The Opportunity - Azure Solutions Engineer – Kubernetes & AKS (Pathway to Solutions Architect)
Location & Travel
* Remote within the UK - Very occasional travel to client site (typically once a month at most - travel expenses fully covered.
We're partnering with a boutique data analytics and technology consultancy with a strong and growing footprint across UK Central Government / Public Sector
Following sustained organic growth and increasing demand from major government departments, the consultancy is expanding its consulting team and seeking Azure-focused engineers with real Kubernetes experience who want to move further into consulting, solution design, and architecture.
We are open to candidates at different stages of their career: from Junior/mid Level Engineers ready to step into consulting, through to experienced Senior Consultants who can lead solution design and client conversations from day one.
This is not just a sys admin type of role and not a pure platform support position. It's a delivery-focused consulting role, working closely with clients to design and implement secure, scalable, cloud-native solutions, with a clear pathway to grow into an Azure & Kubernetes Solution Architect.
Why Join Us?
* Join a small, fast-growing consultancy where your contribution genuinely matters
* Work on long-term, meaningful programmes, including national-scale public sector projects
* Be supported in your progression toward Azure & Kubernetes Solution Architecture
* Balance hands-on engineering with design, consulting, and technical leadership
* Avoid rigid role definitions, your responsibilities will grow with your capability
What You'll Be Doing
Depending on your experience, you'll be involved in:
* Designing and delivering Azure-based data and platform solutions
* Deploying, operating, and improving Kubernetes platforms (AKS) in real production environments
* Building and supporting modern, containerised workloads
* Contributing to solution design and architectural decisions, with increasing ownership as you grow
* Working across multiple client projects, adapting to different technical and business contexts
* Engaging directly with technical and non-technical stakeholders, understanding requirements and shaping solutions
* Writing clear, high-quality technical documentation and design artefacts
* Keeping up to date with emerging technologies and best practices in cloud, data, and DevOps
Who This Role Is For
This role could suit you if:
* You're a Junior / Mid Level Engineer looking to move into consulting and gain exposure to solution design and architecture
* You're an experienced Consultant or Senior who enjoys hands-on delivery but also leading technical direction
* You have practical Kubernetes experience and want to apply it in varied, meaningful client environments
* You want to move toward a Solution Architect role, rather than staying purely operational
* You enjoy variety, ownership, and working closely with clients rather than being embedded in a single internal team
Essential Skills & Experience
* Continuously lived in the UK for 5+years without sponsorship or visa, and eligible to obtain Government Security Clearance (SC) - MANDATORY REQUIREMENT.
* Commercial experience in data engineering, cloud engineering, or platform engineering
* Strong experience with Microsoft Azure
* Hands-on Kubernetes experience (ideally AKS, but equivalent experience considered)
* Experience working with DevOps practices and CI/CD pipelines
* Coding experience (e.g. Python, SQL, R, SAS, or similar)
* Experience working in secure or highly regulated environments
* Ability to work independently, take ownership, and use your initiative
* A numerate or technical degree, NVQ Level 4, or equivalent experience
* Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills
Desirable (Nice to Have)
* Experience migrating or modernising legacy platforms
* Exposure to SAS tools and/or SAS administration
* Familiarity with information security standards and controls
* Experience working in Agile delivery environments (Scrum, SAFe, etc.)
* Previous consulting or client-facing experience
Salary & Benefits
* Salary range c. £55,000–£65,000, dependent on experience and level
* 12% employer pension contribution
* Up to 15% performance-related bonus
* Shared Company Bonus
* Standard company benefits in addition to above