Senior Infrastructure Engineer - Projects

Title: Senior Implementation Engineer Location: Lowry Mill, Lees Street, Manchester, M27 6DB Working pattern: Hybrid - 3 days per week in the office, unless on-site delivering projects Salary: £50,000-£59,000 Hours: Full-time, 37.5 hours per week Reporting to: Head of Technical ServicesABOUT DATASPIREDataspire partners with schools and multi-academy trusts to build dependable, high-performing technology environments. Our work helps schools operate securely and efficiently, while enabling teachers and students to make the most of technology.We are looking for a Senior Implementation Engineer to lead the technical delivery of complex infrastructure projects across networking, wireless, firewalls, servers, virtualisation, storage and backup.You will be the technical lead on cutovers, migrations and go-live events, translating approved designs into detailed, controlled delivery plans that leave environments properly built, tested and documented.This is a hands-on engineering role for someone who enjoys being on site, thrives under the pressure of a live cutover and takes genuine pride in the quality of what they hand over.THE ROLEAs Senior Implementation Engineer, you will lead complex project workstreams and turn high-level designs into detailed implementation plans, task sequences, validation steps and rollback approaches.You will act as third-line escalation during project delivery, review documentation produced by other engineers to ensure it is fit for operational handover, and mentor Associate and Implementation Engineers. You will work closely with Solutions Design, the PMO and Systems Operations, and will feed lessons learned back to improve delivery standards across the function.TRAVEL AND SITE WORKINGThis role involves regular travel to customer sites, including schools, colleges, construction sites and building projects. Travel is predominantly across England, with occasional work in Wales and Scotland. Some projects will require overnight stays and work outside of standard hours, including school holiday periods, to minimise disruption to teaching.The following are required or may be required for this role: A full, valid UK driving licence and access to a vehicleA clean enhanced DBS check, given the nature of working in schools and colleges around children and young peopleSSSTS (Site Supervisors Safety Training Scheme) may be required for work on construction and building sitesECS (Electrotechnical Certification Scheme) card may be required for certain site environmentsWhere you do not already hold SSSTS or ECS, we will support you in obtaining these.KEY RESPONSIBILITIES Lead complex project workstreams across networking, wireless, firewalls, servers, virtualisation, storage, backup and securityTranslate high-level designs into detailed implementation plans, task sequences, validation steps and rollback approachesAct as technical lead during cutovers, migrations and go-live events, owning success criteria, communication points and rollback optionsConfigure and commission core infrastructure including switching, routing, VLANs, enterprise wireless, firewalls, server builds, hypervisors, storage and backup platformsCarry out structured testing, validation and evidence capture before handoverHandle third-line escalation during project deliveryReview documentation produced by engineers and ensure it is suitable for operational handover to Systems OperationsWork with Project Managers and the PMO on planning, progress, change control and risk trackingWork with Solutions Design to clarify design intent and feedback practical improvementsWork with Systems Operations to ensure monitoring, backup and support readiness are in place at go-liveIdentify delivery risks, dependencies and blockers early and escalate with the right informationMentor and coach Associate and Implementation Engineers, raising technical and documentation standardsContribute to implementation standards, build guides and configuration baselinesWork safely and methodically on customer and construction sites, following site rules and safe working practicesTECHNOLOGIES YOU WILL WORK WITHCore to the role. These are the areas you will work in day to day and where we expect real depth. Network and connectivity: HPE Aruba (primary estate), Cisco Meraki and Ubiquiti. Switch configuration, routing, VLANs, stacking, PoE and structured testingWireless LAN: HPE Aruba and Cisco Meraki. Access point installation, controller configuration, SSID and policy setup, validationSecurity and edge services: Smoothwall, Securly, Barracuda and Fortinet. Firewall configuration, rule sets, VPN setup and security baselinesServers and operating systems: Windows Server, Dell EMC and HPE ProLiant. Server build, OS deployment, role configuration, testing and handoverVirtualisation: Hyper-V, VMware ESXi and vCenter. Hypervisor build, VM provisioning, migration and testingStorage and backup: SAN, NAS, Storage Spaces Direct and Redstor. Storage configuration, backup platform build and restore testingCabling and physical infrastructure: structured cabling, patching, fibre, PDUs and UPSWider exposure. Useful but not essential. You will come across these as part of wider project delivery and where you do not have experience, we will support you to build it. Identity and access: Active Directory, Microsoft Entra ID, Azure AD and IAM CloudCollaboration and productivity: Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace for EducationEndpoint and device management: Autopilot, SCCM, Intune, Google Endpoint Management, JAMF, Lightspeed and MDM platformsApple management: macOS, iPadOS, iOS and JAMFRemote access and communications: RDS, VPN, 3CX and Microsoft TeamsAV and classroom technology: Promethean, Clevertouch, Prowise, Viewsonic and SMARTSecurity, filtering, safeguarding and compliance technology aligned with DfE, NCSC, Cyber Essentials and KCSIE expectationsWHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR Strong hands-on delivery experience across networking and server infrastructure in an MSP, education or multi-site environmentDemonstrable hands-on experience with HPE Aruba or Cisco Meraki. The majority of our network estate is HPE Aruba, followed by Cisco, so proven configuration and deployment experience with at least one of these is essentialConfident configuring and commissioning managed switching, routing, VLANs and enterprise wirelessSolid firewall experience including rule sets, VPNs and applying security baselinesProven Windows Server build and configuration experience including core rolesPractical virtualisation experience with Hyper-V or VMware, including VM provisioning and migrationExperience of storage and backup implementation, including restore and recovery testingDemonstrable experience leading, or acting as technical lead on, cutovers, migrations or go-live events including planning rollbackAbility to translate a high-level design into a detailed, sequenced implementation planClear, disciplined technical documentation suitable for operational handoverA calm, structured approach under pressure, with sound judgement on when to escalateA full, valid UK driving licence and willingness to travel to customer sites across England, and occasionally Wales and ScotlandWillingness to undergo an enhanced DBS check and maintain a clean recordDESIRABLE EXPERIENCEVendor certifications in networking, server or virtualisation, for example Aruba, Cisco, Microsoft or VMwareExperience across both HPE Aruba and Cisco Meraki rather than oneSSSTS, ECS card or other relevant site safety qualificationsExperience working with schools, colleges or multi-academy trustsKnowledge of DfE standards, NCSC guidance, KCSIE, Cyber Essentials or education safeguarding requirementsExperience working on live construction or building site environmentsExperience mentoring, coaching or peer reviewing other engineersInterest in automation, scripting and repeatable build methodsEducation-sector experience is beneficial but not essential. We are equally interested in candidates who bring strong infrastructure delivery experience, with an interest in helping technology improve educational outcomes.WHAT WE OFFERSalary of £50,000£59,000Hybrid working, with 3 days per week in our Manchester office unless on site delivering projects32 days' annual leave, including bank holidaysAn additional paid Christmas shutdown dayYour birthday offOn-site parkingOptional branded workwearEmployee Assistance Programme, including wellbeing, mental health, legal, financial and personal supportPluralsight licence and protected learning timeVendor-led training where relevantSupport in obtaining site safety qualifications such as SSSTS and ECS where requiredMonthly one-to-ones and a structured continuing professional development frameworkClear progression towards Principal Implementation Engineer, with responsibility for the most complex deliveries, implementation standards, configuration baselines and peer review across the functionWHY THIS ROLE MATTERSEvery network you build, every server you commission and every cutover you lead directly affects whether a school starts the day working. The infrastructure you deliver gives teachers confidence in the technology they rely on, keeps students safe online and provides education leaders with reliable foundations for the future.Dataspire is a Mental Health at Work Committed organisation and a Disability Confident employer. We are committed to creating a working environment where everyone feels supported, valued and able to perform at their best.TPBN1_UKTJ