Application Operations Engineer - Extended Days

Job summary

Do you have experience in application support and handling of larger incidents?

Are you someone who enjoys working collaboratively as part of a team?

Would you like the opportunity to help run the DVLA’s IT services?

If so, our Application Operations Engineer role will provide the challenge you are looking for!

Joining our department comes with many benefits, including:

• Employer pension contribution of 28.97% of your salary. Read more about Civil Service Pensions here
• 25 days annual leave, increasing by 1 day each year of service (up to a maximum of 30 days annual leave), plus 8 bank holidays and a privilege day for the King’s birthday
• Flexible working options where we encourage a great work-life balance.

Read more in the Benefits section below!

Find out more about what it's like working at DVLA - Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency – Civil Service Careers

Job description

We are looking for a passionate and enthusiastic Application Operations Engineer who will be comfortable working on a range of services at DVLA Swansea, across multiple products and technologies, covering both legacy and brand new cloud-based applications using strong analytical skills to develop and support of DVLA’s applications.

This role will provide you with the excellent opportunity to progress in your career. Our Application Operation Engineers will lead and be the point of escalation for more complicated issues so experience in application development using recognised programming languages is beneficial for this role.

Demonstrable experience in system support and continuous improvement will allow you to work on larger projects works within a technical framework of the project to meet and deliver on customer requirements.

Your role will primarily involve supporting the DVLA’s internal and customer facing applications and additionally participating in the programme to migrate legacy technology onto new, cloud-based platforms, ensuring that the solutions are supportable and fit for purpose. You will be empowered to enhance the systems, with continuous improvement at the forefront of the work that you do.

You will mentor the Junior Application Operations Engineers to resolve complex issues as and when they arise, so experience in mentoring Developers is a requirement.

Candidates are required to work a shift pattern of 4 working days followed by two rest days, alternating between two shifts of either 6am-2pm or 2pm-10pm. An indicative shift allowance of 20% is applicable for extended hours roles and candidates will have the opportunity to be available (optionally) on an on-call rota to undertake out of hours activities and provide on call cover to support the service.

Responsibilities

Your responsibilities will include but will not be limited to:

• Carry out system support, including monitor applications, incident investigation and resolution, liaising with the incident manager or other stakeholders. Be able to describe technical issues to a wider audience of different technical knowledge, as well as provide recommendations.
• Working collaboratively supporting and mentoring junior Application Operations Engineers.
• Help maintain a team documentation library for collaboration and reference. Helps maintain a known fixes library or knowledge base. Ensures documentation represents best practice and standards.
• Assist with Problem Management investigation, providing technical input into the process.

For further information on the role, please read the attached role profile. Please note that the role profile is for information purposes only - whilst all elements are relevant to the role, they may not all be assessed during the recruitment process. This job advert will detail exactly what will be assessed during the recruitment process.

Person specification

To be successful in this role you will need to have the following experience:

You will have significant experience in application support and handling of larger incidents.

You will also need to have experience in leading on all aspects of supporting bespoke applications.

You will have excellent problem solving and analytical skills with attention to detail to allow you to identify the problem and apply an acceptable resolution.

Excellent written communication skills are necessary for this role, along with the ability to work well as part of a team, as you will need to write a variety of documents including reports and technical specifications and mentor the junior members of the team.

Whilst there isn't a requirement to be able to write code, we will need you to be able to interpret code as part of troubleshooting issues. Experience in application support, using recognised programming languages is desirable.

Working for the DVLA Digital Team

At DVLA, licensing is just the start. Every project you implement, touch and deliver has a ripple effect that’ll wash across the nation. Here the work you’re doing has the capacity to change the way 53 million people interact with our services. As we aim to keep our roads some of the safest in the world, our innovative, transformative digital-led services help optimise a nation of individuals and business every single day.

To see how our people are transforming our digital services, head over to our DVLA Digital Services Blog and, to understand more about the great opportunities and benefits of working at DVLA read our Inside DVLA blog .

Working hours, office attendance and travel requirements

Full time roles consist of 37 hours per week. Whilst we welcome applications from those looking to work with us on a part time basis, there is a business requirement for the successful candidate to be able to work at least 35 hours per week.

This role is suitable for hybrid working, which is a non-contractual arrangement where a combination of workplace and home-based working can be accommodated subject to business requirements.

The expectation at present is a minimum of 60% of your working time a month will be spent at either your designated workplace (one of the locations cited in the advert) or, when required for business reasons, in another office/work location. There may be occasions where you are required to attend above the minimum expectation.

If you have a question about hybrid working, part time/job share hours, flexible working, travelling for work, or require a reasonable adjustment, please contact the Vacancy Holder during the recruitment process to avoid possible disappointment later in the process should your working arrangements not be compatible with the requirements of the role (see below for contact details).

Security Check

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check . To allow for meaningful checks to be carried out, candidates will be required to have at least 5 years continuous residency in the UK. All applicants for this role must ensure that they meet this minimum residency requirement - if you do not, your application will be withdrawn.

Visa Sponsorship

Please note that we do not hold a UK Visa & Immigration (UKVI) Skilled Worker Licence sponsor and are unable to sponsor any individuals for Skilled Worker Sponsorship. Candidates must ensure they have the appropriate rights to work in the UK before application.

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Changing and Improving
• Working Together

Technical skills

We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

• Application Operations Engineer - Ownership & Initiative (Skill Level: Working)
• Application Operations Engineer - Technical Specialism (Skill Level: Awareness)

Benefits

Passionate, reliable and always willing to push yourself and those around you, you’ll continue to seek improvement in your own role and challenge us too. Because we pride ourselves on how we approach your development. From training courses to specialist skills workshops and opportunities to grow your expertise, we thrive when you thrive. You can find out more about all of the above here alongside a full list of our benefits:

• Best in class learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options where we encourage a great work-life balance
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity with a range of staff communities to support all our colleagues
• Generous employer contribution of 28.9%, depending on chosen pension scheme
• Flexible working options where we encourage a great work-life balance.
• Digital communities with clear career frameworks
• On-site gym plus personal training available (membership applies)
• On-site nursery, restaurants and coffee bar
• 25 days holiday (plus bank holidays), increasing by 1 each year (up to 30) & 8 Bank Holidays plus an additional Privilege Day to mark the King’s birthday.
• 24-hour Employee Assistance Programme providing free confidential help and advice for staff.
• Free parking

Find out more about the benefits of working at DfT and its agencies (opens in a new window).

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements 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, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window) , and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.

Our selection process ensures a comprehensive assessment of each applicant's qualifications, skills and potential fit within our organisation.

The selection process for this role will be:

Stage 1: Sift of CV and personal statement

Stage 2: Interview

You must be successful at each stage to progress to the next stage.

Stage 1: Sift

At sift, you will be assessed against the following Success Profile elements:

Experience – you will be asked to provide a CV (unlimited wordcount) and personal statement (750-word count). Please provide evidence of your experience of the following essential criteria:

• Working collaboratively as part of a team and supporting junior engineers.
• Experience of IT Hardware and Software using recognised programming languages.
• Ability to diagnose & address complex application issues.

The sift will take place week commencing 05/10/2026.

Should we receive a high volume of quality applications, we may invite a shortlist of the highest scoring candidates to interview. This means that some applications that meet the required standard could be placed ‘on hold’ after the sift and invited to interview if the vacant position(s) remain unfilled. You will be notified if your application is being put ‘on hold’ once the sift has been completed. Following interviews, any applicants remaining on hold will be notified by the panel of the next steps regarding their application.

Stage 2: Interview

At interview stage, you will be assessed against the following Success Profile elements:

Behaviours –

• Changing and Improving
• Working Together

Technical –

• Application Operations Engineer - Ownership & Initiative (Skill Level: Working)
• Application Operations Engineer - Technical Specialism (Skill Level: Awareness)

You will also be required to partake in a coding task. Guidance will be provided if you are invited to interview.

The interviews will take place week commencing 19/10/2026.

This interview will be conducted in person at our Swansea office (Longview Road Morriston, SA6 7JL). Furth