DevOps Apprentice

Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) - HPC DevOps Apprentice

Salary: £24,340 per annum (rising annually throughout the apprenticeship)
Contract Type: Fixed-Term, 24 months
Hours: Full-time, 37 hours
Location: Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Harwell Campus, Didcot, OX11 0QX
Closing Date: Sunday, 2nd February 2026
Interview Date: Feb 2026 / Mar 2026
Start Date: September 2026

Are you curious about what it takes to power world-class science? Join the Digital Infrastructure Group at STFC, where we deliver first-class IT services underpinning the STFC scientific programme and its partners. We provide the backbone for ground-breaking discoveries, covering High Power Computing Data Centre facilities, advanced networking, cyber security, and cloud technologies.

As an HPC DevOps Apprentice, you will learn to manage and support the systems that keep our High Performance Computing (HPC) Data Centres running. Your primary focus involves the daily operation of monitoring tools and supporting critical infrastructure like HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Cooling) and electrical systems through monitoring, data collection, and creating interactive dashboards. You will collaborate closely with the HPC Data Centre Operations team, gaining valuable insight into how HPC Data Centres are developed and maintained to meet STFC’s goals.

About an Apprenticeship at STFC

We seek enthusiastic and motivated individuals ready to develop skills through formal training and hands-on experience. Apprentices gain real-world experience, build technical and professional skills, and contribute to cutting-edge research and innovation in a dynamic, supportive environment. You will receive full support, including regular check-ins from a dedicated Apprenticeship Coordinator, structured training, practical experience, and mentorship from industry professionals. You will also access workshops, a peer network, and career development support.

Why join the HPC team at STFC?

Joining the Digital Infrastructure High Performance Computing team means becoming part of a group that powers the UK’s most advanced scientific research. You will work in a collaborative environment with experienced professionals, gain hands-on experience with HPC Data Centres and enterprise-grade technologies, and develop highly demanded industry skills. If you are passionate about technology and want your work to make a real impact, start your journey here.

Qualifications Gained

• Level 4 DevOps Engineer: DevOps engineer / Skills England

What you’ll learn:

The role of a DevOps Engineer is to enable organisations to deliver valuable working software to active users in a timely manner, optimised for delivery. The apprentice will learn about all aspects of the development and operations process – the design, build, test, implementation, release and continual iteration of products.

• Scripting, coding and testing
• Knowledge sharing and collaboration
• Agile working methods
• Release automation and orchestration
• Cloud infrastructure
• Security practices

Training Provider

DevOps Engineer - Level 4 Apprenticeship - LearnTech. The learning is delivered remotely on a weekly day release basis via online workshops, self-directed study and mentoring.

What You’ll Be Doing – Day-to-day responsibilities

You will join a small, supportive team working alongside the HPC Operations Team to develop and maintain systems that monitor and capture data across all key Data Centre infrastructure. You will gain a wide range of skills, from technical IT expertise to practical, hands-on experience with infrastructure components such as power, cooling, capacity planning, security, and health & safety.

• Developing system administration skills for Linux operating systems.
• Assist with maintaining and improving production environments, using scripting languages to automate tasks and enhance system functionality.
• Collaborate with the HPC Data Centre Operations team to develop software for both HPC Data Centre facilities, including monitoring software and the use of data transfer protocols.
• Provide support for infrastructure systems, focusing on problem management and incident.
• Conduct proactive monitoring to ensure the health, performance, and security of the HPC Data Centre’s.
• Contribute to the development of the Operations documentation.
• Creating detailed interactive floor plans and diagrams with Visio and Excel.
• Gain experience in 3D modelling and rendering using software such as Blender and Matterport.
• Web page design using HTML, CSS, PHP, SQL.

Entry Requirements

The below criteria will be scored during Shortlisting (S), Interview (I) or both (S&I).

• GCSEs in Maths and English (Grade 4/C or above) (S) (Included for all roles)
• Level 3 qualifications such as:
  • 2 A Levels (A-C)
  • BTEC Level 3
  • T-Level or
  • A previous Level 3 Apprenticeship. (Please give subjects and results in CV)
• An awareness of basic health and safety (I)
• Enthusiastic and motivated to learn, both in the workplace and through formal training (I)
• Good written communication skills as demonstrated in your CV and cover letter (S)
• Some knowledge of and enthusiasm for computer hardware and/or software (S&I)
• Your CV and/or cover letter should give example(s) of personal or school projects that involved learning about and using a computer system and what you enjoyed
• As a minimum a successful candidate will be able to describe the basic components of a computer system, describe basic software development concepts and/or be aware of the range of computer operating systems and what they are
• Desire to work in a scientific computing environment (S&I)
• Your cover letter should explain why you have applied for this computing apprenticeship scheme and any activities you are involved in to help you develop personally and professionally
• Ability to examine evidence and data to understand it and solve problems (I)
• As a minimum, a successful candidate will be able to work systematically through straightforward problems, examine data, and link it to their understanding of computer systems in order find the cause of problems
• Excellent communication skills and ability to work in a team (S&I)
• Technical requirements (I)
  • An aptitude and desire to identify and automate repeated tasks for efficiency and accuracy
  • Passion in programming to develop, implement and improve applications
  • Programming skill in scripting language such as Bash, Python, Ansible, PowerShell, or Perl for interacting with our services and devices

Important Information

To complete the apprenticeship, you will need to evidence passes at 9-4 or A*-C in GCSE (or equivalent) Maths and English. For those sitting their GSCEs in Summer 2026, we would need evidence of your predicted grades.

When applying for an apprenticeship, there is a set residency eligibility criteria that must be met by the applicant. The training provider will also ask you to complete an initial assessment during the application process. If you already have a qualification in this subject area or similar please include, as an attachment, your transcript outlining the grade/s achieved and modules covered. By applying for this apprenticeship, you are giving permission for your details to be shared with the relevant training provider.

We will be in touch after the closing date, however, please reach out on [email protected] if you have any questions.

Employee Benefits

• Your salary will increase annually as you progress through your apprenticeship, in line with policy.
• 30 days holiday (in addition to 10.5 bank holidays and privilege days).
• Flexible working hours.
• An excellent defined average salary pension scheme.
• Easily accessible public transport links/ free parking.
• Excellent learning and development opportunities.
• Cycle to work scheme.

As this job does not fulfil the UK Government minimum criterion for obtaining sponsored migrant worker status we will be unable to apply for sponsorship for anyone not eligible to work in the UK. At interview, all shortlisted candidates are required to bring with them identification documents and original documents that prove they hold or can obtain the right to work in the UK. You can check your eligibility here: https://www.gov.uk/check-uk-visa/y

How to apply

Part of our application process involves submitting your CV and a cover letter. Your cover letter should address your suitability for the opportunity based how you meet each essential criteria stated in this advert.

Please note that we hold the right to close this vacancy early if a sufficient number of applications have been received.

We ask some of the biggest questions in the universe, to answer some of the biggest challenges in the world. Together, our scientists, technologists, engineers and business support team explore the unknown across every field you could think of. And they turn what they find into work that changes the world around us. What could you achieve with the world-leading facilities and experts of one of Europe's largest research organisations by your side? Join us and discover what's possible!