IT Systems Manager - Linux | Infrastructure | Networking (Oxford)

My client is looking for an experienced IT Systems Manager to lead a specialist IT function supporting cutting-edge technology within a highly innovative engineering environment. This is a fantastic opportunity to combine technical leadership with hands-on infrastructure engineering, managing a small team while remaining closely involved in the design, deployment and optimisation of critical systems that support advanced hardware platforms.

The Role

Reporting into senior IT leadership, you'll take ownership of the infrastructure that underpins complex engineering and laboratory environments. You'll lead a small team whilst helping establish scalable processes, improving operational maturity and ensuring the technology platform is reliable, repeatable and ready to support future growth. This is an ideal opportunity for someone who enjoys solving challenging infrastructure problems, working closely with engineering teams and building robust IT environments for highly technical organisations.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead a small specialist IT team, managing day-to-day priorities while mentoring and developing team members.
• Own the infrastructure supporting advanced engineering systems and hardware deployments.
• Manage Linux server provisioning, operating system configuration and infrastructure readiness.
• Design, implement and maintain secure lab and engineering network environments.
• Configure and support managed switches, firewalls, VLANs, routing and network segmentation.
• Support the integration of specialist hardware and bespoke technical equipment into production environments.
• Drive improvements in automation, documentation, provisioning processes and operational standards.
• Produce technical documentation, runbooks and best practice guides to improve repeatability and scalability.
• Collaborate closely with infrastructure, DevOps, engineering and wider technology teams to deliver robust solutions.

About You

You'll be an experienced Infrastructure Engineer or Technical Team Lead who enjoys remaining hands-on whilst providing leadership to a small technical team. You'll have experience working within highly technical environments where infrastructure directly supports engineering, manufacturing, scientific or research activities.

Skills & Experience

• Strong Linux systems administration experience.
• Experience provisioning and deploying physical Linux servers.
• Knowledge of provisioning and automation tools such as Ansible, Kickstart, Cobbler, Foreman, Packer or similar.
• Strong networking experience including managed switches, firewalls, VLANs, routing, ACLs and network segmentation.
• Experience integrating specialist hardware, industrial equipment or bespoke devices into IT environments.
• Ability to improve manual processes through automation, documentation and standardisation.
• Experience managing or mentoring technical engineers.
• Familiarity with server management technologies such as IPMI, iDRAC or iLO.
• Understanding of infrastructure handover into DevOps or Kubernetes-based environments would be advantageous.

Desirable Background

Applications are welcomed from candidates with experience in environments such as:

• Deep-tech organisations
• Scientific or research institutions
• Advanced engineering
• High-performance computing (HPC)
• Defence technology
• Electronics or semiconductor manufacturing
• Laboratory or industrial automation
• Research computing environments

What's on Offer

This is an exciting opportunity to join a rapidly growing technology business at the forefront of innovation. You'll have the chance to shape a growing infrastructure function, lead a talented technical team and work on projects that support genuinely world-leading engineering and technology. If you're looking for a role that combines technical depth, leadership and the opportunity to make a significant impact, we'd love to hear from you.