27 Jun 2025
27 Jun 2025
Teddington, United Kingdom
National Time Scale
Starting from £53,693 - dependent on experience
Permanent

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Software Engineer [DevOps]

About the Role
Our world-leading Time & Frequency department are seeking an experienced and practicing Senior Software Engineer with proven expertise in DevOps automation and container orchestration.

You will be joining our team at an exciting time - we maintain the UK’s National Time Scale, UTC (NPL), and are currently developing a new resilient Time Scale facility that will underpin our Critical National Infrastructure. This will address the risks associated with our dependency on global navigation satellite systems (such as GPS) that are vulnerable to both natural and intentional interference.

You’ll work closely with the Product Manager(s) and Delivery Manager(s) to align product and business requirements, develop proposals, and balance tech debt to deliver product functionality.
Key responsibilities:

Oversee software release management – automated deployment to multiple on-prem and cloud environments

Develop scripts to automate DevOps functions

Manage all content going live
About You
Reporting to a Programme Manager, you’ll play a pivotal role in the design of critical UK infrastructure that pushes the boundaries of measurement accuracy for the UK’s new resilient Time Scale.

To be successful in this role, you will have the following skills, experience, and qualifications: 

Proven and recent experience in the delivery of DevOps solutions

Team leadership

Risk assessment and management

Security mindset

Clear communicator

Essential technical skills:

Automation – Packer, Terraform, Ansible, CI/CD practices, developing pipelines

Unix system administration

Cloud platform administration

Docker, container orchestration

Python and shell scripting

Professional software development experience

It is also desirable if you have interest in Physics, measurements, and communications, for example:

Time and frequency measurement and time scale steering

Real-time monitoring and control of electronic hardware

Satellite communication, optical fibre and GNSS-based systems
We actively recruit citizens of all backgrounds, but the nature of our work in specific departments means that nationality, residency and security requirements can be more tightly defined than others. You will be asked about this throughout the recruitment process. To work at NPL, you will need to obtain BPSS security clearance. However, to work in this role in the Time & Frequency department, you will need to have an SC clearance with no restrictions, or you must have the ability to obtain an SC clearance.

Please note:  Applications will be reviewed, and interviews conducted throughout the duration of this advert therefore we may at any time bring the closing date forward.  We encourage all interested applicants to apply as soon as practical
About Us
The National Physical Laboratory (NPL) is a world-leading centre of excellence that provides cutting-edge measurement science, engineering and technology to underpin prosperity and quality of life in the UK. Find out more about what it is like working here - The measure of us - Overview

NPL and DSIT have strong commitments to diversity and equality of opportunity, and welcome applications from candidates irrespective of their background, gender, race, sexual orientation, religion, or age, providing they meet the required criteria. Applications from women, disabled and black, Asian and minority ethnic candidates in particular are encouraged. All disabled candidates (as defined by the Equality Act 2010) who satisfy the minimum criteria for the role will be guaranteed an interview under the Disability Confident Scheme.

At NPL, we believe our success is a result of the diversity and talent of our people. We strive to nurture and respect individuals to ensure everyone feels valued by treating everyone on the basis of their own individual merits and abilities regardless of their own or perceived identity, as part of our commitment to diversity & inclusion, we ensure we’re creating an environment where all our colleagues feel supported and welcome. More about this on our Diversity & Inclusion page.

We are committed to the health and well-being of our employees. Flexible working and social activities are embedded in our culture to create a positive work-life balance, along with a broad range of rewards, benefits and recognition. Our values are at the heart of what we do, and they shape the way we interact, develop our people and celebrate success. To ensure everyone has an equal chance, we’re always willing to make reasonable adjustments to the recruitment process. If you would like to discuss, please contact us.

[Internally, this role is known as "Senior Software Engineer"]