Lead DevOps Engineer

Are you a DevOps leader who actually enjoys talking to people? Someone who can lead infrastructure conversations with a client on Tuesday and jump on a call with your team in Manila on Wednesday? If you're tired of being stuck in a black box and want a role where communication matters as much as your technical skills, this one's for you. Our client is a global digital marketing agency with 17 years in the game, offices in the US (Milwaukee), the Philippines, New Zealand, Bahrain, and France. They work with major international brands, including one of the world's largest pharmaceutical groups, delivering enterprise-level web experiences on complex CMS platforms. They're now building their European hub in Barcelona, and they need a DevOps leader who can take ownership of the entire DevOps function. Not just code. Not just pipelines. The full picture: team leadership, client communication, and infrastructure strategy. The existing DevOps teams are technically strong but lack someone who can step up, communicate, and lead from the front. Your responsibilities and impact as Lead DevOps Engineer: Lead and optimize cloud infrastructure on AWS for major client projectsDesign, implement, and manage CI/CD pipelines and automation workflowsDevelop and maintain Infrastructure as Code (IaC) using modern toolingAdminister and maintain Linux-based systems, web servers, and application serversMonitor system performance and reliability using observability toolsLead incident response, root cause analysis, and resolutionVisit the client's Barcelona office 1–2 times per week for brainstorming, technical discussions, and alignment sessionsCommunicate directly with clients, not just internally. This is the number one ask from the client: a DevOps person who can actually talkLead and mentor DevOps teams across APAC and the US, coordinating across time zonesOver time, take full ownership of the DevOps function across the organization, making it a transparent, integrated part of the company rather than a black box Skills, qualifications, and interests you need to succeed in this role: 5+ years of experience in DevOps, SRE, or related infrastructure rolesStrong expertise in AWS services and cloud architectureProficiency in Linux system administrationSolid experience with CI/CD pipelines, automation, and IaC (Terraform, Ansible, or similar)Strong problem-solving and incident troubleshooting skillsFluent in English (required for daily communication with teams and clients). Spanish is a plus but not mandatoryHere's what really matters: communication skills. You need to be outgoing, comfortable presenting to clients, and able to explain technical decisions to non-technical stakeholdersA leadership mindset: you've managed or mentored teams before, or you're ready to step into that roleAn entrepreneurial attitude: you're comfortable with a startup-like environment where things aren't always perfectly organized yetUnderstanding of cloud security best practices What's in it for you? Be a founding member of the Barcelona office: help shape the team, the culture, and the technical direction from day oneOwn the DevOps function: this is not a "follow instructions" role. You'll have the autonomy to structure and lead DevOps across the entire organizationSalary: from €60K gross/year, depending on experience and seniorityFlexible working culture: no micromanagement, no hour-counting. Hybrid setup with 1–2 client visits per week in Barcelona, the rest from homeWork on high-profile projects for major global brandsFast, two-step interview process: Head of Operations + CTOA leadership team that's honest, transparent, and will tell you straight up: "it might be messy at first, but that's the fun part"