At a Glance
- Tasks: Design and maintain secure cloud infrastructure for national security operations using GCP and Kubernetes.
- Company: Join a leading tech firm focused on mission-critical projects for UK Defence.
- Benefits: Competitive pay, loyalty pension, comprehensive health insurance, and generous leave policies.
- Other info: Enjoy professional development opportunities and a supportive work culture.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on the UK's digital security while working with cutting-edge technology.
- Qualifications: Experience in GCP, Kubernetes, and a background in defence environments required.
We are seeking a Senior Cloud Platform Engineer with deep expertise in Google Cloud Platform (GCP), Kubernetes, and High-Assurance UK Defence environments. In this role, you will design, deploy, and maintain mission-critical, sovereign cloud infrastructure for sensitive national security operations. You will operate at the intersection of modern cloud-native software engineering and strict defense compliance—building automated, air-gapped platforms using Google Distributed Cloud air-gapped (GDC air-gapped) and GKE Enterprise capable of supporting tactical edge analytics and disconnected containerised workloads.
Key Responsibilities
- Sovereign Infrastructure as Code (IaC): Design, build, and maintain enterprise-grade GCP environments and Sovereign Landing Zones using Terraform and Ansible.
- Kubernetes Orchestration: Manage, scale, and secure production GKE and GKE Enterprise clusters in air-gapped or low-bandwidth environments.
- High-Assurance Security Architecture: Implement Zero-Trust network topologies, Private Google Access, Service Controls, and IAM policies aligned with NCSC Cloud Security Principles, JSP 604, and MoD Secure by Design (SbD) frameworks.
- Air-Gapped & Edge Deployments: Operate fully disconnected, sovereign cloud nodes (GDC air-gapped) and handle offline artifact management (e.g., container image mirroring, local Helm repositories, offline Terraform providers).
- DevSecOps & Policy-as-Code: Build secure CI/CD pipelines incorporating container scanning, cryptographic image signing, secret management (Vault/GCP KMS), and automated policy enforcement (OPA/Gatekeeper).
- Data Sovereignty & Isolation: Configure private interconnects, network firewalls, and outbound-only proxies to guarantee strict data sovereignty and prevent data exfiltration.
Required Experience
- Defence & High-Assurance Context: Active UK SC Clearance, ideally MoD Developed Vetting or eligibility for DV. Proven experience delivering cloud platforms within UK Defence (MoD, CSOC, DE&S), Intelligence, or National Security environments. Working knowledge of UK Government Security Classifications (OFFICIAL-SENSITIVE / SECRET / TOP SECRET), NCSC guidelines, and JSP 604 accreditation loops.
- GCP & Infrastructure Automation: 3+ years of production experience operating Google Cloud Platform (GCP). Expertise in Terraform for declarative infrastructure management. Deep understanding of GCP networking (VPC Service Controls, Cloud Interconnect, Private Service Connect, Cloud NAT, DNS).
- Containerisation & Kubernetes: Production experience administering GKE / GKE Enterprise. Hands-on experience with container security, Service Mesh (Istio), and admission controllers (OPA/Gatekeeper or Kyverno). Experience managing air-gapped software deployments where continuous internet connectivity is absent.
Desirable Qualifications
- Certifications: GCP Professional Cloud Architect, GCP Professional Cloud Security Engineer, or Certified Kubernetes Administrator (CKA).
- Experience with Google Distributed Cloud air-gapped (GDC air-gapped) hardware appliances or edge deployments.
- Familiarity with event streaming (Kafka, Cloud Pub/Sub) in low-bandwidth, intermittent, or limited (DIL) connectivity scenarios.
- Background in Armed Forces technical branches, tactical C4ISR systems, or specialised defence consultancies.
Benefits
- Competitive Pay: Salaries reviewed annually to ensure they reflect your performance and market value.
- Loyalty Pension: We invest in your future. Starting at a 5% employer contribution, we increase this by 0.5% every year after your third anniversary, up to a maximum of 8%.
- Protection: Comprehensive Group Life Assurance for peace of mind.
Purpose & Culture
- Real Impact: Work on mission-critical projects that secure and improve the UK's digital infrastructure.
- Autonomy: A culture that empowers you to make decisions, prototype rapidly, and iterate towards success.
- Service & Community: We support those who serve. 10 paid days for Reservist Military Service.
Work / Life Balance
- Time Off: 25 days annual leave + Bank Holidays, with the flexibility to Buy/Sell additional days to suit your lifestyle.
- Giving back: 2 paid volunteering days per year.
Development & Growth
- Master Your Craft: Fully funded professional certifications (AWS, GCP, Agile, etc.) supported by 5 days paid study leave.
- Expand Your Horizons: An additional £500 annual "Personal Choice" fund to learn whatever inspires you—work-related or not.
- Support: Access to 1-2-1 professional coaching and team training to accelerate your career.
Health & Balance
- Premium Health: Vitality Private Medical Insurance (includes Apple Watch, gym discounts, and rewards).
- Flexibility: Genuine hybrid working with a WFH equipment allowance to perfect your home setup.
- Wellbeing: Cycle to Work scheme and a commitment to sustainable, healthy working practices.
Senior Cloud Platform Engineer in London employer: Zaizi
Zaizi is an excellent employer for those looking to make a meaningful impact in government services through design. With a strong focus on professional development, competitive pay, and a supportive hybrid work culture, employees are encouraged to grow their skills while collaborating with a talented team. The opportunity to mentor fellow designers further enriches the experience, making Zaizi a rewarding place to advance your career.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Cloud Platform Engineer in London
✨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 Zaizi 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 Zaizi.
✨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 Zaizi.
✨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 Zaizi 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 Senior Cloud Platform Engineer in London
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 Zaizi.
Craft a killer cover letter:Your cover letter is your chance to stand out—make it personal! Explain why you want to work at Zaizi 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 Zaizi
✨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 Zaizi 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.
