📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior Site Reliability Engineer
Company: Barclays
Location: Knutsford, United Kingdom
Job Type: Full-Time
Category: DevOps, Infrastructure
Date Posted: 2025-05-29
Experience Level: 5-10 years
Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

Ensure the reliability, availability, and scalability of systems through proactive monitoring and incident response.
Develop tools and scripts to automate operational processes and improve system resilience.
Collaborate with development teams to integrate best practices for reliability, scalability, and performance into the software development lifecycle.
Stay informed of industry technology trends and contribute to the organization's technology communities.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role requires a strong background in software engineering, automation, and incident response to ensure the reliability and performance of systems. The ideal candidate will have experience with Oracle technologies and cloud platforms, as well as a deep understanding of LDAP protocols and directory services.

💻 Primary Responsibilities

System Availability & Performance: Monitor, maintain, and optimize system performance and resource usage to ensure high availability and scalability.
Incident Response & Resolution: Analyze and respond to system outages and disruptions, implementing measures to prevent similar incidents from recurring.
Automation & Tool Development: Develop tools and scripts to automate operational processes, reducing manual workload and increasing efficiency.
Collaboration & Knowledge Sharing: Work closely with development teams and other departments to ensure smooth and efficient operations, and contribute to the organization's technology communities.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role requires a strong focus on problem-solving, performance tuning, and incident management. The ideal candidate will have experience with SQL optimization, scripting languages, and configuration management tools.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field. Relevant certifications are a plus.

Experience: 5-10 years of experience in Site Reliability Engineering, DevOps, or a similar role. Proven experience with Oracle technologies and cloud platforms is required.

Required Skills:

Expertise in Oracle Enterprise Manager (OEM), Oracle Internet Directory (OID), and Oracle database performance tuning.
Deep understanding of LDAP protocols and directory services.
Strong skills in SQL optimization and scripting languages (e.g., Python, Bash).
Proficiency in configuration management tools (e.g., Ansible, Puppet, Chef).
Expertise in setting up and maintaining monitoring systems (e.g., Prometheus, Grafana).

Preferred Skills:

Experience with cloud platforms (e.g., AWS, Azure, Google Cloud).
Knowledge of containerization and orchestration tools (e.g., Docker, Kubernetes).
Ability to quickly diagnose and resolve production incidents.
Strong interpersonal skills to work effectively with cross-functional teams.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role requires a strong technical background in Oracle technologies, performance tuning, and scripting languages. Experience with cloud platforms and containerization tools is highly valued.

📊 Web Portfolio & Project Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

Demonstrate experience with Oracle technologies, performance tuning, and scripting languages through relevant projects and case studies.
Showcase your ability to automate operational processes and improve system resilience through tool development.
Highlight your experience with monitoring systems and incident response through live demos or detailed documentation.

Technical Documentation:

Document your approach to SQL optimization, scripting, and performance tuning in previous projects.
Explain your methodology for setting up and maintaining monitoring systems, and how you've used them to improve system performance and availability.
Describe your experience with incident response and how you've resolved production incidents in the past.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role requires a strong focus on performance tuning, automation, and incident management. Your portfolio should demonstrate your technical expertise in these areas and provide concrete examples of your achievements.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: £70,000 - £90,000 per annum (Based on market research and industry standards for a Senior Site Reliability Engineer role in the United Kingdom)

Benefits:

Competitive pension scheme.
Private healthcare and dental care.
Life assurance and income protection.
25 days' holiday, plus bank holidays.
Flexible working arrangements.

Working Hours: Full-time, Monday to Friday, with on-call rotations for incident response.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range for this role is based on market research and industry standards for a Senior Site Reliability Engineer role in the United Kingdom. Benefits may vary based on the company's benefits package.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Financial Services

Company Size: Large (Over 100,000 employees)

Founded: 1690

Team Structure:

The Site Reliability Engineering team is part of the broader Technology department, working closely with development teams, infrastructure teams, and other technology communities.
The team consists of Site Reliability Engineers, DevOps Engineers, and other technical specialists, collaborating to ensure the reliability, availability, and performance of the organization's systems and platforms.

Development Methodology:

Agile/Scrum methodologies for software development, with regular sprint planning and code reviews.
Continuous Integration/Continuous Deployment (CI/CD) pipelines for automated testing and deployment.
Infrastructure as Code (IaC) principles for automated infrastructure management.

Company Website: Barclays

📝 Enhancement Note: Barclays is a large financial services organization with a strong focus on technology and innovation. The Site Reliability Engineering team plays a critical role in ensuring the reliability and performance of the organization's systems and platforms.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Web Technology Career Level: Senior Site Reliability Engineer - Responsible for driving technical strategy, leading teams, and making critical decisions that impact the reliability and performance of the organization's systems and platforms.

Reporting Structure: Reports directly to the Head of Site Reliability Engineering, working closely with other senior leaders in the Technology department.

Technical Impact: Has a significant impact on the organization's technology stack, influencing architecture decisions, and driving best practices for reliability, scalability, and performance.

Growth Opportunities:

Technical Leadership: Progress to a Principal Site Reliability Engineering role, leading teams and driving technical strategy.
Architecture: Transition to a Site Reliability Architecture role, focusing on long-term strategy and cross-functional collaboration.
Management: Move into a management role, leading teams and driving operational excellence.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers significant growth opportunities for technical professionals looking to advance their careers in Site Reliability Engineering, Architecture, or Management.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Modern, collaborative workspace with dedicated areas for teamwork and quiet focus.

Office Location(s): Knutsford, United Kingdom

Workspace Context:

Collaboration: Open-plan workspaces with ample meeting rooms and breakout areas for team collaboration and brainstorming.
Technology: State-of-the-art hardware and software, including multiple monitors and high-speed internet connections.
Flexibility: Flexible working arrangements, including remote work options and flexible hours.

Work Schedule: Full-time, with on-call rotations for incident response and maintenance windows.

📝 Enhancement Note: Barclays offers a modern, collaborative work environment with state-of-the-art technology and flexible working arrangements. The Knutsford campus provides a vibrant and dynamic workspace for technical professionals.

📄 Application & Technical Interview Process

Interview Process:

Phone Screen: A brief conversation to assess your technical background and cultural fit.
Technical Assessment: A hands-on assessment of your technical skills, focusing on your experience with Oracle technologies, performance tuning, and scripting languages.
Behavioral Interview: A discussion of your approach to problem-solving, incident management, and collaboration with cross-functional teams.
Final Interview: A meeting with senior leadership to discuss your career aspirations, technical vision, and cultural fit.

Portfolio Review Tips:

Highlight your experience with Oracle technologies, performance tuning, and scripting languages through relevant projects and case studies.
Demonstrate your ability to automate operational processes and improve system resilience through tool development.
Showcase your experience with monitoring systems and incident response through live demos or detailed documentation.

Technical Challenge Preparation:

Brush up on your SQL optimization skills and prepare for hands-on exercises related to Oracle technologies and performance tuning.
Familiarize yourself with the latest trends in cloud platforms and containerization tools.
Practice explaining complex technical concepts in a clear and concise manner.

ATS Keywords: Oracle, Enterprise Manager, Internet Directory, Database Performance Tuning, LDAP, SQL Optimization, Scripting Languages, Configuration Management, Monitoring Systems, Cloud Platforms, Containerization, Orchestration, Incident Response, Problem-Solving, Collaboration, Agile, CI/CD, IaC, Barclays

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process for this role is designed to assess your technical skills, problem-solving abilities, and cultural fit. Prepare for hands-on assessments, behavioral interviews, and final interviews with senior leadership.

🛠 Technology Stack & Web Infrastructure

Backend & Server Technologies:

Oracle Enterprise Manager (OEM)
Oracle Internet Directory (OID)
Oracle Database
Cloud Platforms (e.g., AWS, Azure, Google Cloud)
Containerization Tools (e.g., Docker, Kubernetes)

Infrastructure Tools:

Configuration Management Tools (e.g., Ansible, Puppet, Chef)
Monitoring Systems (e.g., Prometheus, Grafana)
Incident Management Tools (e.g., JIRA, ServiceNow)

Development & DevOps Tools:

Scripting Languages (e.g., Python, Bash)
Version Control Systems (e.g., Git)
CI/CD Pipelines (e.g., Jenkins, GitLab CI/CD)
Infrastructure as Code (IaC) Tools (e.g., Terraform, CloudFormation)

📝 Enhancement Note: This role requires a strong background in Oracle technologies, cloud platforms, and infrastructure management tools. Familiarize yourself with the latest trends and best practices in these areas to excel in the role.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Web Development Values:

Reliability: Prioritize system availability, performance, and scalability to ensure business continuity.
Collaboration: Work closely with cross-functional teams to drive operational excellence and technical innovation.
Continuous Improvement: Regularly review and optimize systems and processes to drive continuous improvement.
Problem-Solving: Approach incidents and challenges with a proactive and solutions-oriented mindset.

Collaboration Style:

Cross-Functional Integration: Work closely with development teams, infrastructure teams, and other technology communities to ensure smooth and efficient operations.
Code Review Culture: Regularly review and provide feedback on technical solutions and best practices.
Knowledge Sharing: Contribute to the organization's technology communities and foster a culture of learning and growth.

📝 Enhancement Note: Barclays values a culture of collaboration, continuous improvement, and problem-solving. The Site Reliability Engineering team plays a critical role in driving these values and ensuring the reliability and performance of the organization's systems and platforms.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Technical Challenges:

Performance Optimization: Identify and address performance bottlenecks in complex, high-traffic systems.
Incident Management: Develop and implement strategies to prevent and mitigate system outages and disruptions.
Cloud Migration: Migrate legacy systems to cloud platforms, ensuring high availability and scalability.
Emerging Technologies: Stay informed of the latest trends in cloud platforms, containerization, and infrastructure management, and integrate them into the organization's technology stack.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

Technical Skill Development: Deepen your expertise in Oracle technologies, cloud platforms, and infrastructure management tools through training, certifications, and hands-on experience.
Conference Attendance: Attend industry conferences and events to network with peers and learn about the latest trends and best practices.
Technical Mentorship: Provide guidance and support to less experienced team members, fostering a culture of learning and growth.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers significant technical challenges and growth opportunities for professionals looking to advance their careers in Site Reliability Engineering. Stay informed of the latest trends in cloud platforms, containerization, and infrastructure management, and be prepared to tackle complex technical challenges.

💡 Interview Preparation

Technical Questions:

Oracle Technologies: Describe your experience with Oracle Enterprise Manager, Oracle Internet Directory, and Oracle database performance tuning. Provide specific examples of your achievements in these areas.
Performance Tuning: Walk through your approach to SQL optimization and performance tuning. Explain how you've identified and addressed performance bottlenecks in complex systems.
Incident Management: Describe your experience with incident management and response. Explain how you've diagnosed and resolved production incidents, and how you've implemented measures to prevent similar incidents from recurring.

Company & Culture Questions:

Barclays Values: Explain how you embody Barclays' values of Respect, Integrity, Service, Excellence, and Stewardship in your work.
Team Collaboration: Describe your experience working with cross-functional teams. Explain how you've driven collaboration and operational excellence in previous roles.
Technical Vision: Share your vision for the future of Site Reliability Engineering at Barclays. Explain how you plan to drive technical innovation and excellence in the role.

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

Project Case Studies: Prepare detailed case studies of your experience with Oracle technologies, performance tuning, and incident management. Highlight the technical challenges you faced and how you overcame them.
Live Demos: Prepare live demos of your tools and scripts for automating operational processes and improving system resilience.
Technical Deep Dive: Be prepared to dive deep into the technical details of your projects, explaining your approach to performance tuning, incident management, and system optimization.

📝 Enhancement Note: Prepare thoroughly for the technical interview, focusing on your experience with Oracle technologies, performance tuning, and incident management. Familiarize yourself with Barclays' values and culture, and be ready to discuss your technical vision for the role.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior Site Reliability Engineer position at Barclays:

Submit Your Application: Click the "Apply Now" button on the job listing and complete the application form with your resume and cover letter.
Prepare Your Portfolio: Highlight your experience with Oracle technologies, performance tuning, and incident management through relevant projects and case studies. Include live demos or detailed documentation to showcase your technical skills and achievements.
Research Barclays: Familiarize yourself with Barclays' values, culture, and technology stack. Understand the organization's mission and how the Site Reliability Engineering team contributes to its success.
Prepare for Technical Assessment: Brush up on your technical skills, focusing on Oracle technologies, performance tuning, and incident management. Practice hands-on exercises and be ready to discuss your approach to problem-solving and collaboration.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.

Senior Site Reliability Engineer