The Lead DevOps Engineer provides technical leadership across engineering teams, driving the delivery of secure, reliable, and high-quality digital services. As a Lead DevOps Engineer, you will:
- Shape the DevOps strategy for the product line.
- Coach and lead teams in the design, implementation, and optimization of CI/CD pipelines, cloud architectures, and automation solutions.
- Champion best practices in testing, quality assurance, and continuous improvement. o Drive modern DevOps practices, tools, and standards to enhance service reliability, scalability, and security.
- Guide teams in infrastructure-as-code, configuration management, and automated deployment strategies.
- Lead knowledge sharing to embed best practice and build team capability.
- Apply a logical, analytical approach to complex problem-solving, by identifying root causes and balancing priorities and constraints.
- Draw on a broad understanding of information systems concepts and practices relevant to the organisation’s technology landscape.
The ability to speak Welsh is desirable for this post; Welsh and/or English speakers are equally welcome to apply.
Main duties of the job
- Lead the design and development of cloud-native integration solutions using Python, microservices architecture, and event-driven patterns.
- Guide technical direction, architecture, and standards for healthcare data transformation and validation systems.
- Oversee the development of robust CI/CD pipelines and Infrastructure as Code practices.
- Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to deliver secure, user-centred digital services following secure-by-design principles.
- Mentor and coach developers, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and technical excellence.
- Champion agile methodologies and DevSecOps practices across the team.
- Engage with stakeholders to understand requirements and translate them into scalable technical solutions.
- Ensure compliance with information security standards and NHS Wales policies for handling patient-identifiable data.
Person Specification
Qualifications and Knowledge
Essential
- Master’s-level qualification (or equivalent professional experience) in a relevant technical or professional field, e.g., DevOps engineering, infrastructure, or software delivery.
- Practical knowledge of DevOps principles and practices, including CI/CD, automation, infrastructure-as-code, and secure code deployment.
- IT infrastructure and cloud/virtualisation expertise, including configuration, management, and security.
- Understanding of service reliability, capacity, and incident/problem management practices within DevOps contexts.
- Commitment to continuous professional development.
Desirable
- Chartered IT Professional (CITP) or an alternative relevant IT/professional registration.
- FEDIP Advanced Practitioner, or equivalent recognised Advanced Professional qualification.
- Theoretical and specialist knowledge gained via relevant certification, such as: oEXIN DevOps Master, or similar certification. oLeadership & Management qualification or training
- Knowledge of the NHS, other healthcare systems, or the health sector, including regional or national variations.
Experience
Essential
- Proven experience in a technical leadership role, managing technical resources and prioritising delivery in a complex environment.
- Expert in applying DevOps practices and automation to deliver secure, reliable, high-quality code from development to live services
- Proficient in applying Agile methods and practices to lead DevOps teams and drive continuous improvement
- Proficient in writing and maintaining code to support CI/CD pipelines, infrastructure-as-code, and automation, translating requirements into functional software.
- Proficient in implementing and managing IT infrastructure, networks, and systems across on-premises and cloud environments.
- Proficient in mitigating security threats and vulnerabilities across hardware, software, and infrastructure, including implementing controls and responding to security incidents.
- Proficient in leading the build, test, and deployment of software releases, including handling non-conformance and release acceptance.
- Proficient in using incident management tools to record, track, and analyse incidents, identify trends, and manage known errors.
- Experience applying quality assurance methods and techniques, including planning, evaluation, configuration management, and conducting quality reviews and audits.
- Proficient in coaching others, providing guidance and support to develop skills, improve performance, and adopt modern practices.
- Proficient in engaging and managing stakeholders from diverse backgrounds, adapting communication and collaboration approaches to achieve shared goals.
- Proficient in preparing and monitoring budgets to manage costs effectively and ensure value for money.
Desirable
- Adept in applying cloud, virtualisation, and infrastructure principles, including networks, systems, application, and data layers, with security and management of virtualised environments.
- Proficient in applying AI and machine learning technologies to optimise DevOps processes and support data-driven decision-making.
- Experience analysing pipelines in terms of metrics, e.g. queuing theory, Six-Sigma, TPS.
Skills and Attributes
Essential
- Analytical thinking skills to break down complex problems, select appropriate methods or tools, and reflect on outcomes to capture and apply learning.
- Attention to Detail skills to apply quality standards consistently, ensuring all deliverables are accurate and complete.
- Decision-Making skills to make timely, informed decisions considering priorities, constraints, risks, and available information.
- Follow-up and Monitoring skills to track progress against targets, resolve issues, and report or escalate as needed.
- Initiative to proactively identify opportunities for improvement and take appropriate action.
- Influence and Impact skills to engage stakeholders confidently and professionally, shaping outcomes and achieving shared goals.
- Leadership to support and guide others with clear direction and to encourage an inclusive, high-performing team culture.
- Technical agility to quickly learn new technologies, stay updated on trends, and understand their commercial use.
Desirable
- Welsh language skills are desirable, level 1 or above, in understanding, speaking, reading and writing in Welsh.
- Organisational awareness to understand your organisation’s values, culture, and key people, helping you build strong working relationships.
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
Closing Date: 07 January 2026
