Lead Engineer - Infrastructure and Cloud

Job summary

We are seeking a Lead Engineer, Infrastructure and Cloud to join our Information Systems team.

This is an exciting opportunity to lead the engineering and operational management of Ofsted’s core infrastructure, cloud, and digital technology platforms. As Lead Engineer, Infrastructure and Cloud, you will provide technical leadership across Azure, Microsoft 365, enterprise device management, identity and access management, cyber security tooling, and cloud infrastructure. You will play a key role in ensuring services remain secure, resilient, and reliable, while driving platform modernisation, automation, and continuous improvement to support Ofsted’s wider digital ambitions.

Leading a team of infrastructure engineers, you will build technical capability, set engineering standards, and shape the future direction of our technology estate. Working closely with stakeholders, suppliers, and delivery teams, you will influence technical decision-making, lead responses to major incidents and high-risk changes, and strengthen cyber resilience through the implementation of effective security controls and modern engineering practices. This is a high-impact leadership role for someone passionate about delivering secure, scalable, and user-focused technology services.

This role requires Security Check (SC) clearance.

This is a fantastic opportunity to further your experience in Ofsted’s well-established team. The post holder will work with high-achieving professionals at all levels, surrounded by a friendly and supportive team. They will have access to amazing benefits, such as flexible working hours, the Civil Service Pension Scheme, and 32.5 days annual leave + 8 bank holidays. We offer a hybrid working model, so you may also choose to spend a proportion of time working from home.

Job description

Please refer to the job specification for further information.

Person specification

Please refer to the job specification for further information.

Qualifications

Microsoft Azure certification, or evidence of completed Microsoft training in Azure administration, architecture, security tooling or cloud infrastructure.

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Managing a Quality Service
• Delivering at Pace
• Communicating and Influencing
• Changing and Improving
• Seeing the Big Picture

Technical skills

We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

• Knowledge and experience of managing Microsoft technologies including Microsoft 365, Entra ID, Intune, Sentinel, Defender and Windows operating systems.
• Knowledge and experience of managing Azure cloud platforms, including governance, networking, cloud services, security, automation and compliance.
• Experience of planning and delivering improvements across enterprise device management, identity, Microsoft 365 and cloud platforms, aligned with Government security standards, policies and best practice.
• Experience of Infrastructure as Code and automation technologies, such as Terraform, PowerShell or Azure DevOps.
• Experience of leading, coaching and developing technical teams within an enterprise environment.
• Extensive experience of supporting and improving complex technology platforms and services, identifying risks and delivering mitigations.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £71,748, Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills contributes £20,785 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).

Full details of the benefits available can be found in our Ofsted Offer brochure.

Ofsted is devoted to equality, diversity and inclusion. Within our Ofsted Strategy 2023-2027 we have stated that we will improve the representation of under-represented groups across the organisation and publish our progress on this annually. We are always looking to expand on our diverse workforce by recruiting candidates from varied backgrounds and differing experiences. We are proud to be a Disability Confident – Leader, we continually engage with our 5 staff networks for protected characteristics, and highlight the work of our Equalities, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Group. We ensure all candidates are treated with fair and open competition, with all appointments being made on merit and we use our Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) to provide assurance to all candidates of this.

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.

Application and shortlisting:

The selection panel will assess your 1,000-word personal statement against the essential criteria outlined in the person specification. Candidates should ensure they provide clear evidence demonstrating how they meet each of the essential criteria.

We recommend using the STAR model (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to present your evidence.

You will also be asked to provide information within the “Employer/Activity History” section of the application form. This information is equivalent to the information you would provide on a CV setting out your career history (this may be used in the sifting process).

Assessment and interview:

Candidates who pass the benchmark at the shortlisting stage will be invited to an assessment and interview where they will be assessed against a mixture of the Civil Service behaviours and the experience/technical skills set out in section 3 of the job specification.

We will invite the most suitable candidates to attend an assessment and interview on week commencing on Monday 30 November 2026 at 23 Stephenson Street, Birmingham and Piccadilly Gate, Manchester.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates m