Explore SC cleared Red Hat OpenStack Engineer jobs, a specialized and high-demand niche within the UK's secure technology sector. Professionals in this role are responsible for architecting, deploying, and managing private cloud infrastructures that meet the stringent requirements of government and defence-related projects. Holding active Security Clearance (SC) is a fundamental prerequisite, enabling engineers to work on sensitive and classified systems where data sovereignty and national security are paramount. The core of the profession revolves around Red Hat OpenStack Platform (RHOSP), the enterprise-grade distribution of the OpenStack cloud operating system. A typical day involves designing and implementing highly available, resilient cloud environments that span multiple data centres for disaster recovery. Engineers automate the provisioning and lifecycle management of the cloud using tools like Ansible and Python, ensuring consistency and reducing manual error. They possess deep, hands-on expertise in core OpenStack services—such as Nova for compute, Neutron for networking, Cinder for block storage, and Keystone for identity—configuring them for optimal performance and security within a governed framework. Beyond the OpenStack layer, these engineers are systems integration experts. They seamlessly integrate RHOSP with Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) as the foundational operating system and Red Hat Ceph Storage for scalable, software-defined storage. Advanced networking is a critical skill, involving the configuration of complex virtual networks, VLANs, VXLANs, and security groups using Neutron. Furthermore, the role increasingly involves enabling modern containerized workloads, often by providing the underlying OpenStack virtual infrastructure for platforms like Red Hat OpenShift. The skill set for these jobs is extensive and typically includes expert-level RHEL administration, proficiency in automation and scripting (Ansible, Python, Bash), and a strong understanding of the KVM hypervisor. Knowledge of integrating with enterprise identity systems like Active Directory is also common. Responsibilities extend to ongoing operations: performing troubleshooting, patching, upgrades, capacity planning, and 24/7 support for production environments. For those with the right technical pedigree and clearance, SC cleared Red Hat OpenStack Engineer jobs offer a challenging and rewarding career at the intersection of cutting-edge cloud technology and national security.
