Job summary
The Lead DevOps Engineer provides technical leadership across engineering teams, driving the delivery of secure, reliable, and high-quality digital services. As a Lead DevOps Engineer, you will:
o Shape the DevOps strategy for the product line.
o Coach and lead teams in the design, implementation, and optimization of CI/CD pipelines, cloud architectures, and automation solutions.
o Champion best practices in testing, quality assurance, and continuous improvement. o Drive modern DevOps practices, tools, and standards to enhance service reliability, scalability, and security.
o Guide teams in infrastructure-as-code, configuration management, and automated deployment strategies.
o Lead knowledge sharing to embed best practice and build team capability.
o Apply a logical, analytical approach to complex problem-solving, by identifying root causes and balancing priorities and constraints.
o Draw on a broad understanding of information systems concepts and practices relevant to the organisation's technology landscape.
The ability to speak Welsh is desirable for this post; Welsh and/or English speakers are equally welcome to apply.
Main duties of the job
- Lead the design and development of cloud-native integration solutions using Python, microservices architecture, and event-driven patterns.
- Guide technical direction, architecture, and standards for healthcare data transformation and validation systems.
- Oversee the development of robust CI/CD pipelines and Infrastructure as Code practices.
- Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to deliver secure, user-centred digital services following secure-by-design principles.
- Mentor and coach developers, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and technical excellence.
- Champion agile methodologies and DevSecOps practices across the team.
- Engage with stakeholders to understand requirements and translate them into scalable technical solutions.
- Ensure compliance with information security standards and NHS Wales policies for handling patient-identifiable data.
About us
Digital Health and Care Wales (DHCW) is part of the NHS Wales family and has an important role in changing the way health and care services are delivered through technology and data. The organisation supports frontline staff with modern systems and access to important information about their patients, while empowering the people of Wales to manage their own health through digital NHS Wales services.
Working for DHCW offers lots of employee benefits, including flexible working, a competitive salary, 28 days of annual leave plus Bank Holidays and opportunities for career development. We are committed to recognising and celebrating our staff as the most valuable part of our organisation.
Join our game changing, life-saving team and start making a real difference to health and care services in Wales.
Job description
Job responsibilities
You will be able to find a full Job description and Person Specification attached within the supporting documents or please click "Apply now" to view in Trac
Essential Skills & ExperienceCore Development: Proven Python (3.x) leadership for APIs, system interfaces & data transformation; strong microservices/event-driven patterns;
Dockerised applications.Cloud & Infrastructure: Hands-on Azure (Service Bus/message brokers); IaC with Terraform; scalable, resilient cloud-native architectures.
DevSecOps & Quality: CI/CD (Azure DevOps, GitHub Actions); automated testing, static analysis & security scanning; secure-by-design principles & sensitive data handling.
Integration & Standards: Lifecycle management, integration patterns & data workflows; message validation, schema enforcement & data quality; troubleshooting distributed systems & observability.
Leadership & Collaboration: Agile team leadership & mentoring; translating complex business needs into scalable solutions.
Desirable: Healthcare standards (HL7, FHIR, MLLP); Azure Monitor/Application Insights; modern Python tooling (UV, Ruff, MyPy); event-driven/asynchronous processing; ESB-to-cloud migration; Welsh language (Level 1+).
Job description
Job responsibilities
You will be able to find a full Job description and Person Specification attached within the supporting documents or please click "Apply now" to view in Trac
Essential Skills & ExperienceCore Development: Proven Python (3.x) leadership for APIs, system interfaces & data transformation; strong microservices/event-driven patterns;
Dockerised applications.Cloud & Infrastructure: Hands-on Azure (Service Bus/message brokers); IaC with Terraform; scalable, resilient cloud-native architectures.
DevSecOps & Quality: CI/CD (Azure DevOps, GitHub Actions); automated testing, static analysis & security scanning; secure-by-design principles & sensitive data handling.
Integration & Standards: Lifecycle management, integration patterns & data workflows; message validation, schema enforcement & data quality; troubleshooting distributed systems & observability.
Leadership & Collaboration: Agile team leadership & mentoring; translating complex business needs into scalable solutions.
Desirable: Healthcare standards (HL7, FHIR, MLLP); Azure Monitor/Application Insights; modern Python tooling (UV, Ruff, MyPy); event-driven/asynchronous processing; ESB-to-cloud migration; Welsh language (Level 1+).
Person Specification
Qualifications and Knowledge
Essential
- oMaster's-level qualification (or equivalent professional experience) in a relevant technical or professional field, e.g., DevOps engineering, infrastructure, or software delivery.
- oPractical knowledge of DevOps principles and practices, including CI/CD, automation, infrastructure-as-code, and secure code deployment.
- oIT infrastructure and cloud/virtualisation expertise, including configuration, management, and security.
- oUnderstanding of service reliability, capacity, and incident/problem management practices within DevOps contexts.
- oCommitment to continuous professional development.
Desirable
- oChartered IT Professional (CITP) or an alternative relevant IT/professional registration.
- oFEDIP Advanced Practitioner, or equivalent recognised Advanced Professional qualification.
- oTheoretical and specialist knowledge gained via relevant certification, such as: oEXIN DevOps Master, or similar certification. oLeadership & Management qualification or training
- oKnowledge of the NHS, other healthcare systems, or the health sector, including regional or national variations.
Experience
Essential
- oProven experience in a technical leadership role, managing technical resources and prioritising delivery in a complex environment.
- oExpert in applying DevOps practices and automation to deliver secure, reliable, high-quality code from development to live services
- oProficient in applying Agile methods and practices to lead DevOps teams and drive continuous improvement
- oProficient in writing and maintaining code to support CI/CD pipelines, infrastructure-as-code, and automation, translating requirements into functional software.
- oProficient in implementing and managing IT infrastructure, networks, and systems across on-premises and cloud environments.
- oProficient in mitigating security threats and vulnerabilities across hardware, software, and infrastructure, including implementing controls and responding to security incidents.
- oProficient in leading the build, test, and deployment of software releases, including handling non-conformance and release acceptance.
- oProficient in using incident management tools to record, track, and analyse incidents, identify trends, and manage known errors.
- oExperience applying quality assurance methods and techniques, including planning, evaluation, configuration management, and conducting quality reviews and audits.
- oProficient in coaching others, providing guidance and support to develop skills, improve performance, and adopt modern practices.
- oProficient in engaging and managing stakeholders from diverse backgrounds, adapting communication and collaboration approaches to achieve shared goals.
- oProficient in preparing and monitoring budgets to manage costs effectively and ensure value for money.
Desirable
- oAdept in applying cloud, virtualisation, and infrastructure principles, including networks, systems, application, and data layers, with security and management of virtualised environments.
- oProficient in applying AI and machine learning technologies to optimise DevOps processes and support data-driven decision-making.
- oExperience analysing pipelines in terms of metrics, e.g. queuing theory, Six-Sigma, TPS.
Skills and Attributes
Essential
- oAnalytical thinking skills to break down complex problems, select appropriate methods or tools, and reflect on outcomes to capture and apply learning.
- oAttention to Detail skills to apply quality standards consistently, ensuring all deliverables are accurate and complete.
- oDecision-Making skills to make timely, informed decisions considering priorities, constraints, risks, and available information.
- oFollow-up and Monitoring skills to track progress against targets, resolve issues, and report or escalate as needed.
- oInitiative to proactively identify opportunities for improvement and take appropriate action.
- oInfluence and Impact skills to engage stakeholders confidently and professionally, shaping outcomes and achieving shared goals.
- oLeadership to support and guide others with clear direction and to encourage an inclusive, high-performing team culture.
- oTechnical agility to quickly learn new technologies, stay updated on trends, and understand their commercial use.
Desirable
- oWelsh language skills are desirable, level 1 or above, in understanding, speaking, reading and writing in Welsh.
- oOrganisational awareness to understand your organisation's values, culture, and key people, helping you build strong working relationships.
Person Specification
Qualifications and Knowledge
Essential
- oMaster's-level qualification (or equivalent professional experience) in a relevant technical or professional field, e.g., DevOps engineering, infrastructure, or software delivery.
- oPractical knowledge of DevOps principles and practices, including CI/CD, automation, infrastructure-as-code, and secure code deployment.
- oIT infrastructure and cloud/virtualisation expertise, including configuration, management, and security.
- oUnderstanding of service reliability, capacity, and incident/problem management practices within DevOps contexts.
- oCommitment to continuous professional development.
Desirable
- oChartered IT Professional (CITP) or an alternative relevant IT/professional registration.
- oFEDIP Advanced Practitioner, or equivalent recognised Advanced Professional qualification.
- oTheoretical and specialist knowledge gained via relevant certification, such as: oEXIN DevOps Master, or similar certification. oLeadership & Management qualification or training
- oKnowledge of the NHS, other healthcare systems, or the health sector, including regional or national variations.
Experience
Essential
- oProven experience in a technical leadership role, managing technical resources and prioritising delivery in a complex environment.
- oExpert in applying DevOps practices and automation to deliver secure, reliable, high-quality code from development to live services
- oProficient in applying Agile methods and practices to lead DevOps teams and drive continuous improvement
- oProficient in writing and maintaining code to support CI/CD pipelines, infrastructure-as-code, and automation, translating requirements into functional software.
- oProficient in implementing and managing IT infrastructure, networks, and systems across on-premises and cloud environments.
- oProficient in mitigating security threats and vulnerabilities across hardware, software, and infrastructure, including implementing controls and responding to security incidents.
- oProficient in leading the build, test, and deployment of software releases, including handling non-conformance and release acceptance.
- oProficient in using incident management tools to record, track, and analyse incidents, identify trends, and manage known errors.
- oExperience applying quality assurance methods and techniques, including planning, evaluation, configuration management, and conducting quality reviews and audits.
- oProficient in coaching others, providing guidance and support to develop skills, improve performance, and adopt modern practices.
- oProficient in engaging and managing stakeholders from diverse backgrounds, adapting communication and collaboration approaches to achieve shared goals.
- oProficient in preparing and monitoring budgets to manage costs effectively and ensure value for money.
Desirable
- oAdept in applying cloud, virtualisation, and infrastructure principles, including networks, systems, application, and data layers, with security and management of virtualised environments.
- oProficient in applying AI and machine learning technologies to optimise DevOps processes and support data-driven decision-making.
- oExperience analysing pipelines in terms of metrics, e.g. queuing theory, Six-Sigma, TPS.
Skills and Attributes
Essential
- oAnalytical thinking skills to break down complex problems, select appropriate methods or tools, and reflect on outcomes to capture and apply learning.
- oAttention to Detail skills to apply quality standards consistently, ensuring all deliverables are accurate and complete.
- oDecision-Making skills to make timely, informed decisions considering priorities, constraints, risks, and available information.
- oFollow-up and Monitoring skills to track progress against targets, resolve issues, and report or escalate as needed.
- oInitiative to proactively identify opportunities for improvement and take appropriate action.
- oInfluence and Impact skills to engage stakeholders confidently and professionally, shaping outcomes and achieving shared goals.
- oLeadership to support and guide others with clear direction and to encourage an inclusive, high-performing team culture.
- oTechnical agility to quickly learn new technologies, stay updated on trends, and understand their commercial use.
Desirable
- oWelsh language skills are desirable, level 1 or above, in understanding, speaking, reading and writing in Welsh.
- oOrganisational awareness to understand your organisation's values, culture, and key people, helping you build strong working relationships.
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).
