Senior Software Engineer – CI/CD & Kubernetes Location: Bristol Clearance Level: DV Cleared Contract Type: Contract- Outside IR35 Start Date ASAP Duration: 6 Months / rolling Overview: We are supporting a key defence client in their search for a highly skilled Dev ops / Senior Software Engineer with hands-on experience across modern DevOps, platform engineering, and application delivery tooling. This role will involve designing, deploying, and maintaining secure and scalable infrastructure environments using CI/CD pipelines, Kubernetes, and IaC frameworks within a classified or secure environment. The ideal candidate will be comfortable working across both Linux (RedHat) and Windows operating systems, and will bring deep technical knowledge across CI/CD tooling , Kubernetes cluster build , and secure application deployment practices. Key Responsibilities: Design, implement, and maintain CI/CD pipelines using tools such as GitLab CI , Terraform , Ansible , PowerShell , and Python . Build, configure, and maintain Kubernetes clusters , ensuring high availability, scalability, and security. Deploy and support key applications such as Apache NiFi , Elastic ECK , and JFrog Artifactory . Develop and manage Helm Charts to standardise application deployment. Integrate with and manage HashiCorp Vault for secure secrets management and token-based authentication within pipeline workflows. Build and consume REST APIs to support automation and platform integration. Apply Infrastructure as Code (IaC) principles to enforce repeatability, consistency, and scalability across environments. Ensure platform and infrastructure solutions adhere to security and compliance standards relevant to a defence environment. Collaborate closely with software developers, platform engineers, security teams, and DevOps specialists in a multidisciplinary team. Key Skills and Experience: CI/CD & Automation: Proven experience with GitLab CI , Terraform , Ansible , Python , PowerShell , and REST API development/integration. Experience creating reusable automation scripts and maintaining configuration management best practices. Platform & Containerisation: Strong understanding of Kubernetes design, configuration, and operations in production environments. Experience managing applications with Helm Charts and supporting microservices-based architecture. Applications & Services: Direct experience deploying and supporting Apache NiFi , Elastic ECK (ElasticSearch on Kubernetes) , and Artifactory . Familiarity with container image management and application lifecycle support. Security & Infrastructure: Use of HashiCorp Vault for managing secrets, certificates, and access tokens. Solid working knowledge of Red Hat Enterprise Linux and Windows Server environments. Understanding of operating within secure, high-assurance environments . Desirable Qualifications: Active SC or DV clearance highly desirable. Experience working on defence or national security programmes. Certifications such as CKA, CKAD, Terraform Associate, or HashiCorp Vault certification. Additional Information: Due to the nature of the work, candidates must be UK nationals and eligible for security clearance. Out-of-hours availability may occasionally be required to support deployment windows.