Job Description

Details

Reference number

327395

Salary

\xc2\xa357,000 - \xc2\xa367,100

National: \xc2\xa357,000 min - \xc2\xa362,700 max London: \xc2\xa361,000 min - \xc2\xa367,100 max. An additional allowance (RRA) of up to \xc2\xa311,300 is available for candidates with exceptional skills & experience.

A Civil Service Pension with an average employer contribution of 27%

Job grade

Grade 7

Contract type

Permanent

Business area

HO - Digital Data and Technology - Engineering

Type of role

Digital
Engineering
Information Technology

Working pattern

Flexible working, Full-time, Part-time, Compressed Hours

Number of jobs available

1


Contents

• Location About the job Benefits Things you need to know Apply and further information

Location

Croydon, Liverpool, Manchester, Southport
About the job

Job summary

A Lead Infrastructure Engineer assumes responsibility for managing third party provision of infrastructure services and the provision of expertise to deliver architectural solutions for infrastructure services throughout the service lifecycle. You will oversee programmes and projects and work with Technical Architects to translate the architectural designs into operations and support technical architects in operationalising the designs. You will lead and direct infrastructure teams in building, managing, transitioning, supporting and maintaining solutions according to departmental policy and ensure a feedback loop exists with service support to ensure continuous improvement. You are responsible for overall management activities such as workforce planning, budgeting, technology roadmaps, projects and tasks. The Networks and Infrastructure (N&I) team within the Home Office is responsible for delivering and maintaining the core infrastructure for all of the Home Office. This post is a technical role within the existing Core Platforms Cloud Infrastructure team in N&I. The team deal with a wide variety of systems, concepts, and technologies including Infrastructure as Code, immutable infrastructure, automation and serverless compute as well as the simpler public cloud provided services across several major public cloud vendors. The team deal extensively with other traditional infrastructure teams for connectivity and services as well as application teams to move legacy workloads to the cloud. Consequently, this is not a traditional DevOps role. For skilled ambitious applicants working in technical specialisms currently, the post could provide either a pathway to other DevOps roles or the ability to work with new DevOps technologies while utilising and building on previous technical knowledge. Work will vary but will include project work including the design, deployment, automation and maintenance of all common cloud components to approved architectural principles as infrastructure as code on multiple public cloud vendors; Integration of pre-built environments and services into the network; troubleshooting of the Cloud Infrastructure environment and surrounding services; planning and moving of legacy application stacks to the cloud; automation of existing processes or introduction of new automation to provide better functionality, flexibility or cost savings; build and improvement of Cloud Infrastructure services provided for the rest of the organisation. The Home Office encourages flexible working wherever it can be accommodated by the business, including part-time working, compressed hours, homeworking, job sharing and part-year working. Where business needs allow, some roles may be suitable for a combination of office and home-based working. This is a non-contractual arrangement where employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in the office. Applicants can request further information regarding how this may work in their team from the Vacancy Holder (see advert for contact details). Homeworking on a permanent contractual basis is likely to only apply in exceptional circumstances in line with the role, or where Workplace Reasonable Adjustments might apply. Please discuss the role requirements and any Workplace Reasonable Adjustments you may require with the Vacancy Holder. Job Sharing - it is recommended that candidates applying as job sharers identify their job-sharing partner in advance and apply together. They should also note that they wish to apply as part of a job-sharing arrangement on their application form and provide the name of their job-sharing partner. Job sharing candidates should refer to the information and guidance on the Gov.UK website Civil Service Careers. Not all posts or roles are suitable for all forms of flexible working and are subject to business needs, details of which will be set out in the advert. We encourage applications from people from the widest possible diversity of backgrounds, cultures and experiences. We particularly welcome applications from women, people with disabilities and LGBT+ as they are currently under-represented in the Home Office at this grade level. Appointments will be made on merit on the basis of fair and open competition.

Job description

Your main day to day responsibilities will be:

• leading teams and departments in the implementation, administration and support of infrastructure solutions and services
• reviewing systems designs to ensure selection of appropriate technology, efficient use of resources, integration of multiple systems and technology and that \xe2\x80\x98Secure by Design\xe2\x80\x99 principles have been followed
• managing planning of system and/or acceptance tests, coordinating both functional and non-functional specifications and provide authoritative advice and guidance on test planning
• troubleshooting and identifying problems across different technology capabilities including compute, storage, networking, physical infrastructure, software, cloud, commercial off the shelf (COTS) and open source
• establishing standards and procedures across a service lifecycle including the development lifecycle and ensure that practitioners adhere to this. You will manage resources to ensure that the systems integration function works effectively
• after a solution has been integrated, you will evaluate the success of the project, identifying best practices and lessons learned. You will provide feedback to teams and incorporate this information into future plans
• managing, coaching and mentoring more junior infrastructure engineers
• you will be required to participate in an on-call rota.
• you will be required to work out of hours to implement certain technical changes or to help resolve incidents.
• some travel to other Home Office sites will occasionally be required.

You will also be expected to carry out the following day to day activities:

• ensure the creation and updating of technical documentation
• manage the response to incident reports, ensuring relevant prioritisation and detail to allow for effective investigation
• identify the correct procedures and appropriate channels for resolution and monitor resolution activities and progress updates to users
• investigate faults in systems, processes and services, and advise on the implementation of appropriate solutions and preventative measures
• help shape engineering best practices and standards

Person specification

Essential Skills You\xe2\x80\x99ll have a demonstrable passion for Infrastructure Engineering, with the following skills or strong experience in:

• leading the technology team to adhere to good engineering principles from architecture through to development
• providing leadership to the teams responsible for delivery of the service through effective direction and coaching
• managing and delivering complex technologies within time, cost and quality targets.
• different methodologies including Agile, waterfall and continuous integration principles
• building strong partnerships with diverse teams across multiple locations and technologies
• advising on future technology changes and innovations and defining best practice for network improvements and information security

You should have strong experience in the following technologies:

• Infrastructure as Code and automation (Terraform, Python, GO, PowerShell);
• NGFW and appliances providing routing, proxying, VPN services, firewall and inspection capabilities;
• IAM;
• DNS and load balancers;
• Linux (multiple flavours) and Windows Server;
• Common applications such as web servers;
• Database as a Service (multiple flavours);
• Desktop as a Service.

The skills listed above are reflective of the Home Office DDaT Profession Skills and Competency Model (based on the industry standard SFIA framework). Please see below for the relevant skills required for your role: Strategy and Architecture

• Business Strategy and Planning
  • IT Management (ITMG) \xe2\x80\x93 Level 5

Development and Implementation

• Systems Development
  • Systems Design (DESN) - Level 4
• Installation and Integration
  • Systems Installation/Decommissioning (HSIN) - Level 3

Delivery and Operation

• Service Operation
  • IT Infrastructure (ITOP) - Level 4
  • Problem Management (PBMG) - Level 3
  • Incident Management (USUP) - Level 3

Qualifications You will have had formal training in computer science to degree level or experience in a known computing field, with evidence of furthering technical qualifications throughout your career. Desirable Skills Ideally you will also have the following skills or some experience in:

• understanding of core technical concepts
• presenting verbal and written information clearly and accurately in language which meets the needs of the user and can adapt to stakeholders\' reactions with flexibility
• have Vendor specific qualifications (or able to demonstrate experience)

Behaviours

We\'ll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Developing Self and Others
• Leadership
• Seeing the Big Picture

Technical skills

We\'ll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

• Strategy and Architecture
• Development and Implementation
• Delivery and Operation

Benefits

Alongside your salary of \xc2\xa357,000, Home Office contributes \xc2\xa315,390 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

You will have access to the same benefits available to all civil servants in the Home Office:

• An in-year performance bonus scheme.
• A Civil Service pension with employer contribution rates of between 26.6% and 30.3%, depending upon salary.
• 25 days annual leave on appointment, plus 8 days public holidays and 1 day for the King\xe2\x80\x99s Birthday, rising further with service.
• Flexible working options to enable you to achieve the work life balance that right for you including part-time, flexi time and job sharing.
• Training and development opportunities tailored to your role.
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity.
• Season ticket loans and rental deposit loans.
• Cycle to work and payroll giving.
• Employee discounts - including a huge number of retailers, Microsoft Home Use programme and gym membership.
• A variety of staff recognition schemes including thank you vouchers.
• Health and wellbeing initiatives including monthly mindfulness sessions.
• Staff support networks.
• Maternity, adoption or shared parental leave of up to 26 weeks full pay followed by 13 weeks of statutory pay and a further 13 weeks unpaid.
• Maternity and adoption support leave (paternity leave) of 2 weeks full pay.
• Up to five days paid leave for volunteering.
• Study leave and support for studying for a qualification or other accredited development relevant to your role.

You can find more information at Benefits - Home Office Careers
Things you need to know

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.

As part of the application process you will be asked to complete a CV. Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form. Please note your CV should include all relevant experience that relates to the Essential skills criteria as listed in the job advertisement. Remove information that identifies you (for example your name, age or place of education) so that you\xe2\x80\x99ll be judged on merit alone and not your personal background, circumstances, race or gender. (Do NOT include e-mail addresses or links to online profiles, resum\xc3\xa9s, or prior work, either personal or business. Active links or e-mail addresses will result in your application being rejected). Application tips

• It\xe2\x80\x99s crucial that your application demonstrates how you meet the essential criteria set out in the job advert. Don\'t just do a list of languages/platforms - provide context.
• You should give yourself plenty of time. You can start an application and come back to complete it before the job advert closes.

More guidance can be found here \xe2\x80\x93 completing you application Success Profiles - Candidate Overview (publishing.service.gov.uk) Success Profiles - Civil Service Behaviours (publishing.service.gov.uk) Sift and interview The sift will be held on CV only. Candidates reaching the required standard will then be invited to attend an interview. The interview will assess your experience, technical skills and all the behaviours listed in the job advert. Sift will be conducted week commencing 11th December 2023. Interviews will be held week commencing 8th January 2023. (Subject to operational requirements/priorities) Interviews will be conducted remotely via MS Teams. We aim to meet the dates set out in the advert. There may be occasions when these dates will change. You will be provided with sufficient notice of the confirmed dates. Further Information Please read the essential skills for this position carefully. We will only consider those who meet the listed requirement. If you have previously made an unsuccessful application for a role with the same essential skills and are not able to demonstrate how you have developed these skills since your last application please reconsider applying as your application is unlikely to be successful. Job offers to this post are made on the basis of merit. We often have similar roles available at different grades. If a candidate is suitable for a similar role or a lower grade than they have applied for, we may offer the candidate that role without the need to go through a further selection process providing the role has the same behaviours and essential skills. For meaningful checks to be carried out, individuals need to have lived in the UK for a sufficient period of time to enable appropriate checks to be carried out and produce a result which provides the required level of assurance. You should normally have been resident in the United Kingdom for the last 3 years if the role requires CTC clearance, 5 years for SC clearance and 10 years for DV. A lack of UK residency in itself is not necessarily a bar to a security clearance and applicants should contact the Vacancy Holder/Recruiting Manager listed in the advert for further advice. Higher Security Clearance - This post requires the successful candidate to hold security clearance at minimum SC level (normally requiring a five year UK footprint). Job offers to this post are made on the basis of merit. Security vetting will only take place after the receipt of a job offer. Visa Sponsorship Statement - Please take note that the Home Office DDaT does not hold a UK Visa & Immigration (UKVI) Skilled Worker License and are unable to sponsor any individuals via Skilled Worker Sponsorship / Tier 2 (General) work visa. A reserve list may be held for a period up to 12 months from which further appointment may be made. We often have similar roles available at different grades. If a candidate is suitable for a similar role or a lower grade than they have applied for, we may offer the candidate that role without the need to go through a further selection process providing the role has the same competencies and essential skills. Every day, Home Office civil servants do brilliant work to develop and deliver policies and services that affect the lives of people across the country and beyond. To do this effectively and fairly, the Home Office is committed to representing modern Britain in all its diversity, and creating a welcoming, inclusive workplace where all our people are able to bring their whole selves to work and perform at their best. We are flexible, skilled, professional and diverse. We work to recruit and retain disabled staff and area Disability Confident Leader. We are proud to be one of the most ethnically diverse departments in the civil service. We are a Social Mobility Foundation top 75 employer. New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band. Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening, subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant\'s details held on the IFD will be refused employment. For further information please see the attached notes for candidates which must be read before making an application. Existing Civil Servants should note that some of the Home Office terms and conditions of employment have changed. It is the candidate\xe2\x80\x99s responsibility to ensure they are aware of the Terms and Conditions they will adopt should they be successful in application and should refer to the notes for candidates for further details. Transfer Terms: Voluntary. If you are invited to an interview you will be required to bring a range of documentation for the purposes of establishing identity and to aid any pre-employment checks. Please see the attached list of Home Office acceptable ID documents. Any move to the Home Office from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk Reasonable Adjustments If a person with disabilities is at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes. If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:

• Contact Government Recruitment Service via HOrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs
• Complete the \xe2\x80\x9cAssistance Required\xe2\x80\x9d section in the \xe2\x80\x9cAdditional Requirements\xe2\x80\x9d page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you\'re deaf, a language service professional

If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the \xe2\x80\x98Contact point for applicants\xe2\x80\x99 section. Feedback
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window).

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).

People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission\'s recruitment principles (opens in a new window).

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 also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.
Apply and further information

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.

Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

• 
  Name :
  Lisa Lunn
  Email :
  OptimusACRecruitment@homeoffice.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• 
  Email :
  HOrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

Further information

If you feel that your application has not been treated in accordance with the recruitment principles, and wish to make a complaint, then you should contact in the first instance HORecruitment.GRS@cabinetoffice.gov.uk. If you are not satisfied with the response that you receive, then you can contact the Civil Service Commission.