Senior Platform Engineer - Linux, Automation and Security

Our world-leading Time & Frequency department are seeking a Platform Engineer specialising in automation and security.

This is an exceptional opportunity to join the global authority in precision timing at a defining moment for UK digital infrastructure. 

Backed by a government investment of £180 million in the National Timing Centre (NTC) programme, we are developing a world-first resilient time distribution capability that will provide industry with a robust complement to satellite systems (such as GPS) – which are increasingly vulnerable to disruption from solar storms, jamming and spoofing.

This will underpin essential services, including

• Telecommunications, 
• Online banking, 
• Emergency response, 
• Transport networks, and 
• Wider digital and data-driven operations.

Together, these services form the backbone of modern society - and your leadership will help ensure they remain secure, reliable and robust even if global navigation satellite systems fail.  

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Design, implementation and support of Linux platforms and infrastructure services - ensuring they remain secure, resilient and highly available.
  
  
• Develop and maintain automation, scripting and Infrastructure as Code (IaC) solutions - improving platform consistency, operational efficiency and service reliability.
  
  
• Implement and support containerisation and orchestration technologies (including Kubernetes environments) - enabling the delivery of modern, scalable platform services.
  
  
• Administer and optimise open-source Linux databases - ensuring performance, availability and operational stability across platform services.
  
  
• Apply security best practice and platform hardening across Linux environments - supporting privileged access management, PKI and certificate services, monitoring, logging and data protection.
  
  
• Deliver platform upgrades, patching and lifecycle management activities - ensuring infrastructure remains secure, compliant and fit for future needs.
  
  
• Troubleshoot complex platform and network issues - contributing to business continuity, disaster recovery and ongoing service improvement.

You’re currently a Platform Engineer, Infrastructure, Systems Administration or Technical Consultant; with

• Strong experience with On-Prem Enterprise Linux Environments - including the design, implementation and support of Linux-based services.
  
  
• Strong capability in automation, scripting and Infrastructure as Code (IaC) - using tools such as Bash, Ansible, Terraform and Python.
  
  
• Experience delivering secure, resilient and highly available systems across infrastructure and platform environments.
  
  
• Strong stakeholder management and communication skills with the ability to engage across technical and non-technical audiences.
  
  
• Experience producing technical documentation, operational procedures and implementation plans.

• Experience with VMware (vCenter, vSAN) - including administration, maintenance and optimisation of virtualised infrastructure environments.
  
  
• Experience supporting Kubernetes and containerised platforms within enterprise-scale environments.
  
  
• Relevant Linux, Infrastructure, Security or DevOps/Automation certifications.

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.