Job Specifications
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
About the Company
55 Exec Search is a technology executive search company which has been founded to bring positive change to the industry. We have over 25 years experience providing an up front and honest service to both candidates and clients. We deliver the top talent to the best organisations globally. In today's climate we understand that the most exceptional candidates are unlikely to be actively job seeking, this is why we target the passive candidate community to ensure we provide the best talent in the market.
Our aim is to listen, g...
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