Platform Engineer

At Rovco/Vaarst, we have a bias for action and innovation, all while acting with integrity. Join us to work in an environment that values both creativity and ethical conduct, where visionary ideas come to life.

Location: Bristol, 2-3 Days per week in the office

Salary: £55,000 - £65,000 depending on experience.

About Rovco/Vaarst

Rovco/Vaarst mission is to accelerate the energy transition to renewables with a focus on offshore wind. We’re using artificial intelligence, autonomy, computer vision and marine robotics to create a difference in the world with underwater technology for our clients in offshore renewable energy and the subsea industry.

Founded in 2015 we’ve announced funding of more than £50 million, been voted one of the most innovative and sustainable companies working towards net zero and won awards for Best use of AI and Best technology innovation.

Latest Rovco/Vaarst updates

Discover your place in a hybrid team of 190+ people that’s growing rapidly and celebrates diversity knowing that every perspective is a valuable part of our success and that empowers you to achieve a fulfilling work-life balance.

Platform Engineer

As a Platform Engineer at Rovco/Vaarst, you will play a pivotal role in designing, building, and maintaining the infrastructure that supports our cutting-edge software applications. Reporting to our Group IT Director; This is a newly created position due to company growth, you will collaborate closely with our development, operations, and platform engineering teams to ensure our platforms are robust, scalable, and secure. This position will require a deep understanding of cloud environments, bare metal, automation tools, GitOps, and best practices in infrastructure as code (IaC).

Objectives & Responsibilities:

Rovco/Vaarst is an exciting and dynamic environment meaning these are likely to change as we grow. Upon joining your objectives and responsibilities will include:

• Quickly get up to speed with our current infrastructure, and develop a comprehensive understanding of our application requirements and team workflows.
• Collaborate with the team to design and implement initial enhancements in our cloud infrastructure, focusing on improving scalability, security, and cost efficiency.
• Create and deploy automated provisioning, configuration, and deployment processes to significantly reduce manual efforts and boost operational efficiency.
• Expand the scope of our monitoring and alerting systems to ensure the stability and performance of our platforms, allowing for proactive management and quick issue resolution.
• Build strong relationships with development, operations, and security teams, providing support and sharing knowledge to foster a collaborative and productive environment.
• Show tangible improvements in infrastructure reliability, deployment speed, and cost efficiency, contributing to the overall success and growth of Vaarst.

You should apply if you have:

We know it’s tough, but please try to avoid the confidence gap. You don’t have to match all the listed requirements exactly to be considered for this role:

• Proficiency with Kubernetes.
• Experience with Ansible (or similar tools like Puppet).
• Expertise in AWS.
• Skilled in Terraform.
• Strong understanding of TCP/IP Networking.
• Knowledge of Python.
• Extensive Enterprise Linux experience (preferably Debian-based).

Grow together with Rovco/Vaarst where you will learn these skills or build on your expertise:

• Jenkins
• Golang
• Helm
• MLOps experience
• ArgoCD
• Fortigate Firewalls

Benefits

People join Rovco/Vaarst because they are excited by the possibility of leaving their own mark on the world and developing solutions that solve real world problems. Although we share the same vision, we value varied perspectives, and we adapt to fit different people from all walks of life. Not only does that make for a genuinely awesome team of colleagues, but it also makes day-to-day life more interesting, and it’s how we keep evolving and getting better at what we do.

What’s in it for you? You’ll get to work with a passionate, smart and highly driven team with an incredible range of skills. 

In addition, you’ll get an extensive range of benefits so you can focus on doing your very best work:  

• Flexible working options including compressed hours. 
• Hybrid working, up to 3 days from home.
• 33 days annual leave increasing 2 days a year up to 43 days after 6 years (inclusive of Bank Holidays).
• Private medical insurance, including Dental & Optical. 
• Career and learning development through paid courses, conferences and events.
• Curiosity fund – up to £500 to spend on learning which is not role related.
• Up to 10% company bonus.
• Pension up to 6% company contribution.
• Life assurance paid at 4X salary.
• Volunteering day, to give back to your local community.
• Enhanced maternity and adoption leave.
• Cycle to work scheme.
• Recognition & rewards for doing great work and living our values and behaviours.

Interview Process

At Rovco, we've designed a straightforward interview process to ensure the best fit for both you and the company. We have adopted anonymised recruitment. This means that your name, date of birth and other personal details will not be seen by the hiring team.

• Application: Begin by submitting your application with your CV, highlighting your skills and experience relevant to the job. Answer key questions on elements that are important to the role.
• Aptitude Test: Demonstrate your critical thinking, problem-solving abilities, and workplace personality through an aptitude test.
• Talent Partner Interview: We will tell you more about the role, the team and Rovco’s mission. This is a two-way conversation; we want to learn about your motivation, what you can bring to Rovco, and provide answers to your questions.
• Team Interview: Engage in a 1-hour 30 minute interview with a few team members. Experience the role firsthand and share your skills and experience. We'll discuss our technologies, key skills, and team dynamics. As always, feel free to ask any questions you may have.
• Executive Conversation: Meet with an executive for a 30-minute discussion. This is your opportunity to express your thoughts on the role and ask any final questions. We'll clarify expectations and ensure this role aligns with your aspirations.
• Offer! If you are successful in the process, you'll receive an offer to join Rovco and become part of our team.