Senior Site Reliability Engineer II

📍 Job Overview

• Job Title: Senior Site Reliability Engineer II
• Company: Elsevier
• Location: London, Oxford
• Job Type: Full-Time
• Category: DevOps, Infrastructure
• Date Posted: 2025-07-03
• Experience Level: Mid-Senior level
• Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Design and manage cloud platforms to ensure reliability and performance of complex systems.
• Collaborate with development and operations teams to optimize applications for cloud environments.
• Mentor junior team members and promote best practices in SRE, automation, and cloud architecture.

💻 Primary Responsibilities

• Cloud Platform Design & Management:

  • Design, deploy, and maintain highly available, scalable Kubernetes clusters on AWS EKS.
  • Manage and optimize cross-portfolio cloud infrastructure using AWS services and supported organizational tooling.
  • Develop and maintain Infrastructure as Code (IaC) solutions to automate provisioning and management of cloud and Kubernetes resources.

• Automation & Incident Management:

  • Write automation processes to streamline operational workflows, incident response, and infrastructure management.
  • Implement CI/CD pipelines to facilitate deployments, testing, and validation.
  • Monitor system health, instrument system components, troubleshoot issues, and perform root cause analysis.

• Collaboration & Mentoring:

  • Collaborate with development and operations teams to optimize applications for cloud environments.
  • Mentor junior team members and promote best practices in SRE, automation, and cloud architecture.
  • Stay current with industry trends, emerging technologies, and best practices for cloud-native and infrastructure management.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or related field (or equivalent experience).

Experience:

• Good experience in SRE, DevOps, or cloud infrastructure roles.
• Relevant certifications (e.g., AWS Solutions Architect, CKA, Terraform Associate) are a plus.

Required Skills:

• Extensive experience deploying, managing, and troubleshooting containerized applications.
• Deep understanding of Kubernetes architecture, networking, security, storage, and operational best practices.
• Proven expertise with AWS services and architectural principles.
• Strong knowledge of AWS security, compliance, and best practices.
• Advanced skills in writing modular, reusable IaC components.
• Strong Python scripting skills for automation, tooling, and data processing.
• Ability to develop custom solutions for monitoring, automation, and incident management.
• Experience designing and maintaining CI/CD workflows using GitHub Actions.
• Experience supporting highly available, multi-regional critical environments.
• Proven ability to manage multiple portfolios and complex landscapes.
• Familiarity with monitoring tools such as NewRelic.
• Knowledge of security best practices, network policies, and enterprise-grade RBAC policies.
• Strong problem-solving, troubleshooting, and incident management skills.
• Effective communication and collaboration skills.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience with multi-cloud environments.
• Familiarity with Terraform or other IaC tools.
• Knowledge of container security best practices.

📊 Web Portfolio & Project Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Demonstrate your ability to design, deploy, and manage Kubernetes clusters on AWS EKS.
• Showcase your automation skills with examples of streamlined operational workflows and incident response processes.
• Highlight your problem-solving skills with examples of troubleshooting and root cause analysis.

Technical Documentation:

• Provide documentation for your solutions, ensuring users have clear instructions and support to effectively implement and operate their systems.
• Include code comments, version control, and deployment processes in your portfolio.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

• £70,000 - £90,000 per annum (based on experience and location)

Benefits:

• Annual Profit Share Bonus
• Comprehensive Pension Plan
• Home, Office or Commuting Allowance
• Generous Vacation Entitlement and option for Sabbatical Leave
• Maternity, Paternity, Adoption and Family Care Leave
• Internal Communities and Networks
• Recruitment Introduction Reward

Working Hours:

• Full-time (35-40 hours per week)

🎯 Team & Company Context

Company Culture:

• Elsevier is a global leader in information and analytics, helping researchers and healthcare professionals advance science and improve health outcomes.
• The company thrives on excellence, innovation, and a strong dedication to customers, employees, and communities.

Team Structure:

• The team combines software thinking and service operations to enable and run Elsevier’s large-scale, 24x7, distributed and fault-tolerant systems within agreed reliability objectives.
• The team works closely with development and operations teams to optimize applications for cloud environments.

Development Methodology:

• The team follows Agile methodologies, with a focus on sprint planning, code review, testing, and quality assurance practices.
• CI/CD pipelines are used for deployments, testing, and validation.

Company Website: Elsevier

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Web Technology Career Level:

• This role is at the Mid-Senior level, focusing on designing and managing cloud platforms, mentoring junior team members, and driving best practices in SRE, automation, and cloud architecture.

Reporting Structure:

• The role reports directly to the SRE Manager and collaborates with development and operations teams.

Technical Impact:

• The role has a significant impact on Elsevier’s large-scale, 24x7 systems, ensuring high availability, performance, and rapid incident resolution.
• The role also influences the technical direction of the SRE team, driving best practices and mentoring junior team members.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type:

• The role is based in London or Oxford, with on-site work required.

Office Location(s):

• London - London Wall
• Oxford

Workspace Context:

• The workspace is collaborative, with a focus on cross-functional integration between developers, designers, and stakeholders.
• The team uses modern development tools, multiple monitors, and testing devices to ensure high-quality solutions.

Work Schedule:

• The role requires a full-time commitment, with flexibility for deployment windows, maintenance, and project deadlines.

📄 Application & Technical Interview Process

Interview Process:

1. Technical Phone Screen: Assess your understanding of Kubernetes, AWS, and automation skills.
2. On-site Technical Deep Dive: Dive into your cloud architecture, automation, and incident management skills with hands-on exercises and case studies.
3. Behavioral Interview: Evaluate your problem-solving, communication, and collaboration skills.
4. Final Review: Review your qualifications, career goals, and cultural fit.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Highlight your cloud architecture, automation, and incident management skills with live demos and responsive design standards.
• Include code quality demonstration and responsive design standards for this role.

Technical Challenge Preparation:

• Brush up on your Kubernetes, AWS, and automation skills with hands-on exercises and case studies.
• Practice problem-solving and communication skills for technical interviews.

🛠 Technology Stack & Web Infrastructure

Cloud Platform:

• AWS (EKS, RDS, Route 53, CloudFront, etc.)

Containerization:

• Kubernetes

Infrastructure as Code (IaC):

• Terraform (preferred) or other IaC tools

Monitoring & Logging:

• NewRelic or other monitoring tools

CI/CD:

• GitHub Actions or other CI/CD tools

Version Control:

• Git

Scripting:

• Python

Documentation:

• Markdown or other documentation tools

👥 Team Culture & Values

Web Development Values:

• Elsevier values innovation, collaboration, and a strong dedication to customers, employees, and communities.
• The SRE team emphasizes reliability, performance, and continuous improvement.

Collaboration Style:

• The team follows Agile methodologies, with a focus on cross-functional integration, code review culture, and peer programming practices.
• Knowledge sharing, technical mentoring, and continuous learning are encouraged.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Technical Challenges:

• Designing and managing highly available, scalable Kubernetes clusters on AWS EKS.
• Automating deployment pipelines, testing, and validation processes.
• Supporting multi-regional critical environments with high availability and rapid incident resolution.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Stay current with industry trends, emerging technologies, and best practices for cloud-native and infrastructure management.
• Develop your leadership skills by mentoring junior team members and driving best practices in SRE, automation, and cloud architecture.
• Contribute to Elsevier’s mission of advancing science and improving health outcomes for the benefit of society.

💡 Interview Preparation

Technical Questions:

1. Cloud Architecture: Describe your approach to designing and managing highly available, scalable Kubernetes clusters on AWS EKS.
2. Automation: Explain your automation processes for streamlining operational workflows, incident response, and infrastructure management.
3. Incident Management: Walk through your incident management process, including monitoring, troubleshooting, and root cause analysis.

Company & Culture Questions:

1. Company Culture: How do you align with Elsevier’s values and culture, particularly in the context of the SRE team?
2. Team Dynamics: Describe your experience working in a collaborative, cross-functional team environment, and how you have contributed to team success.

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Demonstrate your cloud architecture, automation, and incident management skills with live demos and responsive design standards.
• Include code quality demonstration and responsive design standards for this role.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior Site Reliability Engineer II position:

1. Submit your application through the application link.
2. Customize your resume with relevant web technology skills, experience, and portfolio highlights.
3. Prepare for technical phone screens, on-site technical deep dives, and behavioral interviews.
4. Research Elsevier’s company culture, mission, and values to ensure a strong cultural fit.

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