Senior DevOps Engineer

Job summary

Ofqual is the independent qualifications regulator for England. We currently regulate 200+ awarding organisations, and approx. 11,600 certified qualifications.

These include GCSEs, AS and A levels, and a broad range of vocational and technical qualifications.

For more information about the work we do please visit our website and our Careers Pages https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofqual and
https://www.civil-service-careers.gov.uk/ofqual-hub/

We’re a small, collaborative, and highly skilled Infrastructure team responsible for the cloud platforms, systems, and services that underpin Ofqual’s work. We support and develop a modern Microsoft technology estate spanning Azure, Microsoft 365, networking, identity, security, and infrastructure services, ensuring colleagues have secure, reliable, and effective technology to deliver Ofqual’s important regulatory responsibilities.

Our team plays a key role in shaping and delivering new technology solutions, driving continuous improvement, and supporting our organisation's digital ambitions. We value innovation, teamwork, and inclusivity, creating an environment where diverse perspectives are welcomed, new ideas are encouraged, and everyone has the opportunity to make a meaningful impact. If you're passionate about cloud technology, automation, and delivering excellent services, we'd love to hear from you.

Job description

As a Senior DevOps Engineer, you'll play a leading role in maintaining, improving, and evolving Ofqual's cloud infrastructure and technology services. Working closely with colleagues across Information Management and the wider organisation, you'll help deliver secure, resilient, and modern technology solutions that support our business objectives.

Your day-to-day responsibilities will include:

• Maintaining and developing our Microsoft Azure and Microsoft 365 platforms.
• Supporting and improving cloud infrastructure, networking, identity, and security services.
• Acting as an escalation point for complex technical incidents and problems, seeing issues through to resolution.
• Working with stakeholders to design and implement new technology solutions.
• Supporting Agile project delivery and contributing to DevOps and DevSecOps initiatives.
• Using automation and Infrastructure as Code to improve efficiency, consistency, and reliability.
• Identifying opportunities to enhance performance, resilience, and security across our technology estate.
• Researching emerging technologies and recommending improvements that help Ofqual make the most of its digital investment.

This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced infrastructure or cloud engineer who enjoys solving complex technical challenges, driving improvements, and making a real difference through technology.

You'll have the opportunity to work with modern Microsoft cloud technologies while helping shape the future of Ofqual's digital services.

Person specification

Please refer to the job description attached for a full list of essential criteria to support your application.

Qualifications

Educated to level 3 or above, professional qualification or equivalent experience

Behaviours

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

• Making Effective Decisions

Technical skills

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

• Managing Azure Infrastructure
• CI/CD Pipelines
• DevOps Practices
• Security and Service Management

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £42,983, Ofqual (Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation) contributes £12,452 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).

As a Civil Servant, you will benefit from a leading, modern employment offer which includes flexible working arrangements that support people at different stages in their lives, and pensions among the best available in the UK, as well as generous annual leave entitlements.

Other benefits you can enjoy include:

• Organisational performance related bonus
• Cycle-to-work scheme
• Regular professional development
• Health and wellbeing initiatives such as mini-medicals, flu vaccinations
• Employee assistance programme and occupational health
• Free eye tests and contribution towards lenses/spectacles for VDU users, if appropriate
• Family friendly policies
• Interest free rail season ticket loan
• Access to exclusive discounts
• Free car parking

We are committed to promoting Equality, Diversity, Inclusion and Wellbeing throughout the organisation. We are proud of the action we are taking to support this. We welcome applications from individuals from all backgrounds to support our ethos of creating a diverse culture that is reflective of both our employees and the learners we support.

Due to our continued commitment and focus in relation to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, our inclusion and fair treatment score based on the Civil Service 2024 annual people survey ranks us joint 5th out of 104 participating departments.

Ofqual is a rewarding, dynamic place to work. We offer employees the opportunity to develop within their role and progress through the organisation via a number of Learning and Development opportunities and activities.

Ofqual has a highly engaged workforce. Our 2024 Civil Service People Survey score on engagement was 71%, against 64% for the whole Civil Service, and was the joint 12th highest of the 104 participating CS departments.

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, Strengths, Experience and Technical skills.

Please note that Ofqual does not offer Visa sponsorship.

You will be assessed on the Behaviours shown above at interview stage.

Ofqual has adopted anonymised recruitment. This means that your name, date of birth and other personal details will not be seen by the sift panel. You’ll be asked to remove all personal details from your CV when you apply.

When you press the ‘apply now’ button, you will be asked to complete personal details (not seen by the shortlisting panel), your career history and qualifications.

You will then be asked to provide a personal statement evidencing how you meet the essential criteria shown on the job description