Lead DevOps Engineer - MI6 Secret Intelligence Service - SEO
Government Digital & Data -
Location
London
About the job
Job summary
Right to withdraw statement
Please submit your application as soon as you can. We may bring forward the closing date once a certain number of applications have been received.
- If you have a disability (as defined under the Equality Act 2010) and need additional time, please submit an initial application. Then email us at careers@recruitmentservice.org.uk, as soon as possible, using the subject line ‘Reasonable adjustments extension’ and briefly outline the support you require.
Location: Central London
Salary: £77,242 plus a recruitment and retention allowance of £6,251. There is the opportunity to qualify for additional allowances and a skills-related payment under the Government Digital and Data Profession Capability (GDDPC) Framework - formerly known as DDaT.
Flexible working
We support full time, part time, compressed, job share and other flexible working patterns. Due to the sensitive nature of our work, this role is fully office-based with no option for remote or home working.
Essential requirements
You need to be a British citizen or hold dual British nationality. You should also only apply when you’re in the UK. If you are based overseas, you should wait until you visit the UK.
- Read about our eligibility criteria.
About us
We're MI6, also known as the Secret Intelligence Service (SIS). Our mission is to protect the security and economic wellbeing of the UK from overseas threats such as regional instability, terrorism, and cyber attacks. Working across the globe and in close partnership with MI5 and GCHQ, we help the Government to counter these threats through the provision of secret intelligence. You’ll provide vital support to this work, within a supportive and encouraging environment that puts the emphasis on teamwork.
MI6 Tech
We are looking for experienced professionals to collaborate on some of the biggest challenges facing the UK.
Operating at the heart of the mission, you’ll use your technical skills to protect the UK, disrupt the activities of hostile states, and exploit opportunities in the digital space.
Almost all of MI6’s operational work is underpinned by technology; from keeping our officers safe overseas, to the secure platforms that connect our global partnerships. The challenges we face are complex, varied, and vast.
You will share our vision and values, and will work on seemingly impossible puzzles, to make the country safer and more prosperous.
This is what we do, every day, at MI6.
Job description
The role
As the Lead DevOps Engineer, you will join an expanding DevOps capability responsible for helping engineering teams deploy, operate and maintain software effectively across established platforms. You’ll be responsible for leading a team of engineers, provide technical leadership across this area and have a strong foothold in the automation and AI-assisted engineering space. You will be at the forefront of the journey to improve deployment speed, operational reliability and productivity.
You will provide technical leadership across DevOps, deployment, and service operations, driving improvements in how software is deployed, operated, and maintained on established platforms. You will lead the adoption and effective use of Kubernetes and containerised environments, while embedding Site Reliability Engineering principles across both services and teams.
Your focus will be on enhancing CI/CD pipelines, automation, and release processes, using AI safely to boost deployment efficiency and operational productivity. By identifying and reducing bottlenecks between software development and production, you will improve overall reliability, observability, and operational performance. Furthermore, you will guide fellow engineers and promote effective DevOps practices, ensuring a careful balance between delivery pace and the essential requirements of security, resilience, and service stability.
Person specification
About you
You'll be self-motivated, with high standards and a commitment to delivering high-quality results. You'll have experience using AI within engineering processes, reviewing AI output, and guiding AI to produce software and deployments that meet corporate standards. You'll also be skilled at integrating AI capabilities into production systems, including familiarity with emerging standards such as the Model Context Protocol (MCP).
You'll have a relevant degree or equivalent experience in industry, and a passion for writing code, improving processes, and communicating with technical and non-technical colleagues alike. You'll be constantly looking to improve yourself and learn new things, and you'll thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
Finally, you’ll have experience leading a team of engineers, including setting a clear direction and providing guidance to junior engineers.
Training and development
You’ll be joining a community that invests in helping people to grow their skills. You’ll have access to a broad mix of learning opportunities, including in-house and online training, technical deep dives and development pathways shaped around your interests and the needs of the organisation. This includes support to strengthen your capability across modern AI techniques, Cloud technologies and wider analytical or engineering practices.
We’ll support you with the Government Digital and Data Profession Capability Framework. You’ll also have opportunities to work with external professional bodies and training providers offering routes to specialist accreditation, advanced AI training and broader professional recognition. Whether you choose to deepen your expertise in a specific technical area or expand your capability across new domains, you’ll have the guidance and support you need to progress.
You’ll also benefit from mentoring, peer support and a collaborative community that shares knowledge openly. You’ll have opportunities to rotate across different teams, explore emerging technologies and contribute to shaping how MI6 evolves its AI and data science capability. As you develop, you’ll have the space to experiment, expand your expertise and play an active role in strengthening our AI practice across the organisation.
