At a Glance
- Tasks: Automate and manage cloud services on AWS and Azure for reliability and cost efficiency.
- Company: Join Pearson, a global leader in education technology with a collaborative spirit.
- Benefits: Enjoy hybrid working, training support, flexible hours, and potential part-time options.
- Other info: Work globally with teams and pursue cloud certifications for career growth.
- Why this job: Make an impact by enhancing cloud operations and driving continuous improvement.
- Qualifications: Experience with AWS, Azure, Terraform, and CI/CD workflows is essential.
The predicted salary is between 63000 - 77000 £ per year.
Overview
As a Specialist in Dev Ops & SRE at Pearson, you will ensure reliable, secure, and cost-efficient operation of cloud services across AWS and Azure.
You will bridge Dev Ops, SRE, and service management to automate delivery, manage infrastructure as code, and improve observability in production and non-production environments.
You will collaborate with cross-functional teams to maintain compliant, resilient platforms and drive continuous improvement.
This role offers impact through scalable cloud operations and security-driven governance.
- Pay / Benefits
- hybrid working
- training and certification support (AWS, Azure, Dev Ops, SRE)
- flexible working patterns
- potential part-time options
- global collaboration with teams in India and the US
- core hours 10 to 4 GMT/BST
Responsibilities
- Operate and automate AWS/Azure cloud services with a focus on reliability and cost control
- Manage infrastructure as code with Terraform and promote changes across environments
- Support CI/CD and source-control workflows (Jenkins, Git) and oversee deployments
- Provide operational support for EC2, ECS, Auto Scaling, RDS, S3, EBS, Cloud Front and related services
- Implement and manage AWS networking (VPCs, routing, security groups, load balancing, Route 53, VPN)
- Enforce cloud security and compliance controls (IAM, KMS, WAF, Shield, Inspector, certificate management)
- Utilize AWS Systems Manager for maintenance and remediation
- Monitor, log and audit with Cloud Watch and Cloud Trail; manage incidents and root-cause analysis
- Coordinate change management and release support via Service Now or equivalent
- Practice cloud governance, tagging, configuration consistency, and cost optimization across AWS/Azure
- Diagnose automation/configuration issues in tagging, scaling, databases, networking, deployments
- Focus on resilience, disaster recovery, and business-critical support periods
- Apply ITIL, Kanban, and service management fundamentals; document runbooks with Jira/Confluence
- Communicate clearly with stakeholders and collaborate across application, infrastructure, security and engineering teams
- Pursue relevant cloud certifications; AWS/Azure security or architecture credentials are advantageous
- Key requirements
- Hands-on AWS operation with working knowledge of Azure
- Terraform for infrastructure as code with testing and promotion between environments
- CI/CD workflows using Jenkins and Git
- Operational support for EC2, ECS, Auto Scaling, RDS, S3, EBS, FSx, Cloud Front
- AWS networking expertise (VPC, subnets, routing, security groups, load balancing, Route 53, VPN, Direct Connect, VPC peering)
- Cloud security and compliance controls (IAM, KMS, WAF, Shield, Inspector, certificate management, access-key rotation)
- AWS Systems Manager usage
- Cloud monitoring and logging (Cloud Watch, Cloud Trail)
- Incident investigation and problem resolution across environments
- Change management and release support (Service Now or equivalent)
- Cloud governance, tagging, and cost management across AWS/Azure
- Ability to diagnose automation and configuration issues; understanding of resilience and DR
- ITIL, Kanban familiarity; Jira/Confluence for documentation
- Willingness to obtain cloud certifications; AWS/Azure credentials advantageous
- Proactive and analytical mindset
- Clear communication with both technical and non-technical stakeholders
- Collaborative working with globally distributed teams
- Terraform (advanced module development encouraged)
- Jenkins and Git for CI/CD
- AWS services: EC2, ECS, Auto Scaling, RDS, S3, EBS, FSx, Cloud Front
Specialist, DevOps & SRE in Manchester employer: Pearson
Pearson Edexcel is an excellent employer that values the expertise of its staff, offering a flexible ad-hoc role that allows for a balanced work-life dynamic. With a strong commitment to professional development, employees have access to resources and training that enhance their skills while contributing to the educational success of students in the North East. The supportive work culture fosters collaboration and innovation, making it a rewarding environment for those passionate about education.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Specialist, DevOps & SRE in Manchester
✨Join Local Tech Meetups
Get out there and mingle with fellow developers by joining local tech meetups. It’s a fantastic way to meet people who might be working at Pearson or know someone who does. Plus, you can pick up some trendy tech skills and trends while you're at it!
✨Contribute to Open Source Projects
Show off your coding chops by jumping into open-source projects. Not only does this give you practical experience, but it also gets you noticed in the dev community. You'll create a killer portfolio that speaks volumes about your skills to Pearson.
✨Tap into Online Developer Communities
Don’t underestimate the power of online developer communities like GitHub, Stack Overflow, and even Reddit. Participate in discussions, share your projects, and build your visibility. We can often find opportunities through these channels that can lead to a full-time gig at companies like Pearson.
✨Explore Job Boards Specifically for Tech Roles
Keep your eyes peeled on job boards that focus on tech roles. Sites like TechCareers or Stack Overflow Jobs can often have listings for companies like Pearson that might not show up on broader job sites. Make it a habit to check these regularly, and don’t hesitate to apply directly through our website!
We think you need these skills to ace Specialist, DevOps & SRE in Manchester
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show off your coding skills:When applying for a software engineering role, it's super important to showcase your coding skills. Make sure your CV includes your tech stack, any relevant programming languages you’re comfortable with, and examples of projects you've worked on. If you have a GitHub profile, link it up! We love to see code in action.
Tailor your portfolio:For a full-time role, we’d expect to see some solid examples of your work in your portfolio. Make sure to include at least two or three projects that highlight your problem-solving skills and your ability to work with different technologies. Focus on the projects that are most relevant to the position at Pearson.
Craft a killer cover letter:Your cover letter is your chance to stand out—make it personal! Explain why you want to work at Pearson and how your skills align with the role. Show us your passion for software development. We dig enthusiastic candidates who understand the value of collaboration and continuous learning!
Be clear and concise:When it comes to writing your CV and cover letter, clarity is key. Avoid jargon that could confuse us and stick to simple, direct language. Highlight your achievements with quantifiable results where possible, and keep everything easy to read. A well-organised application goes a long way!
How to prepare for a job interview at Pearson
✨Brush Up on Your Coding Skills
For a full-time software engineering role, it's crucial that we stay sharp with our coding abilities. Expect technical questions that might involve solving problems on the spot or discussing algorithms. Practise on platforms like LeetCode or HackerRank to get comfortable with the types of questions that often come up.
✨Know Your Tools and Frameworks
Make sure we’re well-acquainted with the tools and technologies listed in the job description. Familiarise ourselves with any specific frameworks or programming languages mentioned. If Pearson uses React or Node.js, for instance, be ready to discuss how we’ve used them in previous projects or coursework.
✨Showcase Your Projects
Bring along a portfolio that highlights our best work. This could be code samples, GitHub repositories, or any side projects we’ve built. Make sure we can talk through our thought process for each project, especially the challenges we faced and how we solved them—this shows our problem-solving skills in action.
✨Prepare for Behavioural Questions
While technical skills are key, full-time positions also require cultural fit. Be ready to discuss our previous experiences and how we handle teamwork, conflict, and deadlines. Brush up on the STAR method—Situation, Task, Action, Result—to clearly articulate our past experiences when discussing how we've contributed to a team.
