world problems, especially those related to cloud security and automation. Confidence is key!
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! We love seeing candidates who are genuinely interested in joining Oxford Dynamics. Tailor your application to highlight how your experience aligns with our mission and values.
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Devops Engineer
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV reflects the skills and experiences that align with the Senior DevOps Engineer role. Highlight your expertise in AWS, Kubernetes, and CI/CD practices, as these are key to what we’re looking for.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Use your cover letter to tell us why you’re excited about working at Oxford Dynamics. Share specific examples of how your past experiences can contribute to our mission in AI and robotics.
Showcase Your Projects:If you’ve worked on relevant projects, don’t hesitate to mention them! Whether it’s automating delivery pipelines or enhancing cloud security, we want to see how you’ve made an impact in your previous roles.
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 this exciting opportunity at Oxford Dynamics!
How to prepare for a job interview at Oxford Dynamics Limited
✨Know Your Tech Inside Out
Make sure you’re well-versed in AWS, Kubernetes, and CI/CD practices. Brush up on your knowledge of Terraform and CloudFormation, as well as security tools like GuardDuty and IAM. Being able to discuss your hands-on experience with these technologies will show that you're not just familiar but truly capable.
✨Showcase Your Problem-Solving Skills
Prepare to discuss specific challenges you've faced in previous roles and how you tackled them. Think about incidents where you had to coordinate emergency changes or conduct post-incident reviews. This will demonstrate your ability to handle high-stakes situations, which is crucial for a role at Oxford Dynamics.
✨Emphasise Collaboration
Since the team values a collaborative approach, be ready to share examples of how you've worked effectively with others. Highlight any mentoring experiences or how you've championed best practices across teams. This will show that you can contribute positively to their team culture.
✨Understand Their Mission
Familiarise yourself with Oxford Dynamics' focus on AI and robotics in mission-critical environments. Be prepared to discuss how your skills align with their goals and how you can contribute to their ambition of converging AI and robotics. Showing genuine interest in their mission will set you apart.
