Lead DevOps Engineer
Summary
Lead DevOps engineer at a Wellington-based cloud SaaS company: shape the AWS cloud strategy (reliability, cost, observability), drive IaC and CI/CD (CloudFormation/Terraform, Docker, Jenkins/GitLab), and mentor a team of 3-4 junior/intermediate DevOps engineers while partnering with the CIO/CISO, Product and Developers.
Salary: $150,000 – $175,000 per year + more!
About the Role
Join a leading cloud-based software business supporting communities across New Zealand and Australia, processing over $4.5 billion annually.
We are looking for a collaborative, supportive Lead DevOps Engineer to join our Wellington team. In this senior role, you’ll help shape our AWS cloud strategy—focusing on sustainability, observability, platform reliability, and cost-efficiency.
Beyond the technical side, you will play a pivotal role in nurturing talent. You’ll serve as a direct line manager and mentor for a warm, dedicated team of 3–4 Junior and Intermediate DevOps Engineers. Reporting directly to the Hiring Manager, you'll partner closely with our CIO/CISO, Product Team, and Developers to keep our SaaS platform secure, reliable, and built for the future.
What You’ll Be Doing
Shape Cloud Strategy & Efficiency: Guide our AWS environment with a focus on proactive maintenance, smart resource allocation, and platform stability.
Empower & Mentor: Provide compassionate line management, coaching, and career development for 3–4 DevOps engineers, helping them thrive and achieve their goals.
Architecture & IaC: Co-design the infrastructure roadmap alongside the platform architecture team using Infrastructure as Code (CloudFormation, Terraform, Docker, CDK).
CI/CD & DevSecOps: Support continuous integration systems (Jenkins, GitLab/GitHub) while fostering a security-minded, best-practice engineering culture.
Build Meaningful Connections: Work cross-functionally across Development, Product, and Security teams, and maintain strong external relationships with third-party vendors and our dedicated AWS team.
What We’re Looking For
AWS Experience: Strong familiarity with core AWS services and modern cloud architecture.
People Leadership: Experience (or a natural aptitude for) mentoring, line management, and building inclusive team environments.
Automation & IaC: Hands-on experience with tools like CloudFormation, Terraform, CDK, Docker, or modern CI/CD systems (Jenkins, GitHub, GitLab).
Networking & Security: Knowledge of Linux administration, cloud networking fundamentals, and secure system design.
Communication & Empathy: Strong interpersonal skills, a collaborative problem-solving mindset, and an appreciation for a supportive, human-first culture. *Bonus points if you have familiarity with PostgreSQL, Python, or Java.
Why You’ll Love Working Here
You’ll join a tight-knit, empathetic team with a massive heart supporting over 10,000 customers. They pride themselves on a flat, inclusive structure where everyone’s voice is valued and heard. They believe in work-life harmony, flexibility, and creating a space where people genuinely enjoy coming to work every day.
Please note: Applicants MUST have NZ residency or a valid NZ work visa to be considered.
About placeMe IT
placeMe IT is all about connecting the right candidate with the right job in IT. We are deeply committed to diversity, inclusion, and a human-first approach to recruitment.
Anxious you don't check every single box? Research shows that people tend to apply only if they meet every qualification. If you are excited about this role, passionate about technology, and think you'd be a great fit, please apply anyway! We’d love to hear from you and discover what unique perspective you bring.