DevOps Lead

<p><strong>At Loka</strong> we use a modern tech stack to support meaningful projects across a huge range of industries. In the last year our teams have helped clients advance the world's #1 AI reading tutor, eliminate $1B in food waste and develop novel drugs for fighting cancer, all while enjoying every other Friday off. Join us, feed your need to grow and ship projects you believe in with a team you're proud to be a part of.</p> <p>We're seeking a <strong>DevOps Lead</strong> to deploy, secure and maintain robust applications in production environments, mainly AWS. The ideal candidate will not only apply their technical brilliance but also take a leadership role in contributing positively to Loka's unique culture.</p> <h3>What You'll Do</h3> <ul> <li>Build and design cloud infrastructure (mainly AWS), leading projects from architecture through to implementation.</li> <li>Lead high-complexity projects with high-priority clients, independently resolve critical technical issues and introduce innovative solutions that ensure long-term maintainability.</li> <li>Shape technical strategies, anticipate future trends, align initiatives with key business outcomes and drive execution across teams.</li> <li>May be brought into existing projects to resolve technical challenges or manage difficult client situations.</li> <li>Recruit, onboard and develop talent - nurturing individual strengths, supporting career growth and creating the next generation of leaders.</li> <li>Establish psychological safety, proactively monitor team engagement and independently mediate conflicts.</li> <li>Lead regular one-on-ones, drive structured performance reviews and implement improvement plans where needed, including managing complex performance cases independently.</li> <li>Proactively mentor senior engineers and manage teams, establishing best practices.</li> <li>Assess change implementation options, evaluate benefits and risks, and recommend the most appropriate approach with minimal oversight.</li> <li>Track key KPIs and align team workflows with broader strategic objectives.</li> <li>Effectively lead high-pressure client engagements and ensure smooth cross-functional collaboration.</li> </ul> <h3>What You'll Bring</h3> <p><strong>Experience &amp; Technical Skills</strong></p> <ul> <li>5+ years of DevOps experience, including 3+ years leading a team.</li> <li>Hands-on experience with serverless compute, scripting, AWS, Docker and Kubernetes.</li> <li>Strong command of GitOps, CI/CD tooling and infrastructure-as-code (AWS CDK / Terraform / CDKTF).</li> <li>NodeJS, TypeScript, Python and database administration are a plus.</li> <li>Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or a related field.</li> </ul> <p><strong>Leadership &amp; Soft Skills</strong></p> <ul> <li>A track record of building high-performing, inclusive teams and developing talent at all levels.</li> <li>Confidence managing budgets, KPIs and cross-functional stakeholder relationships.</li> <li>Strong client interaction skills and the ability to lead high-pressure engagements calmly and effectively.</li> <li>Autonomy, adaptability and a consistently positive presence on the teams you lead.</li> </ul> <p><strong>Additional Requirements</strong></p> <ul> <li>Excellent English - we work entirely in English for meetings, client calls and business communications.</li> <li>CV written in English.</li> </ul> <h3>Personality Profile</h3> <ul> <li><strong>Curious:</strong> Ambition to learn and grow into different industries with a modern tech stack.</li> <li><strong>Autonomous and positive:</strong> We're a fully remote, globally distributed team.</li> <li><strong>Team player:</strong> Enjoy a collaborative approach.</li> <li><strong>Adaptable:</strong> Operate with a startup mindset and move at a startup pace.</li> <li><strong>Empathetic:</strong> Lead with compassion.</li> </ul> <h3>Benefits</h3> <ul> <li>Every other Friday off (26 extra days off a year)</li> <li>Remote-first culture</li> <li>Explore and Relocation programs (three months work abroad or full international relo)</li> <li>Paid sick days and local holidays</li> <li>Business English classes program</li> <li>Continuous Learning Support</li> <li>Fitness and/or Mental Health Subscriptions</li> <li>Access to LokaLabs™, our internal research and development program</li> <li>Defined career path</li> </ul> <p><em>Your achievements matter to us! Ensure your CV, LinkedIn and GitHub profiles are up to date and accurately reflect your experience.</em></p> <p></p>