Lead DevOps Engineer

Title:
Lead DevOps Engineer

Location:
Chicago, IL – Hybrid -3/4 days in a week

Target Start Date:
ASAP

Type: (C, CTH, D)
Direct Hire

Join an established financial services organization investing heavily in modern engineering, cloud infrastructure, DevSecOps, and automation. This is a highly visible, hands-on lead role where you will have the opportunity to influence how software is built and deployed across the enterprise rather than simply maintaining existing pipelines. You will help lead an Azure DevOps to GitHub migration, establish enterprise CI/CD and infrastructure-as-code standards, expand Kubernetes adoption, and introduce security and AI-enabled practices throughout the software development lifecycle. The position offers a strong combination of technical ownership, architecture influence, mentoring, and the opportunity to help build a Modern Engineering Center of Excellence.

Job Description:

Our client is seeking a Lead DevOps Engineer to help establish and evolve an enterprise-scale DevSecOps platform supporting application development and cloud delivery. This hands-on role will partner closely with development, infrastructure, security, architecture, and testing teams to improve how applications move from development through production. The Lead DevOps Engineer will design and maintain CI/CD pipelines, establish reusable automation and infrastructure-as-code standards, support an Azure DevOps to GitHub migration, and develop secure Kubernetes-based deployment patterns across Azure and AWS environments. This individual will also help integrate automated security and quality controls throughout the SDLC, improve monitoring and engineering metrics, mentor other engineers, and drive broader adoption of DevSecOps practices across Agile delivery teams.

Required Skills:

• 7+ years of software engineering and DevOps experience

• 7+ years of experience working within Agile/Scrum software development environments

• Strong hands-on experience designing, implementing, administering, and supporting enterprise CI/CD pipelines

• Experience with Azure DevOps and additional CI/CD tools such as Jenkins, TeamCity, Octopus, or Bamboo

• Experience with GitHub and modern source control and software delivery practices

• Strong cloud engineering experience with Azure and AWS

• Expertise with infrastructure-as-code and configuration management tools including Terraform, Ansible, and/or Chef

• Expertise with Docker/containerization and Kubernetes

• Experience working with AWS container platforms such as ECS and EKS

• Strong Python and C++ programming experience

• Experience with object-oriented development using C# or similar languages

• Experience integrating SAST tools such as Checkmarx into CI/CD workflows

• Experience implementing code quality scanning using SonarQube or similar tools

• Experience with automated unit, integration, and system testing solutions

• Experience implementing secure and scalable CI/CD pipelines within regulated or security-conscious environments

• Experience with application performance monitoring tools such as Datadog or similar platforms

• Experience with SQL databases including MySQL and PostgreSQL

• Experience with NoSQL databases such as DynamoDB and MongoDB

• Experience with graph databases such as Neo4j and/or AWS Neptune

• Proficiency with cross-platform scripting and build tools such as Python, ANT, Artifactory, Groovy, MSBuild, and NuGet

• Experience with project management and workflow tools such as Jira

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent professional experience

Bonus/Soft Skills:

• Experience leading or supporting an Azure DevOps to GitHub migration

• Experience developing reusable pipeline templates and enterprise infrastructure-as-code standards

• Experience implementing security controls including SAST, SCA, DAST, infrastructure-as-code scanning, and container scanning

• Experience with Helm and Podman

• Experience using GitHub Copilot or other AI-assisted development tools

• Experience implementing AI-assisted software development lifecycle practices

• Experience establishing DevOps metrics, dashboards, and engineering maturity measurements

• Experience contributing to technology roadmaps, vendor evaluations, and new tool adoption

• Experience working within financial services, banking, or another highly regulated environment

• Ability to mentor engineers and provide hands-on technical training

• Experience supporting or participating in a DevOps, DevSecOps, or Modern Engineering Center of Excellence

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to proactively identify technical and process risks

• Strong communication and presentation skills with the ability to explain technical processes, architecture, and DevSecOps concepts to both technical teams and management

• Collaborative mindset with the ability to work effectively across development, infrastructure, security, architecture, and delivery teams

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