Job summary
Job Title - Lead Engineer (Scientific Computing)
Profession- Scientific Computing
Directorate - Data Operations
Full Time equivalent - 37.5 hours
No of Roles - 1
Contract Type - Permanent
Location - Role available at all core and scientific locations with home working available
Birmingham, Leeds, Liverpool, London, Porton Down, Colindale, Chilton or home working subject to approval
UKHSA offers hybrid working or home working for its employees - this means that whilst the role will be based in one of our UKHSA offices, there will be opportunities for an element of working from home.
The balance between home and workplace working is to be agreed with the line manager, determined primarily by business need and in line with departmental policy. Some business travel will be required to other UKHSA offices. Please be aware that this role can only be worked from within the UK and not overseas. Relocation expenses are not available
Working Pattern - Full Time / Flexible Working/ Hybrid Working/ Part Time/ Job Share
Grade & Salary - Grade 7 National banding -£51,824- £61,414 per annum. Outer London -£53,812- £63,252 per annum. Inner London - £55,799- £65,089 per annum.
New entrants to the Civil Service are expected to start on the minimum of the pay band.
Main duties of the job
As a key part of the Scientific Computing team a core responsibility of the role will be to support the team's software engineers in provisioning and maintaining the systems underpinning the services and applications they provide to stakeholders across the organisation. This includes applications used to manage vector surveillance data, epidemiological data, and disease modelling parameters.
You will also provide services to our stakeholders working in the areas of advanced analytics, modelling and bioinformatics. This work requires multi-processor High Performance Computing (HPC) clusters and other scientific computing platforms. In collaboration with team members, and colleagues in the DA&S and Technology Groups, you will help to ensure the ongoing availability and suitability of these platforms for our stakeholders' needs.
You will lead on a drive towards automation, for both our software engineers and analysts. This will include the development of container-based deployments onto physical virtual and cloud environments including HPC/GPU platforms. You will also lead on the implementation of continuous integration and delivery (CI/CD) of applications, from the code repository to production servers with automated workflows, incorporating end-to-end testing.
About us
You will work in the Surveillance Systems & Bioinformatics Division that reports into the Data Operations Directorate. It's an exciting time to join as we seek to create leading Health Protection data capabilities that enable our operational and clinical teams, epidemiologists, data modelers and scientists to deliver their services and develop insights that inform public health decisions with resilient platforms and curated data assets.
The core activities of Surveillance Systems & Bioinformatics include providing support to the applications, systems and data capabilities fused from data, models and software that enable the delivery of operational systems and specialist compute processes by multiple UKHSA teams.
You will join our friendly and collaborative Scientific Computing team. As part of this multi-functional delivery team, you will help provide robust services to support software engineering and the use of high performance computing for a variety of stakeholders including mathematical modellers, scientists and bioinformaticians.
Job description
Job responsibilities
- Leading the drive towards automation, reducing the management overhead and developing a more reliable and resilient application infrastructure.
- Working collaboratively with other teams in the division, leading on the development and rollout of a continuous integration and deployment pipeline across the estate of applications and services, including use of containerisation techniques where appropriate.
- Supporting scientific computing users, including software engineers, modellers, data scientists and bioinformaticians, in use of DevOps approaches to design, architect, automate and implement highly available and fault-tolerant environments, with multi-cloud capability (e.g. AWS, Azure, OpenShift).
- Configuring, managing, and maintaining the teams Windows and Linux systems to deliver optimum system availability to users. This includes application, web and database servers and other scientific computing platforms.
- Providing day to day support to users of High Performance Computing (HPC) platforms including user administration and liaising with Technology Group colleagues and third-party support providers to resolve technical issues.
- Developing specialist expertise in the deployment and execution of scientific and analytical applications in highly parallelised environments including HPC platforms.
- Supporting the optimisation of code to run on HPC platforms targeting both standard CPU compute nodes and promoting best use of Graphical Processing Units (GPUs).
- Developing and implementing data and system backup and disaster recovery (DR) strategies, ensuring DR plans are regularly tested.
- Ensuring systems are monitored for performance and availability, identifying and resolving any issues.
- Ensuring all system documentation is up to date and regularly reviewed.
- Continuously seeking to improve your own knowledge of work areas, bringing your learning back into the team, and embracing the agile framework of software delivery.
- Supporting colleagues to reach full agility using DevOps best practices including continuous integrations, delivery, and release.
We pride ourselves as being an employer of choice, where Everyone Matters promoting equality opportunity to actively encourage applications from everyone, including groups currently underrepresented in our workforce.
UKHSA ethos is to be an inclusive organisation for all our staff and stakeholders. To create, nurture and sustain an inclusive culture, where differences drive innovative solutions to meet the needs of our workforce and wider communities. We do this through celebrating and protecting differences by removing barriers and promoting equity and equality of opportunity for all.
Essential Criteria
- Degree in Computer Science or related field, or equivalent experience
- Strong Unix/Linux system administration skills
- Scripting skills: experience of Bash or PowerShell scripts
- Proficiency/experience with DevOps approaches to application testing and deployment
- Experience in the design, development and support of CI/CD pipelines using Jenkins or GitHub Actions
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
Desirable Criteria
- Programming skills: at least one of Python, Java, C#, JavaScript
- Experience of automated deployment of applications and services to AWS or Azure
- Experience of using automation and configuration management tools for testing and deployment such as Puppet, Jenkins, Ansible, Salt or GitHub
- Experience of using or managing High Performance Computing (HPC) clusters
- Knowledge of database systems (PostgreSQL, MySQL)
- Experience of working in public health, disease modelling or bioinformatics
Selection Process
Stage 1: Application & Sift
This vacancy is using Success Profiles, and will assess your Behaviours and Experience and Strengths
As part of the application process you will be asked to provide a Personal Statement / Statement of Suitability in no more than 800 words. We will be assessing essential criteria at sift.
This should outline your skills, experience, and achievements, providing evidence of your suitability for the role, with particular reference to the Experience criteria or the essential criteria (outlined in the person specification section).
You will also be asked to provide information within the Employer/ Activity history section of the application form. This is equivalent to the information you would provide on a CV, setting out your career history. This will be used in the sifting process and will be scored
Stage 2: Panel Interview
All applicants that progress to interview will be assessed on behaviours, experience, strengths and technical ability through Success Profiles.
When assessing strengths, we want to find out whether you and the job role are a good fit. We will look at what you enjoy doing and what you do well and often. By ensuring that the role is the right fit for you, you are more likely to enjoy it and perform well.
The Behaviours tested during the interview stage will be:
- Working Together
- Delivering at Pace
- Managing a Quality Service
- Developing Self and Others
- Changing and Improving
You will be asked to prepare and present a 5 minute presentation. The subject of this will be sent to you prior to interview.
You will also be asked to complete a technical assessment as part of the interview, details will be provided on the day.
Reserve List:
Candidates who pass the interview criteria but are not offered a post will be kept on a reserve list for 12 months and may be contacted if similar roles become available.
If you are interviewed for the post and do not meet the required threshold for the specified grade, your application may be assessed against a similar, lower grade role and you may be offered the post should one be available.
DBS - People working with government systems must complete Basic Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) checks which includes a disclosure and barring security check. Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed for this role is BPSS however there may be a requirement for this role to be SC cleared and you should familiarise yourself with the criteria of security clearance.
This role is Open to all external applicants (anyone) from outside the Civil Service (including by definition internal applicants. Appointments to roles within UKHSA will be made in accordance with the Civil Service nationality rules. These can be found athttps://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nationality-rulesThis job is broadly open to the following groups:
- UK nationals
- Nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
- Nationals of the Republic of Ireland
- Nationals from the EU, EEA or Switzerland with settled or pre-settled status or who apply for either status by the deadline of theEuropean Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
- Relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals working in the Civil Service
- Relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals who have built up the right to work in the Civil Service
- Certain family members of the relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's Recruitment Principles.
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.
The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment.
Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.
Government baseline personnel security standard
Its important to note that there are currently exceptions to applications being considered if your conviction relates to any of the following:
- life sentences
- arson
- sexual offences
- hate and terror offences
Some departments will also consider the specific offence against the nature of the business, i.e., a conviction for fraud may rule you out for a finance role
Complaint process:
The law requires that selection for appointment to the Civil Service is on merit on the basis of fair and open competition as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's Recruitment Principles. If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles, and you wish to make a complaint, in the first instance, you should contact UKHSA Public Accountability Unit via email: Complaints1@ukhsa.gov.uk. If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission: Visit the Civil Service Commission website.
Contact Details Sophie.Rigney@reed.com
Job description
Job responsibilities
- Leading the drive towards automation, reducing the management overhead and developing a more reliable and resilient application infrastructure.
- Working collaboratively with other teams in the division, leading on the development and rollout of a continuous integration and deployment pipeline across the estate of applications and services, including use of containerisation techniques where appropriate.
- Supporting scientific computing users, including software engineers, modellers, data scientists and bioinformaticians, in use of DevOps approaches to design, architect, automate and implement highly available and fault-tolerant environments, with multi-cloud capability (e.g. AWS, Azure, OpenShift).
- Configuring, managing, and maintaining the teams Windows and Linux systems to deliver optimum system availability to users. This includes application, web and database servers and other scientific computing platforms.
- Providing day to day support to users of High Performance Computing (HPC) platforms including user administration and liaising with Technology Group colleagues and third-party support providers to resolve technical issues.
- Developing specialist expertise in the deployment and execution of scientific and analytical applications in highly parallelised environments including HPC platforms.
- Supporting the optimisation of code to run on HPC platforms targeting both standard CPU compute nodes and promoting best use of Graphical Processing Units (GPUs).
- Developing and implementing data and system backup and disaster recovery (DR) strategies, ensuring DR plans are regularly tested.
- Ensuring systems are monitored for performance and availability, identifying and resolving any issues.
- Ensuring all system documentation is up to date and regularly reviewed.
- Continuously seeking to improve your own knowledge of work areas, bringing your learning back into the team, and embracing the agile framework of software delivery.
- Supporting colleagues to reach full agility using DevOps best practices including continuous integrations, delivery, and release.
We pride ourselves as being an employer of choice, where Everyone Matters promoting equality opportunity to actively encourage applications from everyone, including groups currently underrepresented in our workforce.
UKHSA ethos is to be an inclusive organisation for all our staff and stakeholders. To create, nurture and sustain an inclusive culture, where differences drive innovative solutions to meet the needs of our workforce and wider communities. We do this through celebrating and protecting differences by removing barriers and promoting equity and equality of opportunity for all.
Essential Criteria
- Degree in Computer Science or related field, or equivalent experience
- Strong Unix/Linux system administration skills
- Scripting skills: experience of Bash or PowerShell scripts
- Proficiency/experience with DevOps approaches to application testing and deployment
- Experience in the design, development and support of CI/CD pipelines using Jenkins or GitHub Actions
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
Desirable Criteria
- Programming skills: at least one of Python, Java, C#, JavaScript
- Experience of automated deployment of applications and services to AWS or Azure
- Experience of using automation and configuration management tools for testing and deployment such as Puppet, Jenkins, Ansible, Salt or GitHub
- Experience of using or managing High Performance Computing (HPC) clusters
- Knowledge of database systems (PostgreSQL, MySQL)
- Experience of working in public health, disease modelling or bioinformatics
Selection Process
Stage 1: Application & Sift
This vacancy is using Success Profiles, and will assess your Behaviours and Experience and Strengths
As part of the application process you will be asked to provide a Personal Statement / Statement of Suitability in no more than 800 words. We will be assessing essential criteria at sift.
This should outline your skills, experience, and achievements, providing evidence of your suitability for the role, with particular reference to the Experience criteria or the essential criteria (outlined in the person specification section).
You will also be asked to provide information within the Employer/ Activity history section of the application form. This is equivalent to the information you would provide on a CV, setting out your career history. This will be used in the sifting process and will be scored
Stage 2: Panel Interview
All applicants that progress to interview will be assessed on behaviours, experience, strengths and technical ability through Success Profiles.
When assessing strengths, we want to find out whether you and the job role are a good fit. We will look at what you enjoy doing and what you do well and often. By ensuring that the role is the right fit for you, you are more likely to enjoy it and perform well.
The Behaviours tested during the interview stage will be:
- Working Together
- Delivering at Pace
- Managing a Quality Service
- Developing Self and Others
- Changing and Improving
You will be asked to prepare and present a 5 minute presentation. The subject of this will be sent to you prior to interview.
You will also be asked to complete a technical assessment as part of the interview, details will be provided on the day.
Reserve List:
Candidates who pass the interview criteria but are not offered a post will be kept on a reserve list for 12 months and may be contacted if similar roles become available.
If you are interviewed for the post and do not meet the required threshold for the specified grade, your application may be assessed against a similar, lower grade role and you may be offered the post should one be available.
DBS - People working with government systems must complete Basic Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) checks which includes a disclosure and barring security check. Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed for this role is BPSS however there may be a requirement for this role to be SC cleared and you should familiarise yourself with the criteria of security clearance.
This role is Open to all external applicants (anyone) from outside the Civil Service (including by definition internal applicants. Appointments to roles within UKHSA will be made in accordance with the Civil Service nationality rules. These can be found athttps://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nationality-rulesThis job is broadly open to the following groups:
- UK nationals
- Nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
- Nationals of the Republic of Ireland
- Nationals from the EU, EEA or Switzerland with settled or pre-settled status or who apply for either status by the deadline of theEuropean Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
- Relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals working in the Civil Service
- Relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals who have built up the right to work in the Civil Service
- Certain family members of the relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's Recruitment Principles.
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.
The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment.
Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.
Government baseline personnel security standard
Its important to note that there are currently exceptions to applications being considered if your conviction relates to any of the following:
- life sentences
- arson
- sexual offences
- hate and terror offences
Some departments will also consider the specific offence against the nature of the business, i.e., a conviction for fraud may rule you out for a finance role
Complaint process:
The law requires that selection for appointment to the Civil Service is on merit on the basis of fair and open competition as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's Recruitment Principles. If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles, and you wish to make a complaint, in the first instance, you should contact UKHSA Public Accountability Unit via email: Complaints1@ukhsa.gov.uk. If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission: Visit the Civil Service Commission website.
Contact Details Sophie.Rigney@reed.com
Person Specification
Experience
Essential
- oDegree in Computer Science or related field, or equivalent experience
Person Specification
Experience
Essential
- oDegree in Computer Science or related field, or equivalent experience
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
Additional information
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
