Our friendly team at the Greater London Authority is looking for an experienced senior Development Operations (DevOps) Engineer. This is a great opportunity to work on the infrastructure behind a wide range of high-profile projects for the Mayor and senior staff and for the benefit of all Londoners. 

As part of our City Data team, you ll work closely with Software Engineers, Front-end Developers/Data Visualisation specialists, Data Engineers and Data Scientists. You ll also work alongside other professionals from our Digital team including Product Managers, Delivery Managers and other DevOps Engineers. 

The main part of the role will be to apply good DevOps principles to the development of new services and systems. Two of our key projects are:

• Developing our internal cloud-based data storage, processing and analytical systems (currently hosted on virtual servers) to make them suitable for the large and complex datasets that we re starting to use including high resolution footfall data, air quality and building energy usage.

However, you ll also be responsible for existing AWS infrastructure (<20% time) ensuring site reliability, high performance, security and monitoring of the systems that host several hundred small, public-facing web applications.

If you are passionate about using your skills in a meaningful rewarding way, apply today.

Please ensure your CV and covering letter addresses the following to give the shortlisting panel a full picture of your skills and experience:

Person specification

Technical requirements/experience/qualifications 

1. Educated to degree level in relevant subject such as computer science with core development element or equivalent level qualification or experience of working at a similar level in specialist area 


2. Proficiency/experience with DevOps approaches to application testing and deployment 


3. Experience of automated deployment of applications and services to AWS, including managing our AWS estate. 


4. Experience of designing and implementing CI/CD pipelines in a microservice architecture, using platforms such as Github or Jenkins to automate software builds/deploys and server provisioning 


5. Knowledge/experience of appropriate standards, methods and tools to design systems using DevOps principles. 


6. Knowledge/experience of technologies such as Ansible, Docker, Packer, Terraform, Linux, PostgreSQL, NGINX would be ideal. 


7. Able to identify opportunities to optimise application development/deployment and lifecycle processes and contribute to their implementation using DevOps and Agile approaches 


8. Able to define the continuous integration build, co-ordinate build activities across systems and understand how to undertake and support integration testing activities 


9. Able to work with technology stakeholders to translate business problems into technical designs, specifying and designing systems using appropriate standards and tools 


10. An understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships, both in terms of day-to-day working practices, but also in relation to management systems

Behavioural competencies

Building and managing relationships

is developing rapport and working effectively with a diverse range of people, sharing knowledge and skills to deliver shared goals.

Level 3 indicators of effective performance:

• Actively engages partners and encourages others to build relationships that support GLA objectives


• Understands and recognises the contributions that staff at all levels make to delivering priorities


• Proactively manages partner relationships, preventing or resolving any conflict


• Adapts style to work effectively with partners, building consensus, trust and respect


• Delivers objectives by bringing together diverse stakeholders to work effectively in partnership

Planning and organising

is thinking ahead, managing time, priorities and risk, and developing structured and efficient approaches to deliver work on time and to a high standard.

Level 3 indicators of effective performance:

Monitors allocation of resources, anticipating changing requirements that may impact work delivery

Ensures evaluation processes are in place to measure project benefits

Gains buy-in and commitment to project delivery from diverse stakeholders

Implements quality measures to ensure directorate output is of a high standard.

Translates political vision into action plans and deliverables

Problem solving

is analysing and interpreting situations from a variety of viewpoints and finding creative, workable and timely solutions.

Level 3 indicators of effective performance:

Clarifies ambiguous problems, questioning assumptions to reach a fuller understanding

Actively challenges the status quo to find new ways of doing things, looking for good practice

Seeks and incorporates diverse perspectives to help produce workable strategies to address compel issues

Initiates consultation on opportunities to improve work processes

Supports the organisation to implement innovative suggestions

Responding to pressure and change

is being flexible and adapting positively, to sustain performance when the situation changes, workload increases, tensions rise or priorities shift.

Level 3 indicators of effective performance:

Maintains a focus on key priorities and deliverables, staying resilient in the face of pressure

Anticipates and adapts flexibly to changing requirements

Uses challenges as an opportunity to learn and improve

Participates fully and encourages others to engage in change initiatives

Manages team s well-being, supporting them to cope with pressure and change

Communicating and influencing

is presenting information and arguments clearly and convincingly so that others see us as credible and articulate, and engage with us.

Level 3 indicators of effective performance

Encourages and supports teams in engaging in transparent and inclusive communication

Influences others and gains buy-in using compelling, well thought through arguments

Negotiates effectively to deliver GLA priorities

Synthesises the complex viewpoints of others, recognises where compromise is necessary and brokers agreement

Advocates positively for the GLA both within and outside the organisation

Principal accountabilities

Lead development and rollout of a continuous integration and deployment pipeline across the GLA s Digital estate, use of containerisation techniques where appropriate, and working collaboratively with other departments.

Design and implement infrastructure as code using Terraform (or similar) to provision performant and secure infrastructure. Use cross-platform APIs and automation/deployment technologies such as Ansible (or similar) to orchestrate automated cloud platform deployments and system builds

Lead to ensure inhouse and outsourced developers, system administrators and technical architects use best practise DevOps approaches to design, architect, automate and implement highly available, preformat and fault-tolerant, secure environments, with multi-cloud capability primarily starting on AWS.

Lead on implementing and maintaining the monitoring solution for digital services and implementing robust security controls and monitoring solutions across infrastructure and application components - for web services deployed using public cloud platforms.

Define and implement DevOps methodology (consulting with technical colleagues) for the GLA using practices recommended in the GDS Service Standard. Support the team to extend our continuous integration pipeline across our digital estate.

Diagnose and resolve issues within application deployment pipelines, using standard debugging tools to track down and identify root causes. Create new diagnostic policies and procedures. Work independently to find solutions / identify problems and in collaboration with in-house Dev Ops team, Technical Architect, and third-party suppliers Developers to solve more challenging issues.

Lead on system health checks and support audits for existing digital services. Advise and establish best practice.

Working using Agile methodologies in a multidisciplinary scrum team, collaborate and liaise with delivery managers, product owners and other stakeholders to identify business requirements, implement user stories and ensure successful and smooth release management across the web estate.

Responsible for designing, implementing and maintaining developer procedures (handbook) and oversee and work with external third-party suppliers and cloud service providers to ensure they adhere to our technical standards and the Developer s handbook. and that the GLA drives the maximum value from any third-party service providers and that the right knowledge is transferred in-house.

Continuously improve your own knowledge of work areas, drive the Development community of practice, and embrace the Agile framework of software delivery. Support colleagues to reach full agility using DevOps best practices including continuous integrations, delivery, and release.

The GLA Competency Framework Guidelines further detailing each competency and the different level indicators can be found here: GLA competency framework.

This role will be based at London Fire Brigade s Head Office (Union Street SE1 0LL).

GLA staff are hybrid working up to 3 days a week in our offices and remotely depending on their role. As part of this, you will need to split your time between home working and coming into the office.

Application Process & Additional Information

Applications submitted without a Covering Letter will not be considered.

London's diversity is its biggest asset and we strive to ensure our workforce reflects London's diversity at all levels. We welcome applications from everyone regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, faith or disability. We particularly encourage applications from Black, Asian and Minority ethnic candidates and disabled candidates who are currently underrepresented in our workforce.

We are committed to being an inclusive employer and we are happy to consider flexible working arrangements. We would welcome applications from candidates who are seeking part time work as this role is open to job share. 

In addition to a good salary package, we offer an attractive range of benefits including 30 days annual leave, interest free season ticket loan, interest free bicycle loan and a career average pension scheme.

On this recruitment campaign, as part of GLA s continuing commitment to be an inclusive and equal opportunity employer we will be removing personal identifiable information from CVs and covering letters that could cause discrimination.

Reasonable adjustment will be made to working arrangements to accommodate a person with a disability who otherwise would be prevented from undertaking the work.

Application closing date:  11th February 2024 at 23:59