Senior Application Operations Engineer

Are you an experienced IT professional with advanced Database Administration skills? We're looking for a Senior Application Operations Engineer - Database Administrator who brings strong leadership, collective ownership, collaborative spirit, and a motivation to drive improvement.

The Senior Application Operations Engineer - Database Administrator will play a pivotal role in maintaining and implementing key databases in the organisation, carrying out database management duties including performance monitoring, optimisation, security and reporting. The successful candidate will join a team of 5 Database Administrators, aiding in the ongoing support, maintenance, and development of business-critical databases across multiple cloud-hosted Database Management Systems, including DB2, PostgreSQL, MySQL, and SQL Server.

Dealing with more complex issues, a senior application operations engineer is responsible for code deployment and coordinating change-based activities, such as taking services live. Depending on the complexity and size of a project and the likely impact it will have on the business, you might manage and maintain certain aspects of an application.

Social Security Scotland, an Executive Agency of the Scottish Government, delivers 17 major benefits to around 2 million people across Scotland. The organisation plays a vital role in supporting low-income and disabled individuals, carers, and families, while helping to achieve the Scottish Government's statutory child poverty targets. Our Charter reflects our core values and commitments, ensuring clients are treated with dignity, fairness, and respect, and that their feedback helps shape service improvements.

We aim to foster a positive and inclusive organisational culture, emphasising employee wellbeing, diversity and inclusion, professional development, and performance enhancement. Recognising that its workforce is essential to providing high-quality public services, Social Security Scotland is dedicated to creating an environment where staff are empowered to grow and contribute meaningfully.

Responsibilities

• Mentor and offer support within a team of Database Administrators who support the development, maintenance and ongoing operation of various database management technologies including DB2, MySQL, PostgreSQL and SQL Server.
• Design and implement advanced Database-related performance optimisations, including query optimisation, indexes, and database and infrastructure tuning.
• Ensure availability, accuracy and recoverability of database systems during system releases and disaster recovery events.
• Manage service components to ensure they meet business needs and performance targets.
• Deal with high impact, complex change requests - ensuring that release policies, procedures and processes are applied.
• Identify process optimisation opportunities with guidance, and contribute to the implementation of proposed solutions.
• Lead the investigation and resolution of incidents.
• Take accountability for issues that occur and be proactive in searching for potential problems.
• Initiate and monitor actions to investigate patterns and trends, taking preventative actions to avoid problems.
• Draft and maintain procedures and documentation.
• Offer recommendations on the best tools and methods to use.

Success Profiles
We use an assessment framework called 'Success Profiles' which lists the elements we test and provides detailed descriptions of each. Find out more about how we assess the Success Profile elements.

Essential Experience

• Proven ability to communicate complex technical concepts related to database infrastructure, cloud computing, and IT solutions to senior, non-technical stakeholders. This includes explaining strategic risks, operational benefits, and the sustainability implications of technical decisions in clear, accessible language.
• Extensive practical experience with the full Systems Development Lifecycle (SDLC), including designing, documenting, and coding database schemas, stored procedures, and scripts. Demonstrable skills in monitoring database performance, supporting database environments, identifying technical improvements, and implementing solutions that add value to business operations.

Behaviours

• Making Effective Decisions (Level 3)
• Leadership (Level 3)

You can find out more about Success Profiles Behaviours here.

Technical Skills
This role is aligned to Senior application operations engineer within the Digital, Data and Technology Profession.

These skills will be tested during the Technical Assessment if you are successful at sift stage. They will be not be assessed at application stage. Please review the following to understand the skill expectations: Application operations engineer - Government Digital and Data Profession Capability Framework

How To Apply
Apply online,
you must provide a CV and Supporting Statement
(of no more than
750 words
) which provides evidence of how you meet the experience and behaviours listed in the Success Profiles above. Be sure to provide specific examples of work that you've done that showcase your relevant experience. Be sure to provide specific examples of work that you've done that showcase your relevant experience.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools can be used to support your application, but all statements and examples provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, and presented as your own) applications will be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action.

Please see our candidate guidance for more information on acceptable and unacceptable uses of AI in recruitment.

In the event that we receive a high volume of applications, we may conduct an initial sift using the CV and Supporting Statement based on the first Experience criteria. Candidates who successfully pass this initial sift will have their applications fully assessed.

Candidates who are successful at sift stage will be invited to attend an Interview and Technical Assessment. The interview will further assess the Experience and Behaviours listed in the job advert and the Technical Assessment will evaluate the Technical Skills relevant to the role.

Candidates who pass the sift and are invited to the Interview and Technical Assessment stage will receive a Technical Assessment Candidate Pack, which will outline the skills to be assessed and the assessment methods to be used.

Following the application sift, there may be a telephone interview as part of the assessment process before the main interview.

We aim to provide feedback on request. However, if we receive a large number of applications it may not be possible for us to provide specific feedback on your application. We will provide feedback on request to candidates who attend an interview/assessment.

Expected Timeline (subject to change)
Sift – w/c 12th January 2026

Interview – w/c 26th January 2026

Location –
In Person
in either Dundee or Glasgow

Reserve List
In the event that there are more successful candidates than posts available, a reserve list will be kept for up to 12 months.

About Us
Social Security Scotland is an Executive Agency of the Scottish Government. Our benefits help people from all walks of life in Scotland. We offer rewarding careers and employ people across Scotland in a wide range of professions and roles. We are committed to recruiting a diverse workforce that is representative of the clients we serve. Find more about us here.

We offer a supportive and inclusive working environment along with a wide range of employee benefits. Find out more about what we offer.

As part of the UK Civil Service, we uphold the Civil Service Nationality Rules.

DDaT Pay Supplement
This post is part of the Scottish Government Digital, Data and Technology (DDAT) profession and as a member of the profession you will join the professional development system. This post currently attracts a £5,000 annual DDAT pay supplement, applicable after a 3 months competency qualifying period. The payment will be backdated to your start date in the role. Pay supplements are reviewed regularly and there is one currently underway. Changes will be communicated when the review is concluded.

Working Pattern
Our standard hours are 35 hours per week and we offer a range of flexible working options, depending on the needs of the role. We embrace a hybrid working style where all colleagues will spend time in either our Glasgow or Dundee offices. There is an expectation of a minimum 2 days per week in your assigned location, which will be either Glasgow or Dundee. If you have specific questions about the role you are applying for, please contact us.

Security Checks
Successful candidates must complete the Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS), before they can be appointed. BPSS is comprised of four main pre-employment checks – Identity, Right to work, Employment History and a Criminal Record check (unspent convictions).

You can find out more about BPSS on the UK Government website, or read about the different levels of security checks in our Candidate Guide.

Equality Statement
Social Security Scotland are committed to equality and inclusion, and we aim to recruit a diverse workforce that reflects the population of our nation.

Social Security Scotland are a Disability Confident Employer. We will consider and implement any reasonable adjustments you may require throughout the recruitment process and during the course of your employment, should you be successful in securing a post. If you feel you may require assistance with any part of our recruitment process, please contact us at

Find out more about our commitment to diversity and how we offer and support recruitment adjustments for anyone who needs them.

Right to Work in the UK
Social Security Scotland is an approved sponsor under the UK Visa and Immigration (UKVI) Skilled Worker route. Please note that UK immigration guidance, including skill and salary thresholds and eligible occupations, is reviewed regularly and subject to change. If you require visa sponsorship, you should check the latest criteria to confirm whether this role meets current requirements before applying. You can find further advice on Gov.UK - Skilled Worker visa: Overview - GOV.UK

Further Information
Find out more about our organisation, what we offer staff members and how to apply on our Careers Website.

Read our Candidate Guide for further information on our recruitment and application processes.

The successful candidate will be expected to remain in post for a minimum of 3 years unless successful in gaining promotion to a higher Band or Grade.

Social Security Scotland's recruitment processes are underpinned by the recruitment principles of the Civil Service Commissioner, which outline that selection for appointment be made on merit on the basis of fair and open competition - Recruitment - Civil Service Commission )

If you feel at any time your application has not been treated in accordance with the values in the Civil Service Code and/or if you feel the recruitment has been conducted in such a way that conflicts with the Civil Service Commissioner's Recruitment Principles, you can make a complaint, by contacting Social Security Scotland at in the first instance. If you are not satisfied with the response you receive you can contact the Civil Service Commissioner.

If you experience any difficulties accessing our website or completing the online application form, please contact the Resourcing Team via

Apply before 23:55 on 7th January 2026.
Contact Name - Resourcing Team

Contact email –