DevOps & QA Automation Site Engineer

Company Overview Blue Silo is a technology company specialising in mission-critical, enterprise-grade software solutions for defense, government, and industrial clients. We build, deploy, and operate robust, secure, and scalable systems across both cloud and on-premises (including air-gapped) environments. To support the full lifecycle of our deployed systems, we are expanding our Operations & Engineering team with a DevOps & QA Automation Site Engineer. This role is central to bridging cloud-based DevOps practices and automated quality assurance with hands-on, on-site deployment and support in secure client environments where availability is non-negotiable. Role Summary The DevOps & QA Automation Site Engineer is responsible for the deployment, configuration, operation, maintenance, and troubleshooting of Blue Silo systems across two distinct environments: cloud-based deployments (AWS, Azure, or GCP) and on-premises, often air-gapped, client sites. The role covers both software and hardware, including application platforms, servers, networking, RFID systems, and CCTV/video systems. The engineer is the named first responder for production incidents under contracted Service Level Agreements (SLAs), and is expected to be on-site at affected client locations within 8 hours for critical issues. The role works closely with software, infrastructure, operations, and customer teams to ensure stable operations, secure deployments, and continuous improvement across development, staging, and production environments. This is a hybrid role. When DevOps and field workload is heavy, the engineer focuses on deployments, incident response, and operations. When DevOps workload is lighter, the engineer contributes as a QA automation engineer — building and maintaining automated test suites, integrating tests into CI/CD pipelines, and validating releases across backend, front-end, and hardware-integrated systems. Candidates should be comfortable wearing both hats. Key Responsibilities 1. Service Level Ownership & Incident Response •     Act as the named first responder for production incidents on assigned client systems under contracted SLAs. •     Attend the affected client site within 8 hours for critical (Severity 1) incidents, and within agreed timelines for lower severities. •     Participate in an on-call rotation, including evenings, weekends, and public holidays as required by client SLAs. •     Lead diagnosis, mitigation, and resolution of incidents; own root cause analysis and post-incident reviews. •     Coordinate escalation to the remote development team, vendors, and system integrators where required. 2. Cloud Deployment & DevOps •     Deploy, configure, and maintain applications and supporting infrastructure on a major cloud platform (AWS, Azure, or GCP) across development, staging, and production environments. •     Design, implement, and maintain CI/CD pipelines for automated build, test, and release management. •     Implement Infrastructure as Code (IaC) using tools such as Terraform or CloudFormation for reproducible environment builds. •     Support containerised deployments using Docker, Kubernetes, or equivalent orchestration platforms. •     Implement and manage cloud-native monitoring, logging, and security services. 3. On-Premises & Air-Gapped Site Deployment •     Perform on-site installation, commissioning, integration, and operational readiness activities at client premises, including air-gapped and security-controlled facilities. •     Manage offline software distribution, patching, and dependency mirroring for environments without internet access. •     Administer Linux and Windows server environments, virtualisation platforms (VMware, Hyper-V), and physical/virtual networking. •     Implement and verify backup, replication, and disaster recovery jobs (Veeam or equivalent). •     Monitor system health and performance using tools such as Zabbix, addressing alerts proactively. 4. Hardware & Integrated Systems Support •     Configure, test, and troubleshoot RFID devices, readers, antennas, and associated middleware; support RFID asset-tracking integration with applications. •     Configure and maintain CCTV cameras, Network Video Recorders (NVR), Video Management Systems (VMS), and related network components. •     Troubleshoot connectivity, streaming, storage, recording, and hardware-related issues across integrated systems. •     Support integration between RFID/CCTV systems and operational workflows where applicable. 5. QA Automation & Test Engineering •     Design, build, and maintain automated test suites (unit, integration, end-to-end, and regression) for backend services, APIs, and application modules. •     Integrate automated tests into CI/CD pipelines to gate builds and releases, using tools such as Jest, Mocha, Playwright, Cypress, or Selenium. •     Develop test scripts and frameworks in JavaScript/Node.js (or Python) to validate functional, performance, and reliability requirements. •     Author and maintain test plans, test cases, and traceability matrices aligned to client/contractual acceptance criteria (e.g. SAT/FAT). •     Coordinate hardware-in-the-loop and integration testing for RFID- and CCTV-connected workflows, including on-site validation at client facilities. •     Track, triage, and report defects; work with the development team to verify fixes and prevent regressions. •     Contribute bug fixes and small feature enhancements as a secondary developer during periods of lower DevOps and field workload. •     Automate routine operational and test tasks using Bash, PowerShell, or Python. •     Maintain source control, test repositories, and configuration management for test assets. 6. Documentation, Compliance & Knowledge Custodianship •     Maintain comprehensive technical documentation: runbooks, architecture diagrams, configuration records, troubleshooting guides, and incident logs. •     Maintain test documentation: test plans, test reports, defect logs, and evidence packages for design review and SAT. •     Ensure operational procedures and configurations comply with project, client, and security requirements. Required Qualifications •     2+ years of hands-on experience in a DevOps, site reliability, system administration, site engineering, or QA/test automation role. Direct experience supporting production systems under SLA is a strong plus but not mandatory. •     Working experience or solid project exposure with at least one major cloud platform (AWS, Azure, or GCP) — deploying, configuring, or operating systems. •     Comfort working on customer premises, including environments with restricted or no internet connectivity. Prior on-site deployment experience is preferred but not required. •     Working knowledge of Linux and Windows Server administration. •     Familiarity with networking fundamentals: TCP/IP, VLAN, routing, firewall, and switch configuration. •     Exposure to CI/CD pipelines, Docker, and Infrastructure as Code (Terraform or equivalent); willingness to deepen these skills on the job. •     Proficiency in JavaScript/Node.js (or Python) with hands-on experience writing automated tests using frameworks such as Playwright, Cypress, Selenium, Jest, or Mocha. •     Working knowledge of at least one additional scripting language (Bash, Python, or PowerShell) for automation. •     Familiarity with system monitoring tools (Zabbix preferred) and backup/recovery concepts (Veeam or equivalent). •     Strong analytical and troubleshooting skills across both hardware and software. •     Excellent written and verbal communication skills; able to work effectively with clients, developers, and vendors under pressure. •     Willingness and ability to be on-site at client locations within 8 hours for critical incidents, including outside standard business hours; valid driving licence and own transport preferred. •     Eligibility to work on defense, government, or other security-sensitive projects, including any clearance, vetting, or background-check requirements specified by the client. Preferred Qualifications •     Diploma or Degree in Computer Engineering, Information Technology, Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related discipline. •     Experience with RFID systems, asset tracking, or related hardware integration. •     Experience configuring and troubleshooting CCTV systems, IP cameras, NVRs, and VMS platforms. •     Experience supporting mission-critical or operational technology (OT) systems in defense, government, or industrial settings. •     Experience with container orchestration (Kubernetes) and configuration management (Ansible). •     Experience building automated regression suites for hardware-integrated or embedded systems. •     Familiarity with test management tools (e.g. Testiny, TestRail) and defect trackers (e.g. Jira). •     Familiarity with MQTT, IoT, or edge computing environments. •     Certifications in cloud platforms (AWS / Azure / GCP), Linux, Kubernetes, networking, ITIL, or ISTQB. •     Familiarity with documentation and collaboration tools (Confluence, SharePoint, or similar). What We Offer •     A foundational role in Blue Silo's Operations & Engineering team, with direct impact on client outcomes. •     Exposure to both modern cloud platforms and high-stakes on-premises environments, plus test automation work across the stack. •     Backing from an experienced development team for complex troubleshooting and escalations. •     Competitive compensation, on-call allowance where applicable, and professional development support. How to Apply Please send your resume and a cover letter outlining your experience with both cloud and on-site deployments, QA/test automation (frameworks and CI/CD integration), and any SLA-bound support roles you have held, to [email protected] Include "DevOps & QA Automation Site Engineer Application" in the subject line.