Principal DevOps Engineer
Principal DevOps Engineer
Employer Active
Job Alert
You will be updated with latest job alerts via email
Share
Job Alert
You will be updated with latest job alerts via email
Job Description
We are currently looking for a Principal DevOps Engineer to join our Technology & Service Operations function within the Digital & Technology group.
This is a full-time opportunity on a permanent basis. This role can be based in 10 South Colonnade Canary Wharf London E14 4PU or South Mimms Hertfordshire. Please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK and not overseas.
Government departments and agencies are working towards implementing a minimum 60% attendance in office sites.
We are currently implementing a flexible hybrid way of working with a minimum of 8 days per month working on site to enable the collaboration and contact with partners and stakeholders needed to deliver MHRA business. Attendance on site is driven by business needs so depending on the nature of the role this can flex up to 12 days a month with the remainder of time worked either remotely or in the office. Some roles will need to be on site more regularly.
Who are we
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency enhance and improve the health of millions of people every day through the effective regulation of medicines and medical devices underpinned by science and research.
The Digital and Technology Group (DTG) lies at the heart of the Agency and is responsible for delivering an optimised IT infrastructure and maximising the secure use of data to enable our scientists inspectors and the rest of the organisation to deliver world class services which can improve outcomes for patients and the general public. The Group was essential in the race to approve COVID-19 vaccines in 2020 and in supporting the UK to set up its own medicines and devices approvals systems following our exit from the EU. The work we do matters!
The Technology & Service Operations function is responsible for managing the existing IT infrastructure including both software and hardware databases and other technology platforms; leading the support and maintenance of applications; development and testing of new applications and platforms; and cyber and information security for the Agency.
The Engineering team made up of software developers DevOps engineers Quality Assurance testers and data professionals including engineers scientists and visualization experts is tasked with the creation of applications and services ensuring quality for both new and existing agency offerings and developing data visualizations through their expertise in data engineering and science.
Whats the role
This role requires a highly skilled and experienced DevOps Engineer with a passion for building and driving the culture of DevOps. The ideal candidate will possess technical expertise in DevOps tools and frameworks as well as a solid understanding of development testing and automation practices. You will ensure while increasing capability standards and practices across the organisation by developing in-house capability while also providing oversight and assurance of supplier teams.
The successful candidate will collaborate with other teams within Digital and Technology Group other business teams and third-party suppliers to build a DevOps culture and contribute to the Engineering community ensuring that our DevOps practices align with the technology roadmap and evolve in line with technology advances.
Key responsibilities:
- Drive a mindset and culture change within the agency to foster strong continuous integration and continuous delivery(CI/CD) practices alongside robust and secure software engineering activities.
- Work across multiple teams as a technical specialist driving engineering standards at the agency.
- Lead mentor and manage a DevOps engineering team with responsibility of a team of civil servants including apprentices along with coordinating supplier teams to ensure best practices adherence.
- Integrate DevOps practices within the developer and testing community to facilitate CI/CD while also working closely with the CyberSec team to ensure approaches are secure by design.
- Support the ongoing development of the DevOps platform for programme project and innovation teams.
- Create capability through practice alignment and act as an enabler for the various software engineering and AI initiatives at the agency.
- Be responsible for automation of CI/CD pipelines using GitHub Actions to streamline development workflows testing and deployment processes
Who are we looking for
Oursuccessful candidatewill have:
- Knowledge and experience of various tools and applications including Git/GitHub Terraform and Azure
- Creating and working with CI/CD pipelines for building testing and deploying application workloads in the cloud
- Ability to drive continuous learning and development for self the team and the organisation as a whole
- Involvement in the architecture of software systems using cloud native technologies
- Experience working closely with multi-supplier and civil servant teams and across digital professions such as Development Security and Architecture external suppliers and stakeholders
If you would like to find out more about this fantastic opportunity please read our Job Description and Person Specification!
Please note: The job description may not open in some internet browsers. Please use Chrome or Microsoft Edge. If you have any issue viewing the job description please contact
The selection process:
We use the Civil Service Success Profiles to assess our candidates find out more here.
- Online application form including questions based on the Behaviour Experience and Technical Success Profiles. Please ensure all application questions are completed in full; your application may not be considered if any responses are left blank. Our applications are CV blind and our Hiring Managers will not be able to access your CV when reviewing your application.
- Presentation to be prepared as part of your interview with further information being supplied when you reach this stage.
- Interview which can include questions based on the Behaviour Experience Technical and Strengths Success Profiles. In the instance that we receive a high number of applications we will hold an initial sift based on the lead criteria of Communicating and Influencing.
In the instance that we receive a high number of applications we will hold an initial sift based on the lead criteria of Knowledge and experience of various tools and applications including Git/GitHub Terraform and Azure.
Applicants are assessed on whether they meet any mandatory requirements as well as the necessary skills and experience for the role. Applications are scored based on the competency-based answers provided- ensure you have read these thoroughly and allowsufficienttime. You can view the competencies for this role in the job description.
Use of AI in Job Applications
Applicants must ensure that anything submitted is factually accurate and truthful. Plagiarism can include presenting the ideas and experience of others or generated by artificial intelligence as your own.
If you require any disability related adjustments at any point during the process please contact as soon as possible.
Closing date:6th July 2025
Shortlisting date: 8th July 2025
Interview date:17th July 2025
Candidates will be contacted within a week of the sift and the interviews completed to inform them of the outcome.
Candidates will be subject to UK immigration requirements as well as Civil Service nationality information on whether you are able to apply is availablehere.
Successful candidates must pass a disclosure and barring security check as well as animal rights and pro-life activism checks. People working with government assets must complete basic personnel security standard checks.
Certain roles within the MHRA will require post holders to have vaccinations and in some circumstances routine health surveillance. These roles include:
- Laboratory-based roles working directly with known pathogens
- Maintenance roles particularly those required to work in laboratory settings
- Roles that involve visiting other establishments where vaccination is required
- Roles required to travel overseas where specific vaccination may be required.
Applicants who are successful at interview will be as part of pre-employment screening subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicants details held on the IFD will be refused employment. A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5 year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.
Any move to the MHRA from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes including Tax-Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility here.
Successful candidates may be subject to annual Occupational Health reviews dependent on role requirements. If you have any queries please contact .
In accordance with the Civil Service Commissioners Recruitment Principles our recruitment and selection processes are underpinned by the requirement of selection for appointmenton the basis ofmerit by a fair and open competition. If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles and you wish to make a complaint you should firstly contact Florentina Oyelami Head of Talent Acquisition .
If you are not satisfied with the response you receive you can contact the Civil Service Commission at:
Civil Service Commission
Room G/8
1Horse Guards Road
London
SW1A 2HQ
Required Experience:
Staff IC
Employment Type
Full-Time
