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Agent guide: [/agents.md](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/agents.md). --- # Cloud, Data & AI Engineers - **Company:** Forward Role Recruitment - **Location:** Manchester, UK - **Experience:** Expert - **Salary:** £50,000.0 - £120,000.0 - **Contract:** Permanent contract - **Skills:** Artificial Intelligence, Amazon Web Services, Data Analysis, Microsoft Azure, Cloud Computing, Continuous Integration, Information Engineering, Extract Transform Load (ETL), Linux, DevOps, Distributed Systems, Python (Programming Language), Machine Learning, SQL Databases, Large Language Models, Apache Spark, Kubernetes, Data Management, Machine Learning Operations, Terraform, Devsecops, Databricks - **Published:** August 24, 2026 - **Apply:** https://www.forwardrole.com/jobs/frsecuredata200826clouddataaiengineersdvedvnationalsecurity/#apply-now ## About the Role If you're curious about which organisations are genuinely investing, how their cultures and working patterns compare, or where you could broaden your experience across Cloud, Data and AI, I'm always happy to share what I'm seeing. ## Description Locations: Opportunities across all compass points, including London, Cheltenham/Gloucester, Bristol, Hampshire and Manchester Clearance: Active DV / eDV predominantly required Level: Mid-level through to Senior / Lead If you're working across Cloud, Platform, Data or AI in National Security, there's a good chance you're not actively looking for another job. But you might be wondering whether there's somewhere you'd be learning more, working with better people, getting broader exposure or simply being trusted with a little more flexibility. Those are increasingly the conversations I'm having. I'm currently supporting a mix of engineering-led SMEs, specialist consultancies and growing technology businesses across the National Security ecosystem - many of which are actively expanding their Cloud, Data and AI capability. The interesting part is how increasingly cross-functional these teams are becoming. A Platform Engineer might enable Data and ML workloads. A Data Engineer might work across cloud infrastructure and AI-enabled platforms. An ML Engineer might get much closer to deployment, evaluation and seeing their work make it into real-world environments. If you want to keep your tools sharp rather than disappear into a narrow programme or technical silo, there are some genuinely interesting teams worth knowing about. Where I'm Seeing Demand * Cloud & Platform - AWS/Azure, Kubernetes, Terraform, CI/CD, Linux, automation, DevOps and DevSecOps * Data Engineering - Python, SQL, ETL/ELT, Spark/Databricks, distributed systems and modern cloud data platforms * AI & Machine Learning - ML Engineering, MLOps, model deployment/evaluation, Python and increasingly GenAI/LLM capability You don't need to sit neatly inside one of those boxes. In fact, some of the strongest opportunities are for engineers who enjoy working across them. Why Consider a Move? The organisations I work with vary significantly, but I've deliberately built relationships with teams offering things engineers consistently tell me they value: * Strong, engineering-led cultures * Broader technical exposure and progression * Greater ownership and access to technical leadership * Interesting, real-world National Security problems * Varied hybrid models and greater flexibility where programmes allow * Smaller teams where good engineers are genuinely valued I've already helped engineers join a number of these organisations, so I can also give you an honest view based on the feedback and testimonials I've had from people actually working there - not just what's written on a careers page. Clearance The majority of these opportunities support live National Security programmes, so active DV/eDV clearance is typically required. Occasionally, opportunities arise for exceptional SC-cleared engineers with a realistic route to higher clearance, but these are the exception rather than the rule. ## Related Videos - [Shipping Faster with Less: Render on Cloud Hosting, AI Workloads, and the Future of DevOps](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/1894-shipping-faster-with-less-render-on-cloud-hosting-ai-workloads-and-the-future-of-devops) - [Docker network without Docker](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/1418-docker-network-without-docker) - [From DevOps to Scaled DevOps: How We’re Rebuilding Continuous Delivery as a Platform](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/100018-from-devops-to-scaled-devops-how-we-re-rebuilding-continuous-delivery-as-a-platform) - [Infrastructure as Code: The Developer's Secret Weapon](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/1221-infrastructure-as-code-the-developer-s-secret-weapon) - [#90DaysOfDevOps - The DevOps Learning Journey](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/548-90daysofdevops-the-devops-learning-journey) - [Inside the AI Revolution: How Microsoft is Empowering the World to Achieve More](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/869-inside-the-ai-revolution-how-microsoft-is-empowering-the-world-to-achieve-more) ## Related Articles - [7 Cloud Computing Trends Coming in 2025 for Developers](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/412-7-cloud-computing-trends-coming-in-2025-for-developers) - [How to Become an AI Engineer](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/331-how-to-become-an-ai-engineer) - [Data Engineer Salary UK](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/253-data-engineer-salary-uk) - [Navigating the AI Shift](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/629-navigating-the-ai-shift) - [The Most Popular IT Jobs on the Market](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/376-the-most-popular-it-jobs-on-the-market) - [7 Most Popular Web Developer Jobs in Europe](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/163-7-most-popular-web-developer-jobs-in-europe)