Job Description:

Platform Engineer - DevOps Specialist

Rate: £558 per day (Inside IR35)
Location: Portsmouth (Hybrid - 2 days every other week on site, remainder remote)
Contract: 6 months+

Clearance: Active SC Security Clearance required

Overview

We are seeking a Platform Engineer / DevOps Specialist to join a highly secure and complex engineering environment, supporting the modernisation and maturity uplift of critical platforms operating across both AWS and Azure. This role sits at the intersection of hands-on DevOps engineering and technical leadership (approx. 60/40 split) - where you will guide direction, lead on platform evolution, and still actively contribute to delivery.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, build and maintain CI/CD pipelines in a DevSecOps environment
• Drive automation across infrastructure, deployment, and platform operations
• Work hands-on with Kubernetes, Docker, and containerised workloads
• Support and evolve platforms across AWS and Azure environments
• Implement secure development practices, including security scanning and compliance controls
• Contribute to platform modernisation and maturity uplift across two environments at different stages
• Operate within air-gapped and restricted access environments (including ITAR and special access considerations)
• Integrate and support AI/ML models within platform architecture (core requirement)
• Provide technical leadership while remaining hands-on with delivery

Essential Skills & Experience

• Strong experience in DevOps / Platform Engineering roles within enterprise or secure environments
• Proven expertise in:
• CI/CD pipeline development and automation
• Kubernetes and Docker
• Bash / Linux / Python scripting
• Infrastructure automation and containerisation
• Experience working within DevSecOps practices including security scanning and compliance tooling
• Experience with AWS and/or Azure cloud platforms
• Strong understanding of DevOps culture and modern engineering practices
• Experience supporting platform modernisation or legacy-to-modern migrations

Desirable Experience

• Apache Kafka
• AI/ML model integration within platform environments
• Exposure to ITAR / defence / highly regulated systems
• Experience operating in environments with multiple maturity levels across platforms

Role Focus

This is a hybrid engineering/leadership position (SFIA level ~6) where you will:

• Lead technical direction and platform evolution
• Support and guide engineering teams
• Remain actively involved in hands-on engineering delivery