Linux SME - DV Cleared

Linux SME

Location:

Reading - fully onsite

Contract:

12-month rolling contract

Rate: £600-£650 per day

IR35:
Outside IR35

Clearance:
Active MOD DV clearance required

Working Pattern:
Full-time

We are looking for an experienced Linux Subject Matter Expert (SME) to join a high-profile technical environment based onsite in Reading.

You will provide senior-level technical expertise across Linux infrastructure, Dev Ops tooling, automation and platform engineering. The role will suit someone who is comfortable operating as a technical authority, solving complex infrastructure problems and working closely with engineering, development and operational teams.

Due to the nature of the environment, active MOD DV clearance is essential.

• Act as a Linux and Dev Ops SME, providing technical leadership and guidance across the environment.
• Design, implement and maintain robust Linux-based infrastructure and platforms.
• Support the development and continuous improvement of Dev Ops processes and tooling.
• Automate infrastructure, configuration and operational processes wherever possible.
• Troubleshoot and resolve complex Linux, infrastructure and platform issues.
• Develop and maintain CI/CD pipelines and associated tooling.
• Support infrastructure-as-code and configuration management practices.
• Contribute to platform resilience, availability, security and performance.
• Work closely with engineering, development, security and operations teams.
• Provide technical documentation, standards and best-practice guidance.
• Mentor and support other engineers where required.
• Investigate emerging technologies and recommend improvements to the existing platform.
• Participate in technical design, architecture and implementation activities.

• Extensive commercial experience working with Linux in an enterprise environment.
• Strong hands-on experience across Dev Ops / Platform Engineering.
• Excellent Linux administration and troubleshooting skills.
• Strong scripting/automation experience, ideally with Bash and/or Python.
• Experience with CI/CD pipelines and Dev Ops tooling.
• Strong understanding of Git and source control.
• Experience with Infrastructure as Code, ideally Terraform and/or Ansible.
• Experience working with containers and container orchestration technologies.
• Strong understanding of networking, systems integration and infrastructure concepts.
• Experience working in secure, highly controlled or complex technical environments.
• Ability to operate independently as a senior technical SME.
• Excellent problem-solving and communication skills.
• Current, active MOD DV clearance.

• Kubernetes / Open Shift experience.
• Docker / containerisation.
• Jenkins, Git Lab CI, Git Hub Actions or similar.
• Ansible.
• Terraform.
• Cloud platform experience.
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux or equivalent.
• Experience with in UK Government / MOD / Defence environments.
• Experience working with security-hardened Linux environments.
• Relevant Linux, Dev Ops or cloud certifications.

We’re looking for a genuine hands‑on SME, rather than someone purely focused on management. You should be comfortable getting into the detail, diagnosing difficult technical problems and making pragmatic engineering decisions.

You’ll be joining a technically demanding environment where your experience in Linux, automation and Dev Ops will have a direct impact on the reliability and evolution of the platform.

• 12-month rolling contract
• £600-£650 per day
• Outside IR35
• Full-time
• 100% onsite - Reading
• MOD DV clearance required