Lead Engineer - Infrastructure and Cloud

23 Stephenson Street, Birmingham, Piccadilly Gate, Manchester or Loxley House, Nottingham Job Summary We are seeking a Lead Engineer, Infrastructure and Cloud to join our Information Systems team. This is an exciting opportunity to lead the engineering and operational management of Ofsted’s core infrastructure, cloud, and digital technology platforms. As Lead Engineer, Infrastructure and Cloud, you will provide technical leadership across Azure, Microsoft 365, enterprise device management, identity and access management, cyber security tooling, and cloud infrastructure. You will play a key role in ensuring services remain secure, resilient, and reliable, while driving platform modernisation, automation, and continuous improvement to support Ofsted’s wider digital ambitions. Leading a team of infrastructure engineers, you will build technical capability, set engineering standards, and shape the future direction of our technology estate. Working closely with stakeholders, suppliers, and delivery teams, you will influence technical decision-making, lead responses to major incidents and high-risk changes, and strengthen cyber resilience through the implementation of effective security controls and modern engineering practices. This is a high-impact leadership role for someone passionate about delivering secure, scalable, and user-focused technology services. This role requires Security Check (SC) clearance. This is a fantastic opportunity to further your experience in Ofsted’s well-established team. The post holder will work with high-achieving professionals at all levels, surrounded by a friendly and supportive team. They will have access to amazing benefits, such as flexible working hours, the Civil Service Pension Scheme, and 32.5 days annual leave + 8 bank holidays. We offer a hybrid working model, so you may also choose to spend a proportion of time working from home. Job Description Please refer to the job specification for further information. Please refer to the job specification for further information. Person specification Please refer to the job specification for further information. Qualifications Microsoft Azure certification, or evidence of completed Microsoft training in Azure administration, architecture, security tooling or cloud infrastructure. Behaviours We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process: - Managing a Quality Service - Delivering at Pace - Communicating and Influencing - Changing and Improving - Seeing the Big Picture Technical skills We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process: - Knowledge and experience of managing Microsoft technologies including Microsoft 365, Entra ID, Intune, Sentinel, Defender and Windows operating systems. - Knowledge and experience of managing Azure cloud platforms, including governance, networking, cloud services, security, automation and compliance. - Experience of planning and delivering improvements across enterprise device management, identity, Microsoft 365 and cloud platforms, aligned with Government security standards, policies and best practice. - Experience of Infrastructure as Code and automation technologies, such as Terraform, PowerShell or Azure DevOps. - Experience of leading, coaching and developing technical teams within an enterprise environment. - Extensive experience of supporting and improving complex technology platforms and services, identifying risks and delivering mitigations. Alongside your salary of £71,748, Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills contributes £20,785 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window). Full details of the benefits available can be found in our Ofsted Offer brochure. Ofsted is devoted to equality, diversity and inclusion. Within our Ofsted Strategy 2023-2027 we have stated that we will improve the representation of under-represented groups across the organisation and publish our progress on this annually. We are always looking to expand on our diverse workforce by recruiting candidates from varied backgrounds and differing experiences. We are proud to be a Disability Confident – Leader, we continually engage with our 5 staff networks for protected characteristics, and highlight the work of our Equalities, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Group. We ensure all candidates are treated with fair and open competition, with all appointments being made on merit and we use our Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) to provide assurance to all candidates of this. Artificial intelligence Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use. Selection process details This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills. Application And Shortlisting The selection panel will assess your 1,000-word personal statement against the essential criteria outlined in the person specification. Candidates should ensure they provide clear evidence demonstrating how they meet each of the essential criteria. We recommend using the STAR model (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to present your evidence. You will also be asked to provide information within the “Employer/Activity History” section of the application form. This information is equivalent to the information you would provide on a CV setting out your career history (this may be used in the sifting process). Assessment And Interview Candidates who pass the benchmark at the shortlisting stage will be invited to an assessment and interview where they will be assessed against a mixture of the Civil Service behaviours and the experience/technical skills set out in section 3 of the job specification. We will invite the most suitable candidates to attend an assessment and interview on week commencing on Monday 30 November 2026 at 23 Stephenson Street, Birmingham and Piccadilly Gate, Manchester. Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment. This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills. Security Successful candidates must undergo a standard (or equivalent) criminal record check. 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. Successful candidates must undergo a standard (or equivalent) criminal record check. 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. 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. Diversity and Inclusion The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window). 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 : People Services Delivery Team - Email : Jobs@ofsted.gov.uk - Telephone : 03000 131 487 Recruitment team - Email : Jobs@ofsted.gov.uk Further information The Law Requires That Selection For Appointment To The Civil Service Is On Merit On The Basis Of Fair And Open Competition As Outlined In The Civil Service Commission's Recruitment Principles, Which Can Be Found At https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/02a_RECRUITMENT-PRINCIPLES-April-2018-FINAL-.pdf If You Feel Your Application Has Not Been Treated In Accordance With The Recruitment Principles, And You Wish To Make a Complaint, You Should Email Ofsted Recruitment At Jobs@ofsted.gov.uk In The First Instance. If You Are Not Satisfied With The Response You Receive From The Department, You Can Contact The Civil Service Commission At https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/recruitment/civilservicerecruitmentcomplaints/