Lead Engineer - Infrastructure and Cloud

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.

Please refer to the job specification for further information.

Microsoft Azure certification, or evidence of completed Microsoft training in Azure administration, architecture, security tooling or cloud infrastructure.

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)

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.