OpenShift Platform SME (SC)

Our client is a Global Systems Integrator who requires an OpenShift Platform SME to support one of their largest customers in the UK.

START: August 2025
DURATION: 3 months
CLEARANCE: SC Clearance
RATE: £500.00 - £625.00 PER DAY
LOCATION: Newcastle preferred - Hybrid may be possible depending on candidate availability. Travel to Lincoln too.

Role Title:
OpenShift Platform SQEP (Subject Matter Expert) - Migration Project
Project Context:
We're migrating from OpenShift 4.14 to a clean-slate OpenShift 4.18 build. The role requires an experienced engineer who can technically assure the setup of the new cluster and the migration of applications, infrastructure components, and operators. The current cluster supports critical business workloads.

Key Requirements:
* Proven experience in deploying and operating OpenShift clusters (v4.x) from scratch.
* Strong Kubernetes knowledge, particularly around enterprise OpenShift configurations.
* Must be comfortable validating platform components and installation scripts.
* Experience migrating applications and operators between OpenShift clusters.
* Hands-on familiarity with the following operators:
o HashiCorp Vault - secrets management
o Red Hat Quay - internal container registry
o Clair - container image vulnerability scanning
o Keycloak - identity and access management
o OpenShift Service Mesh (Istio) - microservices communications

Additional Skills:
* Infrastructure as Code (Ansible/Terraform)
* CI/CD and GitOps (eg Jenkins, ArgoCD, Tekton)
* Scripting in Bash or Python
* Able to support migration checklists, config validation, and post-migration testing

Certifications (desirable):
* Red Hat Certified Specialist in OpenShift
* Kubernetes CKA
* Red Hat Certified OpenShift Application Developer

Engagement Details:
* Contract role
* Immediate start
* Hybrid or on-site preferred depending on candidate availability

Outcome:
Ensure successful technical validation of the new OpenShift 4.18 platform and assure safe migration of existing workloads and infrastructure services.

Due to the nature and urgency of this post, candidates holding or who have held high level security clearance in the past are most welcome to apply. Please note successful applicants will be required to be security cleared prior to appointment which can take up to a minimum 10 weeks. LA International is a HMG approved ICT Recruitment and Project Solutions Consultancy, operating globally from the largest single site in the UK as an IT Consultancy or as an Employment Business & Agency depending upon the precise nature of the work, for security cleared jobs or non-clearance vacancies, LA International welcome applications from all sections of the community and from people with diverse experience and backgrounds.

Award Winning LA International, winner of the Recruiter Awards for Excellence, Best IT Recruitment Company, Best Public Sector Recruitment Company and overall Gold Award winner, has now secured the most prestigious business award that any business can receive, The Queens Award for Enterprise: International Trade, for the second consecutive period.