Lead DevOps Engineer

Lead DevOps Engineer (Hybrid - London)

Location: London (Hybrid: 3 days per week on-site)

Security Clearance Required: Active, live SC Clearance or DV Clearance (Mandatory)

Position Type: Permanent

CRITICAL REQUIREMENT - PLEASE READ BEFORE APPLYING: Due to the secure nature of the client's platform and infrastructure projects, this position strictly requires candidates to hold a currently active and live UK Security Clearance (SC or DV). Candidates who do not currently possess this clearance, or whose clearance has lapsed, cannot be considered for this role. Please do not apply if you do not hold active SC or DV status.

The Opportunity

I am exclusively partnering with a pioneering, high-growth technology vendor specializing in secure, enterprise-level cloud platforms and AI-integrated software solutions. They engineer bespoke architectures that solve highly complex data, automation, and infrastructure challenges for specialized clients across secure sectors.

As they expand their technical division, they are seeking a high-caliber Lead DevOps Engineer who can seamlessly balance technical architecture, strategic stakeholder alignment, and hands-on delivery. This is a dynamic, fast-paced role where you will play a pivotal part in scaling a modern DevSecOps function and fostering a high-performance engineering culture across their London hub.

The Role & Responsibilities

This position offers a fluid mix of team leadership, technical architecture, and hands-on systems engineering. Working on-site in London three days a week, you will lead an agile squad, driving continuous innovation and transforming complex customer requirements into resilient, secure platform solutions.

Technical Vision & AI Delivery: Collaborate with senior engineering leadership to design and execute robust cloud infrastructure architectures, with a specific focus on deploying and scaling modern AI solutions.

Team Leadership & Coaching: Act as a technical mentor and culture carrier, coaching a talented squad of engineers in modern DevSecOps best practices, automation, and continuous improvement.

Client & Product Alignment: Interface directly with key clients and technical stakeholders to refine product definitions, troubleshoot complex platform issues, and ensure deliveries map directly to strategic goals.

Architecture & API Integrity: Work alongside Product Managers and Delivery Leads to design clean, scalable microservices architectures utilizing open standards and robust API frameworks.

Governance & Compliance: Maintain strict oversight of modern regulatory requirements, infrastructure compliance, and security frameworks to ensure total platform integrity.

Pipeline & Resource Strategy: Actively evaluate the engineering roadmap to advise internal stakeholders on technical pipeline bottlenecks, risk mitigation, and optimal team resourcing levels.

Requirements & Technical Expertise

To be successful in this role, you must bring a blend of strong leadership capability, client-facing confidence, and deep technical breadth across modern cloud ecosystem toolchains.

Essential Criteria:

Clearance Status: A currently active and live UK SC or DV Clearance is non-negotiable.

Technical Depth: Elite proficiency in managing and scaling cloud-native infrastructure, with deep expertise across AWS, Kubernetes, Docker, CI/CD pipelines, Git, and RESTful APIs.

Leadership Track Record: Demonstrable experience operating in a Technical Lead, Infrastructure Architect, or Senior DevOps capacity-with the proven ability to build, scale, and mentor an engineering team.

Agile & Start-Up Agility: A background thriving within fast-paced, high-growth, or start-up adjacent environments. You must be highly resilient to change and comfortable with fluid, reactive priorities.

Hybrid Commute: The ability to work from the client's Central London office 3 days per week.

Problem-Solving Mastery: Advanced troubleshooting capabilities with a pragmatic, solution-driven approach to mitigating risks across complex, secure deployments.

Highly Desirable:

Direct, hands-on experience deploying and running AI or Machine Learning workloads in a production environment.

Holding an AWS Certified Solutions Architect (Associate or Professional) badge or an equivalent cloud certification.

An entrepreneurial mindset with a natural inclination to challenge legacy prototypes and introduce alternative software methodologies.

A relevant degree qualification in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related field.

To Apply:

If you hold a live, active SC or DV clearance, meet the technical criteria, and are comfortable with a 3-day-a-week London hybrid model, please apply with your CV today for an immediate, confidential briefing.

Reminder: Applications without active UK national security clearance will be automatically rejected