DWP Digital Specialist Technical Architect (Dev Ops) (Shared Platforms)

Tender description

Summary of the work The Lead DevOps technical Architect will oversee all activities required to deliver the Strategic API platform. Working closely under the guidance from Technical Leads and alignment to departmental Engineering strategies, the individual is responsible for the design, development and implementation of infrastructure automation, authentication mechanisms through development to production environments. Specialist role Technical Architect Expected Contract Length 9 Months Latest start date Thursday 15 July 2021 Maximum Day Rate Up to £750 per day for a standard 7.5 hour day. Who Speclialist Work With The resource will work closely with the Integration Technical Lead as well of the DevOps lead within Integration. They will also work closely with the a large team within Integration who are responsible for deploying the Kong EE API platform. The large team will have a mix of both Internal DWP, BPDTS and also consultants. The resource will also ensure the strategy aligns to the Integration Shared Service team so that common reusable components developed can be owned and maintained by the correct team. The resource should also represent DWP with external suppliers i.e. Kong. What Specialists Work On The responsibilities include: 1. Shape and provide a high level dev ops strategy for the deployment of the Kong Enterprise Platform 2. Create the playbook and sample Terraform modules to support the Kong Platform deployment 3. Create the strategy and design for frictionless on-boarding to the API Gateway for DWP digital teams; including assurance of architecture patterns and dev ops automation optimisation 4. Ensure all dev ops processes for the API Platform align to DWP DevOps and architecture blueprints 5. Create playbooks and artefacts to assist upskilling DWP staff. Skills & Experience • Experience (2>5years) of delivering design and development capability of base layer infrastructure in AWS using Terraform heavy focus on modules and re-useable components • Immediate capacity to supply experienced technical skills in Solution and Technical Architecture supported by references of deliveries they have either led or had significant involvement utilising AWS. • Demonstrate experience of using Git and GitHub, GitLab or Bitbucket within the last 2 years • Demonstrate extensive knowledge of continuous integration and continuous deployment within the last 2 years • Demonstrate extensive knowledge of AWS Identity and Access Management (IAM) within the last 2 years Nice to Haves • Experience working within DWP or a comparable organisation within the last 3 years. Ideally either as an API Provider or Consumer who has interfaced with the existing API platform • Have experience working with API gateway technologies within the last two years, ideally Kong • Capacity to supply experienced technical skills in Dev Ops supported by references of deliveries they have either led or had significant involvement utilising Kubernetes. Work Location DWP Benton Park View Benton Park Road Newcastle Upon Tyne NE98 1YX DWP Quarry House Quarry Hill Leeds LS2 7UE DWP 2 St Peter's Square Manchester M2 3AA Working Arrangments Currently the resource will be working from home. Once the COVID restrictions start to ease, travel will be required throughout England (COVID 19 dependent). This will be travel to either the Leeds, Newcastle or Manchester hub to facilitate collaboration. This will be agreed as and when required with the chosen supplier. Any expenses incurred will need to be communicated and agreed with DWP before incurred. Security Clearance Have SC clearance, or capable of getting SC clearance quickly. This is mandatory since potential to work with sensitive data. Additional T&Cs Additional terms and conditions may form part of the request for proposal and these may include DWP security provisions and DWPs expense policy. No. of Specialists to Evaluate 3 Cultural Fit Criteria • Evidence of a culture of continuous improvement where individuals learn from past mistakes and offer improvement opportunities. • Demonstrate experience of working collaboratively in a multi-disciplinary team with internal teams and other supplier teams where Design, build and support are the whole team’s responsibilities. • Be a self starter and be able to demonstrate independently deliver value without direct guidance. • Demonstrable experience in actively sharing knowledge and experiences with other team members. • Describe how your organisation would perform the contract to ensure staff mental health, is promoted, and how you would monitor and measure this. • Describe how your organisation would recruit, train, retain, support employees and other persons engaged or to be engaged in performing the contract, and how you would monitor and measure this. Assessment Method • Reference • Interview Evaluation Weighting Technical competence 65% Cultural fit 15% Price 20% Questions from Suppliers 1. What's the IR35 status for this role? Off payroll working rules (IR35) do not apply. 2. Which questions under cultural fit refer to social value? Bullet points 5 and 6 refer to social value. 3. Is there a current incumbent? There is no current incumbent working against these outcomes. 4. Is there an incumbent? There is no current incumbent working against these outcomes. 5. Is there an incumbent? There is no current incumbent working against these outcomes.