Principal DevOps Engineer

Job Description:

Your impact

Are you ready to lead engineers and take on complex automation and DevOps challenges that underpin the UK’s most critical missions? At Leonardo, our Principal DevOps Engineers combine people leadership with technical authority, leading the design, integration, and delivery of secure, automated solutions across hybrid and cloud environments.

Your work at Leonardo UK will see you take the lead in solving customer problems in an agile, innovative and team-centric manner. The role may involve a blended hybrid working model, with a mixture of working from home and working on site at one of our Leonardo offices to ensure close collaboration with the wider team and with our customers.

Leonardo UK is seeking a Principal DevOps Engineer to join the Cyber & Security Solutions Division team. This role combines technical leadership with responsibility for leading and developing engineers and delivering DevOps work packages.

What you will do as a Principal DevOps Engineer

• Act as the technical authority for automation and DevOps solutions across projects and programmes.
• Lead the design and implementation of CI/CD pipelines, infrastructure as code, and container orchestration.
• Provide domain expertise in secure DevOps/DevSecOps, embedding cyber security into pipelines and environments.
• Capture and analyse requirements, shaping high- and low-level technical designs.
• Lead the planning, resourcing and technical delivery of assigned work packages, including estimation, reporting and management of risks.
• Provide line management, mentoring and coaching for DevOps Engineers and Technicians, supporting their performance, development and wellbeing.
• Support recruitment, onboarding, capability development and knowledge sharing across the DevOps community.
• Support technology assessments, feasibility studies, and roadmap development.
• Engage with stakeholders and customers, presenting and defending technical solutions and reporting on delivery progress, risks and mitigations.

What you’ll bring

• Extensive technical expertise in automation, orchestration, and secure DevOps practices.
• Ability to balance hands-on engineering and technical authority with people leadership, delivery management and mentorship.
• Demonstrable experience of leading and developing engineers and coordinating technical delivery.
• A problem-solving mindset with the confidence to recommend and justify technical approaches.

Core areas (must have):

• Experience in the design, build and maintenance of CI/CD pipelines (Github Actions, GitLab CI, Jenkins, Azure DevOps) and version control (Git)
• Infrastructure as Code (Terraform, Ansible, Helm)
• Containerisation and orchestration (Docker, Kubernetes, OpenShift/Tanzu)
• Scripting and automation (Python, Bash, PowerShell)
• Strong understanding of cloud platforms (AWS, Azure) and hybrid deployments
• Knowledge of DevSecOps and cyber security practices in software delivery
• Experience leading engineers and planning technical work to cost, quality and schedule

Desirable:

• Expertise in secrets management and PKI (e.g. HashiCorp Vault)
• Experience with monitoring/logging tools (ELK stack, Prometheus, Splunk)
• Familiarity with service mesh and modern networking (Istio, Envoy)
• Exposure to data engineering and integration (Apache ecosystem, SQL, Python)
• Recognised technical certifications (AWS/Azure Architect, Kubernetes CKA/CKAD, Terraform)
• Experience in influencing technical standards, best practices, or contributing to professional forums

This is not an exhaustive list, and we are keen to hear from you even if you might not have experience in all the above. The most important skill is a good attitude and willingness to learn.

Security Clearance

This role is subject to pre-employment screening in line with the UK Government’s Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS). An additional range of Personnel Security Controls referred to as National Security Vetting (NSV) may apply, this could include meeting the eligibility requirements for The Security Check (SC) or Developed Vetting (DV). For more information and guidance please visit: Security and Vetting | Leonardo UK

Location

This role is based at one of our UK sites, Bristol, with hybrid/custom working options where appropriate.

Why join us

At Leonardo, our people are at the heart of everything we do. We offer a comprehensive, company-funded benefits package that supports your wellbeing, career development, and work–life balance. Whether you're looking to grow professionally, care for your health, or plan for the future, we’re here to help you thrive.

• Time to Recharge: Enjoy generous leave with the opportunity to accrue up to 12 additional flexi-days each year.
• Secure your Future: Benefit from our award-winning pension scheme with up to 15% employer contribution.
• Your Wellbeing Matters: Free access to mental health support, financial advice, and employee-led networks championing inclusion and diversity (Enable, Pride, Equalise, Armed Forces, Carers, Wellbeing and Ethnicity).
• Rewarding Performance: All employees at management level and below are eligible for our bonus scheme.
• Never Stop Learning: Free access to 4,000+ online courses via Coursera and LinkedIn Learning.
• Refer a friend: Receive a financial reward through our referral programme.
• Tailored Perks: Spend up to £500 annually on flexible benefits including private healthcare, dental, family cover, tech & lifestyle discounts, gym memberships and more.
• Flexible working: Flexible hours with hybrid working options. For part time opportunities, please talk to us about what might be possible for this role.

For a full list of our company benefits please visit our website.

Leonardo is a global leader in Aerospace, Defence, and Security. Headquartered in Italy, we employ over 53,000 people worldwide including 8,500 across 9 sites in the UK. Our employees are not just part of a team—they are key contributors to shaping innovation, advancing technology, and enhancing global safety.

Leonardo UK operates a grade-based salary framework with broad bands. The salary range shown reflects the approved grade band for this role, or a narrower hiring range published within that band, and is benchmarked against the external market. Exceptions above the standard range are managed through governance controls to protect internal equity.

At Leonardo we are committed to building an inclusive, accessible, and welcoming workplace. We believe that a diverse workforce sparks creativity, drives innovation, and leads to better outcomes for our people and our customers. If you have any accessibility requirements to support you during the recruitment process, just let us know.

Be part of something bigger - apply now!

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Primary Location:

GB - Bristol - Coldharbour Lane

Contract Type:

Permanent

Hybrid Working:

Hybrid