System Engineer

Systems Engineer - Secure Digital Platform (SDP) Data and Integration

Active SC Clearance – required to work on‑site with Edgewing and support sensitive MOD/aerospace programmes.

Aerospace and Defence Experience – demonstrable background delivering architecture within MOD, Defence Digital, or UK aerospace environments.

This role will be based in Reading with hybrid/custom working options where appropriate.

Job Purpose

The Systems Engineer is responsible for supporting, maintaining, and improving enterprise infrastructure, cloud services, and platform technologies across the organisation. Working within the Infrastructure and Platform Services team, the role supports the delivery of secure, reliable, and resilient technology services across both cloud and on-premises environments.

The Systems Engineer assists in the administration of Microsoft Azure services, server infrastructure, networking technologies, virtualisation platforms, and container-based environments. Working under the guidance of senior engineers and architects, the role contributes to infrastructure operations, automation initiatives, platform support, and continuous improvement activities while developing technical expertise across modern infrastructure technologies.

Key Accountabilities and Objectives

Accountabilities include (but are not limited to):

• Support the administration and operation of cloud and on-premises infrastructure environments.
• Maintain Windows Server and Linux operating systems.
• Assist with the deployment, configuration, and support of Azure cloud services.
• Support virtualisation platforms and enterprise hosting environments.
• Assist in the administration of Kubernetes and OpenShift platforms.
• Monitor infrastructure performance, availability, and capacity.
• Support incident, problem, and service request management activities.

Objectives

Infrastructure Support

• Ensure infrastructure services are available, secure, and reliable.
• Support operational activities across cloud and on-premises environments.
• Assist with maintenance, upgrades, and lifecycle management activities.
• Contribute to service improvements and operational efficiency.

Cloud Services

• Support Azure services and cloud-hosted workloads.
• Assist with cloud provisioning, configuration, and monitoring activities.
• Develop knowledge of cloud governance and operational best practices.
• Support cloud migration and modernisation initiatives.

Platform Operations

• Assist in supporting container platforms including Kubernetes and OpenShift.
• Monitor infrastructure and platform performance.
• Support application hosting services and platform stability.
• Contribute to operational resilience and platform availability.

Automation & Improvement

• Assist in developing automation solutions to improve operational efficiency.
• Support Infrastructure as Code and configuration management practices.
• Identify opportunities to reduce manual effort through automation.
• Participate in continuous improvement initiatives.

Planning

• Prioritise tasks according to operational requirements and team objectives.
• Escalate technical risks and issues appropriately.

Qualifications

Essential Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, Systems Engineering, or a related discipline, or equivalent practical experience.
• Up to 3 years of experience in infrastructure support, systems administration, cloud support, or technical operations.
• Basic understanding of cloud computing and enterprise infrastructure technologies.
• Demonstrable interest in infrastructure, cloud, and platform engineering.

Desirable Qualifications

• Microsoft Azure Fundamentals (AZ-900).
• Microsoft Azure Administrator Associate (AZ-104).
• CompTIA Network+ or Server+.
• Linux Essentials or equivalent certification.
• Exposure to Kubernetes, OpenShift, or container technologies.
• ITIL Foundation certification.

Skills and Experience

Essential

Desirable

Experience supporting Windows Server and/or Linux environments.

Azure Fundamentals (AZ-900) or equivalent certification.

Basic understanding of Microsoft Azure services and cloud computing principles.

Azure Administrator (AZ-104) certification.

Knowledge of networking fundamentals including TCP/IP, DNS, DHCP, VPNs, and firewalls.

Experience with Kubernetes or OpenShift.

Understanding of virtualisation technologies such as VMware or Hyper-V.

Exposure to Infrastructure as Code tools such as Terraform or Ansible.

Familiarity with system monitoring and operational support processes.

Experience with scripting languages such as PowerShell, Bash, or Python.

Basic understanding of security principles and access management.

Experience working in hybrid cloud environments.

Understanding of backup, recovery, and disaster recovery concepts.

Exposure to automation and DevOps practices.

Ability to diagnose and troubleshoot technical issues.

Experience with monitoring tools such as Grafana, Prometheus, or Azure Monitor.

Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.

Knowledge of containerisation technologies such as Docker.

Good communication and stakeholder engagement skills.

ITIL Foundation certification.

Ability to work effectively within a collaborative technical team.

Willingness to learn new technologies and engineering practices.

Strong attention to detail and commitment to service quality.

Inside IR35 £67/hr

90% onsite in Reading

Active SC Clearance

6 Months Contract