{"id":3160264,"url":"https://alion.io/job/zaizi-technical-lead","title":"Technical Lead","company":{"id":172541,"name":"Zaizi","domain":"zaizi.com","url":"https://alion.io/company/zaizi","size_band":"51-200","is_staffing_agency":false,"employer_type":"direct","is_intermediary":false,"listed_via":null,"ats_vendor":"Workable","truth_index":{"grade":"A","score":91,"open_postings":14,"ghost_share":0.071,"stale_share":0,"repost_share":0,"time_to_fill_p50_days":171,"computed_at":"2026-10-28T05:59:10Z"}},"role":"Backend","role_family":"Backend","seniority":"lead","employment_type":null,"work_mode":"hybrid","remote_scope":null,"remote_scope_basis":null,"remote_working_hours":null,"hiring_geo_confidence":"structured","locations":["Cheltenham, United Kingdom"],"countries":["GB"],"hiring_countries":[],"hiring_countries_total":0,"salary":null,"salary_estimate":{"min_usd":82000,"max_usd":165000,"period":"year","method":"role_seniority_country_remote_cell","sample_n":54},"experience_years_min":null,"visa_sponsorship":false,"relocation_package":false,"has_equity":false,"technologies":[{"name":"Agile","optional":false},{"name":"Amazon EKS","optional":false},{"name":"AWS","optional":false},{"name":"Azure","optional":false},{"name":"Azure AKS","optional":false},{"name":"CI/CD","optional":false},{"name":"DynamoDB","optional":false},{"name":"ETL/ELT","optional":false},{"name":"GitHub","optional":false},{"name":"GitLab","optional":false},{"name":"Java","optional":false},{"name":"Kubernetes","optional":false},{"name":"Node JS","optional":false},{"name":"PostgreSQL","optional":false},{"name":"Python","optional":false},{"name":"RAG","optional":false},{"name":"SQL","optional":false},{"name":"Terraform","optional":false},{"name":"TypeScript","optional":false},{"name":"Dagster","optional":true},{"name":"ElasticSearch","optional":true},{"name":"GCP","optional":true},{"name":"Hugging Face","optional":true},{"name":"JavaScript","optional":true},{"name":"Kubeflow","optional":true},{"name":"LangChain","optional":true},{"name":"LlamaIndex","optional":true},{"name":"Milvus","optional":true},{"name":"MLFlow","optional":true},{"name":"OpenSearch","optional":true},{"name":"Pinecone","optional":true},{"name":"Prefect","optional":true},{"name":"Semantic Search","optional":true},{"name":"Weaviate","optional":true}],"status":"live","first_seen_at":"2026-10-23T15:54:11Z","employer_posted_date":"2026-10-23","last_verified_at":"2026-10-28T16:08:10Z","board_verified":true,"closed_at":null,"days_open":5,"trust":{"level":"ok","repost_count":0,"flags":["company_stale"],"days_open":4},"description":"About Zaizi\nZaizi is a digital consultancy specialising in delivering user-centred, secure, and scalable services for complex public sector challenges. We work in highly regulated environments, partnering closely with our clients to design and build modern digital platforms.\nJob Role\nWe are seeking a high-caliber, entrepreneurial Engineering Lead to build and steer high-performing, multi-disciplinary Agile teams. You will be responsible for architecting and delivering innovative solutions to \"hard\" technical problems within the UK National Security (NatSec) domain. This role requires a blend of hands-on technical excellence, strategic leadership of small engineering squads, and the ability to navigate the unique security and data challenges of the UK defense and intelligence landscape.\nKey Responsibilities\nTeam Leadership & Delivery: Lead and mentor small, high-velocity engineering teams (4-8 people). You will be responsible for fostering a culture of technical excellence, psychological safety, and rapid delivery using Agile/DevSecOps methodologies.\nArchitectural Guidance: Serve as the Technical Authority for client projects, bridging the gap between high-level strategy and low-level implementation. You will design resilient, scalable architectures that account for the constraints of high-side/disconnected environments.\nAI & Data Engineering: Lead the implementation of the \"underpinning tech\" for AI, including data pipelines (ETL/ELT), vector databases for RAG (Retrieval-Augmented Generation), and the deployment of LLMs/ML models within secure infrastructure.\nNatSec Stakeholder Management: Act as a trusted advisor to UK Government (HMG) stakeholders. You must understand the nuances of Policy and Assurance (e.g., JSP 440, IS1&2) and how to deliver \"Secure by Design\" software.\nStrategy & Roadmapping: Work alongside client engineering communities to develop technical roadmaps that prioritize interoperability, data sovereignty, and the migration from legacy systems to modern cloud-native architectures (AWS/Azure).\nRequirements\nEssential: Software Engineering & Leadership\nLanguages: Expert-level proficiency in Python, GoLang, or Java; with strong TypeScript/Node.js for full-stack/service-layer delivery.\nCloud & Infrastructure: Hands-on AWS or Azure architecture; mastery of Terraform (IaC), Kubernetes (EKS/AKS), and Container Orchestration.\nData Foundations: Deep knowledge of SQL (PostgreSQL) and NoSQL (MongoDB/DynamoDB) with an emphasis on data modeling for high-availability systems.\nEngineering Rigour: Proven experience in CI/CD pipeline construction, TDD/BDD, and Micro-services architecture within a GitLab/GitHub environment.\nSecurity & National Security (NatSec): Solid understanding of \"Secure by Design\" principles, OAuth2/OIDC, and building for UK Sovereign Cloud or disconnected environments. Practical application of BDD/TDD and a \"Security First\" approach to the software development lifecycle (SDLC).\nDesirable: AI & Data Underpinnings\nVector Databases: Experience with high-dimensional data retrieval using Milvus, Weaviate, or Pinecone (essential for RAG architectures).\nData Orchestration: Familiarity with Airflow, Prefect, or Dagster for managing complex data movement and model training pipelines.\nSearch & Discovery: Advanced ElasticSearch/OpenSearch for semantic search and large-scale indexing.\nAI Frameworks: Exposure to LangChain, LlamaIndex, or Hugging Face libraries for integrating Large Language Models (LLMs) into production applications.\nModel Ops (MLOps): Understanding the lifecycle of a model-from deployment and monitoring to versioning-using tools like MLflow or Kubeflow.\nDesired Experience & Context\nUK NatSec Landscape: Proven experience working within the UK National Security community (e.g., MoD, Home Office, or Intelligence Agencies). Familiarity with the Service Manual, GDS standards, and the unique challenges of Cross-Domain Solutions (CDS).\nSecurity Clearance: Applicants must hold eDV.\nCoaching: A track record of developing junior and mid-level engineers into future technical leaders.\nBenefits\nCompensation\nCompetitive Pay: Salaries reviewed annually to ensure they reflect your performance and market value.\nLoyalty Pension: We invest in your future. Starting at a 5% employer contribution, we increase this by 0.5% every year after your third anniversary, up to a maximum of 8%.\nProtection: Comprehensive Group Life Assurance for peace of mind.\nPurpose & Culture\nReal Impact: Work on mission-critical projects that secure and improve the UK's digital infrastructure.\nAutonomy: A culture that empowers you to make decisions, prototype rapidly, and iterate towards success.\nService & Community: We support those who serve. 10 paid days for Reservist Military Service.\nWork / Life Balance\nTime Off: 25 days annual leave + Bank Holidays, with the flexibility to Buy/Sell additional days to suit your lifestyle.\nGiving back: 2 paid volunteering days per year.\nDevelopment & Growth\n Master Your Craft: Fully funded professional certifications (AWS, GCP, Agile, etc.) supported by 5 days paid study leave.\nExpand Your Horizons: An additional £500 annual \"Personal Choice\" fund to learn whatever inspires you-work-related or not.\nSupport: Access to 1-2-1 professional coaching and team training to accelerate your career.\nHealth & Balance\n Premium Health: Vitality Private Medical Insurance (includes Apple Watch, gym discounts, and rewards).\nFlexibility: Genuine hybrid working with a WFH equipment allowance to perfect your home setup.\nWellbeing: Cycle to Work scheme and a commitment to sustainable, healthy working practices.\nFor further information contact: \nNat Hinds: Head of Talent","description_format":"text","description_chars":5694,"description_truncated":false,"requirements":{"experience_years_min":null,"management_years_min":null,"team_size_min":null,"manages_managers":false,"education":null,"security_clearance":false,"languages":[]},"benefits":["Annual leave","Health insurance","Home office","Hybrid work","Paid volunteering days"],"hiring_locations":[{"name":"United Kingdom","iso":"GB","kind":"country"}],"hiring_excludes":[],"relocation_offered":false,"industries":["Artificial Intelligence","Cybersecurity","Government"],"lifecycle":[{"event":"open","at":"2026-10-23T15:54:11Z"}],"visa":[{"country":"GB","licensed_sponsor":true,"evidence":"Licensed UK visa sponsor (Skilled Worker, Senior or Specialist Worker)","filings_12m":null,"filings_prev_12m":null,"green_card_filings_12m":null,"median_offered_wage_usd":null,"route":"Skilled Worker; 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