Job Description

###

Description

We're building the next UK-headquartered engineering powerhouse.

At Rowden, we design and integrate advanced systems that sense, connect, and protect data in challenging environments where quick decisions are vital. Our solutions use intelligent automation to enhance speed and efficiency and are built to be reliable and straightforward for critical operations in remote or high-pressure settings.



Headquartered in Bristol (UK), we combine modern engineering methods with cutting-edge commercial technology to create adaptable, mission-critical systems. We focus on solving the tough challenges that others overlook, ensuring our customers can operate effectively in an ever-changing world.

About the Role

Rowden is winning increasingly significant programmes, building platforms that enable operational advantage for the most discerning and demanding customers. We're addressing complex technical challenges and delivering complex engineering at pace for users operating at the edge. As we grow, we're looking for brilliant, bold technical leaders to join our mission.

Our Principal Engineers lead the design and technical delivery of resilient, high-performance infrastructure - from discrete capability drops to enterprise-scale IT systems. These roles are technically deep and hands-on, with responsibility for shaping and owning technical strategy, governance and decision-making across fast-paced programmes.

You will provide authoritative technical leadership for the platform--owning the architectural direction, guiding design decisions, and ensuring delivery aligns to Secure by Design principles. While you'll remain hands-on where needed, your primary focus will be on leading and enabling a high-performing team, ensuring coherence across disciplines, and resolving the technical risks that matter most.

While this role offers hybrid working options, it requires a minimum of 3 days per week on-site at our Bristol HQ with frequent travel to customer sites. Candidates must be willing to obtain a UKNSV security clearance with SC being essential, and DV clearance desirable.###

Key areas of responsibility

Architect and enable delivery of scalable, resilient platforms using contemporary infrastructure and virtualisation technologies. Manage technical scope and risk throughout the project lifecycle, ensuring appropriate mitigation strategies are defined, tracked and implemented. Define and implement high availability, disaster recovery and backup strategies, integrating platforms with enterprise services such as identity, directory, networking and security monitoring services. Lead the deployment, configuration, and validation of infrastructure; apply modern design best practices; resolve technical issues; and manage escalations with third-party vendors as required. Deliver observability and operational insight through telemetry, dashboarding, and reporting, ensuring alignment with ITILv4 practices and ServiceNow workflows. Engage stakeholders at all levels to communicate technical strategies, produce high-quality design documentation and SOPs, and ensure successful service integration in diverse delivery environments. Lead and mentor cross-functional teams--within Rowden or including external delivery partners--across infrastructure, DevOps, cloud and security disciplines, championing Secure by Design, automation, engineering excellence and continuous improvement.


###

Key skills, experience and behaviours

Essential

Deep experience in delivering hybrid IT platforms in mission-critical enterprise contexts. Expertise in building resilient, high-availability infrastructure. Experience designing or operating platforms across multiple locations with high availability and disaster recovery built-in. Experience in multi-supplier environments and ITSM-based operations. Comfortable engaging stakeholders at a range of levels up to and including C-suite. Experience in enterprise identity management systems and support and deployment to remote edge users. Experience in working in a SAFe Agile methodology. Leadership of cross-functional teams, either internal or multi-partner.

Highly Desirable

MOD data centre experience. Obsolescence management and environmental compliance. Experience in working with Secure By Design and Zero Trust methodologies. ServiceNow architectures and experience


###

Working at Rowden

We are committed to building a flexible, inclusive, and enabling company. Our aim is to create a diverse team of talented people with unique skills, experience, and backgrounds, so please apply and come as you are!

We also recognise the importance of flexible working and support this wherever we can. We typically operate a flexible, hybrid-working model, with an average 3 days in the office each week (dependent on the role). We welcome the opportunity to discuss flexibility, part-time working requirements and/or workplace adjustments with all our applicants.

Rowden is a Disability Confident Committed company, and we actively encourage people with disabilities and health conditions to apply for our roles. Please let us know your requirements early on so that we can make sure you have everything you need up front to help make the recruitment process and experience as easy as possible.

Finally, if you feel that you don't meet all the criteria included above but have transferable skills and relevant experience, we'd still love to hear from you!###

About Rowden

Our Mission:

To create the best possible technology for frontline operators.



We're upending the conventions of government technology provision and bringing a leaner, more transparent, and lower-friction approach that reduces waste and places outcome over process. We believe every possible measure should be taken to provide frontline operators in today's dynamic and rapidly changing world with the technology they need to help keep themselves and others safe.

Our Vision:

We offer fast and flexible solutions to the technical challenges of public sector organisations.


We are specialists in software-centric systems, with deep expertise in developing capabilities for constrained networking environments or with challenging cyber security requirements. But the Rowden difference is as much cultural as it is technical: 'what we do' and 'how we do it' are equally important. We are specifically organised to create and sustain pace, reduce waste and inefficiency, and drive better outcomes. You'll see and feel that energy and intent all over our business.

What matters to us?

Our focus is on the end user. We exist to deliver the best possible outcomes for the users of our systems. Pace matters. The problems we solve are urgent. Our diverse skills and backgrounds make us better. Our team prides itself on being inclusive and multidisciplinary. We are radically honest. Saying what we mean, even when it isn't easy. We are pragmatists. We provide realistic, focused solutions that get to the point. * We improve continuously. We are relentless in our drive to make things better.