Lead Database Infrastructure Engineer

The team handles a diverse range of systems, concepts, and technologies. This includes Windows and Linux servers, core Windows technologies such as Active Directory, DNS, DHCP and Certificate Authority. They also manage server and service monitoring, Infrastructure as Code, immutable infrastructure, automation and serverless compute as well as public cloud provided services across several major public cloud vendors. The team collaborates extensively with other traditional infrastructure teams for connectivity and services as well as application teams to move legacy workloads to the cloud. 

Where business needs allow some roles may be suitable for a combination of office and home-based working. Where this is the case, employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in the office. 

Watch this short video to hear from members of Home Office Digital talking about the projects they work on and their experience of working here: Working for Home Office Digital. 

Job Description:

As a Lead Infrastructure Engineer, you will provide senior technical leadership across our database platforms, ensuring they are secure, reliable, performant and designed in line with modern engineering standards. You will lead teams in delivering and supporting core database services that underpin critical systems, working across Microsoft SQL Server, Azure SQL (PaaS) and AWS RDS. You will shape engineering best practice, guide architectural decisions, and drive improvement across the full service lifecycle. 

Tools and Technologies we use:

We are keen for Engineers to continue learning new technologies, we have a large range in the Home Office including: 

• Data: Microsoft SQL Server (Both on premises and on AWS/Azure), PostgreSQL, AWS Athena 
• Backend: TSQL, C#, Python, Powershell, Java 
• DevOps: Kubernetes, Docker, Ansible, Terraform 
• AI: Azure ML Studio, Python, Github Copilot, OpenAI   

Person specification

Main responsibilities 

• Lead the design, implementation, transition and support of database infrastructure services across on premises and cloud platforms.  
• Oversee SQL Server, Azure SQL (PaaS) and AWS RDS environments, ensuring availability, performance, resilience and security.  
• Provide expertise in performance tuning, HA/DR, automation, observability and cost optimisation.  
• Review system and solution designs to ensure security, scalability and efficient integration.  
• Establish engineering standards, procedures, lifecycle management and quality controls.  
• Lead upgrades, patching, vulnerability remediation and platform modernisation.  
• Troubleshoot issues across storage, compute, networking and cloud layers.  
• Collaborate with architecture, security and operations teams to ensure robust solutions.  

UK residency and security requirements       

Please note that this role requires Security Check (SC) clearance, which would normally need 5 years’ UK residency in the past 5 years. Candidates must also hold or be prepared to undergo NPPV3 clearance.

However, in exceptional circumstances security clearance applications for candidates who have been present in the UK for at least 3 of the last 5 years may be considered. Failure to meet this residency requirement will result in your security clearance application being rejected.