At a Glance
- Tasks: Join our team to maintain and enhance IT infrastructure, supporting both physical and cloud environments.
- Company: Guide Dogs is a charity dedicated to supporting individuals affected by sight loss.
- Benefits: Enjoy 26 days holiday, a generous pension scheme, and flexible benefits including discounts.
- Why this job: Make a real impact while working in a collaborative environment with cutting-edge technology.
- Qualifications: Proven experience in infrastructure and networking, ideally with certifications like CCNA or MCSE.
- Other info: This role requires an Enhanced Disclosure check; apply today to join our mission!
The predicted salary is between 36800 - 42000 £ per year.
With proven experience at senior level, technical troubleshooting experience and IT project implementation skills within the area of Microsoft and Networking technologies required to join our team at Guide Dogs based in Reading, Berkshire.
SALARY: £42,800 - £50,138 per annum + Excellent Benefits
BENEFITS: 26 Days Holiday plus Bank Holidays. Includes a generous pension scheme, life assurance and enhanced pay for parenting and sickness leave. In addition, an Employee Assistance Programme, flexible benefits package and discounts and cashback scheme.
LOCATION: Reading, Berkshire (RG7)
JOB TYPE: Full-Time, Permanent
WORKING HOURS: 35 Hours per Week, Monday to Friday
JOB OVERVIEW
We have a fantastic new job opportunity for a Senior Infrastructure Engineer / Network Support Technician with proven experience at senior level, technical troubleshooting experience and IT project implementation skills within the area of Microsoft and Networking technologies. As the Senior Infrastructure Engineer / Network Support Technician you work within the IS Service Delivery team and you’ll be instrumental in keeping the organisation connected and resilient. You’ll support, maintain and enhance the core infrastructure across physical and cloud environments—managing everything from servers and networks to storage and endpoint solutions. Working as the Senior Infrastructure Engineer / Network Support Technician you’ll lead on project workstreams, contribute to critical incident management, and be a go-to expert for more complex technical challenges. Your insight and experience will help shape the way the organisation deliver services to their colleagues and ultimately support their life-changing work with people affected by sight loss. From maintaining virtualised environments and cloud infrastructure to safeguarding business continuity and disaster recovery systems, your expertise will ensure they’re always ready for what’s next. You’ll also have the opportunity to influence best practice, improve security posture, and drive meaningful technical improvements that make a real difference.
What You’ll Bring
The organisation is looking for someone with a strong technical background in infrastructure and networking, ideally with industry certifications (like CCNA, MCSE or similar) or equivalent experience. You’ll have hands-on experience managing cloud and hybrid systems, networks, storage and virtualised platforms, alongside solid knowledge of Microsoft 365, Azure, and endpoint management tools such as Intune. You’ll also be a clear communicator and proactive problem solver, able to stay calm under pressure and comfortable working across multiple priorities. If you're passionate about technology, thrive in collaborative environments and enjoy seeing the tangible impact of your work, this is a fantastic opportunity.
DUTIES
- Maintain core IT infrastructure virtual servers, hosts and networks
- Design, implement and support infrastructure technologies, solutions and services including physical and cloud services (IaaS, SaaS etc.), storage and networking
- Support and maintain DR and business continuity
- Support integration of systems and services with 3rd party platforms and service providers
- Ensure systems and services maintain security and integrity through the use of best practice and industry standards
- Plan, support and deliver project workstreams and operational initiatives across infrastructure domains
- Support and maintain services and solutions for the successful delivery of end user compute services including End Point Manager (Intune)
- Act as a point of escalation for IS Operations teams
CANDIDATE REQUIREMENTS
- Relevant professional qualifications and/or membership of appropriate professional body
- IT related certifications: CCNA, MCSE, MCP or demonstrable experience in a similar role
- Proven and demonstratable experience at senior level in a medium to large organisation
- Proven experience of managing and developing physical and cloud infrastructure solutions
- Strong technical background in networking, cloud/hybrid infrastructure and end user computing
- Experience in managing third-party supplier relationships
- Experience with creating and maintaining policy and procedures
- Experience of implementing and supporting the delivery of project workstreams within the areas of infrastructure technologies
- In depth understanding of physical, cloud-based infrastructure and networking in a multi-site environment
- Experience of virtualised Windows Server platforms and components i.e. Hyper-V, VMWare
- In depth understanding of Active Directory, Azure AD, Identity and Access Management, account risk management and role-based access tools
- Experience in deploying and managing network switches, WiFi, routers, firewall and network appliance security (Palo Alto, Cisco, Meraki)
- Experience of managing Microsoft 365 solutions including email, Teams, SharePoint and One Drive
- Experience of managing Microsoft Exchange and email messaging and internet hygiene including anti-spam and anti-phishing i.e. Mimecast, Zscaler
- Experience of managing enterprise SAN i.e. 3PAR, Nimble
- Experience of enterprise backup solutions i.e. Veeam
- Eligibility to work in the UK
As this role requires an Enhanced Disclosure check the start date for the successful candidate will only be confirmed upon receipt of the check. The Charity is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all children, young people and vulnerable adults with whom they work. They expect all of their employees and volunteers to fully share this commitment.
Please note: we reserve the right to close any of our vacancies early. NO AGENCIES PLEASE
APPLY TODAY… By submitting your job application to us you are hereby giving us your express consent to submit your details to our Client for this purpose.
Senior Infrastructure Engineer / Network Support Technician employer: Guide Dogs
Contact Detail:
Guide Dogs Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Infrastructure Engineer / Network Support Technician
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with the specific technologies mentioned in the job description, such as Microsoft 365, Azure, and networking tools like Palo Alto and Cisco. Being able to discuss your hands-on experience with these technologies during an interview will demonstrate your suitability for the role.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare to showcase your project management skills by discussing past projects where you led infrastructure implementations or troubleshooting efforts. Highlighting your ability to manage multiple priorities and work under pressure will resonate well with the hiring team.
✨Tip Number 3
Network with current or former employees of Guide Dogs or similar organisations. Engaging with them on platforms like LinkedIn can provide valuable insights into the company culture and expectations, which you can leverage during your application process.
✨Tip Number 4
Demonstrate your commitment to continuous learning by mentioning any relevant certifications you are pursuing or have completed, such as CCNA or MCSE. This shows that you are proactive about staying updated in the fast-evolving tech landscape.
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Infrastructure Engineer / Network Support Technician
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights your relevant experience in infrastructure and networking. Focus on your technical troubleshooting skills and any IT project implementations you've led, especially those involving Microsoft and cloud technologies.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: In your cover letter, express your passion for technology and how your background aligns with the role. Mention specific experiences that demonstrate your ability to manage complex technical challenges and contribute to team success.
Highlight Certifications: If you have industry certifications like CCNA or MCSE, be sure to prominently feature them in your application. These qualifications are crucial for this role and can set you apart from other candidates.
Showcase Problem-Solving Skills: Provide examples in your application of how you've successfully solved technical issues under pressure. This will demonstrate your proactive approach and ability to handle multiple priorities effectively.
How to prepare for a job interview at Guide Dogs
✨Showcase Your Technical Expertise
Be prepared to discuss your hands-on experience with Microsoft and networking technologies. Highlight specific projects where you've implemented solutions or resolved complex issues, as this will demonstrate your capability to handle the responsibilities of the role.
✨Communicate Clearly
As a Senior Infrastructure Engineer, you'll need to convey technical information effectively. Practice explaining complex concepts in simple terms, as this will show your ability to communicate with both technical and non-technical team members.
✨Demonstrate Problem-Solving Skills
Prepare examples of how you've approached and solved technical challenges in previous roles. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your responses, showcasing your proactive problem-solving abilities.
✨Research the Organisation
Familiarise yourself with Guide Dogs' mission and values. Understanding their work with people affected by sight loss will help you align your answers with their goals and demonstrate your genuine interest in contributing to their cause.