Software Engineering Specialist

As a Senior Kubernetes + TypeScript Engineer, you'll lead the design and implementation of scalable infrastructure tooling, developer frameworks, and operational components that are used across BT's engineering platform. You'll work closely with DevOps, CI/CD, and Application Engineering teams to ensure Kubernetes-based deployments are secure, observable, and easy to use. 

This role demands a hands-on engineer with a strong command of TypeScript, Kubernetes internals, and ecosystem tooling, alongside the ability to drive platform improvements through collaboration and elegant code. 

Kubernetes Engineering: 

• Design, build, and maintain reusable Kubernetes components and controllers (CRDs, Operators, Admission Webhooks). 
• Improve developer experience around Kubernetes usage via automation, self-service interfaces, and GitOps practices. 
• Define and implement best practices for RBAC, resource quotas, multitenancy, and service networking. 

TypeScript Platform Development :

• Develop CLI tools, services, and SDKs in TypeScript that integrate with Kubernetes APIs and platform components. 
• Build backend services and APIs to support platform use cases such as config loading, provisioning, and deployment. 
• Maintain and extend custom tooling used across the platform (e.g., templates, scaffolding engines, validation logic). 

Infrastructure as Code & Automation: 

• Write and maintain infrastructure automation using TypeScript for all cloud resources and Kubernetes workloads. 
• Automate provisioning of Kubernetes clusters, namespaces, secrets, and shared services. 
• Contribute to CI/CD workflows (GitLab preferred), focusing on container build optimizations and deployment strategies. 

Observability and Operational Excellence 

• Integrate observability into all tools and services using Prometheus, Grafana, or Dynatrace. 
• Proactively identify and address performance issues, developer pain points, and operational gaps. 
• Write runbooks, service documentation, and contribute to platform onboarding guides. 

Collaboration and Mentorship :

• Work alongside platform squads to standardize Kubernetes practices across environments. 
• Mentor engineers on Kubernetes internals, TypeScript architecture, and cloud-native design. 
• Partner with security and compliance teams to embed policy-as-code and platform governance. 

Required: 

• 8+ years of software engineering experience, with 3+ years in cloud-native/Kubernetes environments. 
• Deep hands-on experience designing and running production workloads on Kubernetes. 
• Advanced TypeScript skills including backend development and typed tooling/interfaces. 
• Strong understanding of container lifecycle, service meshes, ingress, and autoscaling. 
• Familiarity with Git-based workflows and CI/CD pipelines, ideally using GitLab. 

Preferred: 

• Experience writing Kubernetes operators/controllers using the client libraries (JavaScript/Go/Python). 
• Familiarity with observability stacks (e.g., Dynatrace, Prometheus, Grafana). 
• Experience with AWS, EKS, IAM policies, and secure cluster networking. 
• Exposure to developer platform products (Backstage, Port, or internal IDPs). 
• Strong experience with Pulumi (TypeScript) for infrastructure automation. 
• Contributions to open-source Kubernetes tooling or platform utilities. 

Looking in:

Leading inclusively and Safely

I inspire and build trust through self-awareness, honesty and integrity.

Owning outcomes

I take the right decisions that benefit the broader organisation.

Looking out:

Delivering for the customer

I execute brilliantly on clear priorities that add value to our customers and the wider business.

Commercially savvy

I demonstrate strong commercial focus, bringing an external perspective to decision-making.

Looking to the future:

Growth mindset

I experiment and identify opportunities for growth for both myself and the organisation.

Building for the future

I build diverse future-ready teams where all individuals can be at their best.

About us

BT Group was the world's first telco and our heritage in the sector is unrivalled.  As home to several of the UK's most recognised and cherished brands – BT, EE, Openreach and Plusnet, we have always played a critical role in creating the future, and we have reached an inflection point in the transformation of our business. 

Over the next two years, we will complete the UK's largest and most successful digital infrastructure project – connecting more than 25 million premises to full fibre broadband.  Together with our heavy investment in 5G, we play a central role in revolutionising how people connect with each other. 

While we are through the most capital-intensive phase of our fibre investment, meaning we can reward our shareholders for their commitment and patience, we are absolutely focused on how we organise ourselves in the best way to serve our customers in the years to come.  This includes radical simplification of systems, structures, and processes on a huge scale. Together with our application of AI and technology, we are on a path to creating the UK's best telco, reimagining the customer experience and relationship with one of this country's biggest infrastructure companies.  

Change on the scale we will all experience in the coming years is unprecedented.  BT Group is committed to being the driving force behind improving connectivity for millions and there has never been a more exciting time to join a company and leadership team with the skills, experience, creativity, and passion to take this company into a new era.

A FEW POINTS TO NOTE:

Although these roles are listed as full-time, if you're a job share partnership, work reduced hours, or any other way of working flexibly, please still get in touch.

We will also offer reasonable adjustments for the selection process if required, so please do not hesitate to inform us.

DON'T MEET EVERY SINGLE REQUIREMENT?

Studies have shown that women and people who are disabled, LGBTQ+, neurodiverse or from ethnic minority backgrounds are less likely to apply for jobs unless they meet every single qualification and criteria. We're committed to building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace where everyone can be their best, so if you're excited about this role but your past experience doesn't align perfectly with every requirement on the Job Description, please apply anyway - you may just be the right candidate for this or other roles in our wider team.