Job Description
Level 4 DevOps Engineer
Weekly Hours Worked: Full Time – 37 hours per week
This will be a September start date.
About the company:
As one of Europe’s largest research organisations, we ask the biggest questions in the universe to find answers that change the world around us. We seek understanding. We’re proud of the impact we make. And we’re committed to helping build a globally competitive, knowledge-based UK economy. Being part of all this means contributing to work that pushes boundaries and creates possibilities. You’ll work with, and learn from, true experts. Whatever your role, you’ll be free to question, and encouraged to share ideas. And, in a positive and supportive culture, you’ll discover just what a difference you can make when you’re equipped and inspired to excel.
We’re a place where curious minds thrive. Not bound by profit, we explore ideas that others don’t, ask questions that others won’t, and discover answers that others are not equipped to find. And, alongside Mars landings and black holes, we also explore diverse, international projects in everything from science and engineering to computing and technology. Whether it’s at the cutting edge or behind the scenes, our work is intellectually challenging. It’s very often ground-breaking. And it’s endlessly, irresistibly fascinating.
Brief job description:
Estio Training have an exciting new opportunity for a DevOps Engineer with Science and Technology Facilities Council, one of Europe’s largest research organisations based in Harwell, Oxfordshire.
Come and do amazing work whilst following a structured learning programme that develops not just your capabilities but also your confidence to thrive and grow in the workplace. Work alongside world-leading scientists and technologists, shape projects that improve lives, and daily life, in the UK and far beyond. Put simply, come and discover the impact you can make when you’re equipped, encouraged and inspired to perform to your very best.
Job Description:
STFC's Scientific Computing Department (SCD) is one of the UK’s leading centres of expertise in data-intensive science, and home to sophisticated high-performance hardware. It is one of the largest departments of its kind with over 200 computational scientists, software engineers and project support staff – and it is steadily growing as the demand for more research data management, storage and analytics increases at a pace.
Our staff are located at two UK campuses – the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory in Oxfordshire, and the Daresbury Laboratory in Cheshire. They have cutting-edge skills and expertise in scientific software research and development, and world-leading capabilities in 'big data' storage and analysis, visualisation and simulation, and scientific information management.
Scientific computing is fundamental to modern research. This broad and rapidly advancing field involves exploiting advanced computing capabilities to understand and solve complex problems in science. SCD supports some of the UK's most advanced scientific facilities and provides the tools that enable the scientific community to discover and deliver vital research.
The DevOps Apprentice will gain first-hand experience working as part of a professional team, supported by theoretical and practical learning. You will have the opportunity to make an impact early on in your role, where you’ll also learn the specialist skills tailored to the knowledge, skills and behaviours required as a computing professional.
We are offering roles within each of following functions of the organisation:
Cloud Operations Group
The Cloud Operations Group runs STFC’s infrastructure-as-a-service cloud platform providing tens of thousands of CPU cores and hundreds of GPUs to scientists and engineers working on STFC and UKRI projects. We run a variety of services including our main OpenStack platform, various Kubernetes platforms and a variety of other services.
Research Infrastructure
Research Infrastructure is responsible for managing the hardware - tens of thousands of CPUs, Petabytes of disk storage, and multiple tape robots and extensive networking infrastructure which underpins many of the services that SCD provides. In addition, RIG operates the JASMIN data analysis platform, SCARF HPC cluster and the Pearl AI/ML cluster.
Digital Infrastructure - High Performance Data Centre Operations
The Digital Infrastructure Group delivers first-class IT support and services that underpin the STFC scientific programme of activities and partner organisations. We provide HPC Data Centre facilities, a comprehensive network and communications environment to support the science undertaken by STFC alongside other areas such as Service Desk, Applications, Infrastructure and Cyber Security. We support STFC’s projects in big data analytics, machine learning, AI and large computational modelling.
You will have the opportunity to meet and collaborate with other departments and apprentices during your apprenticeship.
Your duties and responsibilities in this role will consist of:
- Working with users on issues and deployments.
- Working on maintenance and development of production environments.
- Adapting use cases to work in a cloud/Kubernetes environment.
- Developing a welcome pack and documentation for new users.
- Adapting and developing training exercises on various aspects of our facilities.
- Building Docker containers for operational and user needs.
- Investigating the feasibility of deploying various new services and applications.
- Working on Kubernetes environments for operational and user needs.
- Developing software and automations to meet operational and user needs.
- To perform proactive monitoring to ensure the health, performance and security of our production and non-production environments on-premises Data centres.
- To provide operational and administrative support of Windows/Linux operating systems to manage servers and associated applications, notably Nagios, Trend 963 and DCIM. To be able to write scripts for collating data from SNMP MIBS, Databases and SIPS devices.
- Linux Opensource software proficient. A few examples of technologies we work with on a daily basis: Nagios; Gitlab; Modbus/Sip/Babelbuster, Cacti, Elasticsearch, Weathermap; Grafana, open source applications, Linux, Python, and Raspberry Pi.
- Alongside this, you will undertake professional development and training as part of a cohort of computing apprentices with Estio Training completing the Level 4 DevOps Engineer Apprenticeship.
Qualifications:
- 5 GCSEs grades A*-C/9-4 or equivalent (including English Language and Maths)
Skills Required:
- Some knowledge of and enthusiasm for computer hardware and/or software.
- Ability to examine evidence and data in order to understand it and solve problems.
- An aptitude and desire to identify and automate repeated tasks for efficiency and accuracy.
- Passion in programming to develop, implement and improve applications.
- Programming skill is scripting language such as Python, PowerShell, and Perl for collating data from SNMP MIBS; Databases and SIPS devices.
Personal qualities:
- Good written communication skills.
- Desire to develop personally and professionally.
- Excellent communication skills and ability to work in a team.
- A flair for communicating in clear, positive terms; understanding that helping staff of all abilities understand problems and solutions is central to successful customer service.
Future prospects:
The role offers a permanent role upon completion of the apprenticeship depending on performance.
Training to be provided:
Estio apprenticeship training programmes are delivered virtually by our fully qualified and industry experienced training team. Using their expert knowledge, we’ve purposefully built our programmes around the real-world use of modern technology, so that the skills we create can be directly applied in the workplace.
Throughout the apprenticeship learners receive coaching, help and guidance from a dedicated team who are there to ensure they get the most from their work experience.
Successful completion of this apprenticeship gives you an accredited Level 4 DevOps Engineer, with training in how to:
- Write scripts and coding to meet your business’ needs.
- Develop and deploy software and cloud infrastructure.
- Build and operate a Continuous Integration (CI) capability.
- Implement and improve release automation and orchestration.
- Use security tools and techniques for software development.
- Evolve and define IT architecture.
- Follow test driven development and ensure appropriate coverage.
IND123
Job Type: Apprenticeship
Salary: £16,608.00 per year
Schedule:
Ability to commute/relocate:
- Didcot, OX11 0QX: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (required)
Work Location: In person
Reference ID: MED - Science and Technology Facilities Council
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