Assistant Operational Technology Specialist in London

As part of the development of our Digital Services function, we are recruiting to strengthen internal digital capability within the Operational Technology Systems Engineering (OTSE) Team. This role is central to building sustainable in-house expertise that supports the design, development, and delivery of digital solutions across the transport network.

A key focus of this campaign is creating new opportunities. We are recruiting an Assistant Operational Technology Specialist with a focus on cables and cabinets, supporting the infrastructure that underpins our roadside technology. This is a pivotal role supporting Lead Operational Technology Specialists in ensuring that operational technology products and services across the Strategic Road Network are safe, reliable and fit for purpose, contributing to the effective and efficient management of traffic while driving continuous improvement and innovation.

This is a hybrid role, requiring two days per week in the office, based at any National Highways office location.

• Collaborate with Lead OT Specialists and key stakeholders to provide direction, challenge, and support for operational technology products and services.
• Proactively identify issues and translate complex technical concepts into clear, non-technical language for wider understanding.
• Support technical governance, assurance, and approval processes, ensuring solutions meet specifications, risks are managed, and standards are upheld prior to live deployment.
• Contribute to the development of architectural standards, roadmaps, and specifications to enhance capability, reliability, and safety across operational technology services.
• Engage across teams and with the supply chain to support delivery, procurement, and continuous improvement of technology solutions, including promoting best practice, COTS adoption, and alignment with future architecture.

About you:

• Strong knowledge of operational technology used in highways, transport or similar infrastructure environments, with an interest in Intelligent Transport Systems (e.g., UTMC, NTCIP, DATEX2) and how mission-critical systems are designed for safety, resilience and performance.
• Understanding of key standards and specifications, including roadside traffic control requirements and how technology aligns with frameworks such as DMRB / Standards for Highways, with a willingness to deepen this knowledge and contribute to technical specifications and supporting the development of outcome-based requirements.
• Comfortable shaping and explaining technical solutions, bridging the gap between operational needs and technical design, and communicating complex ideas in a clear, practical way.
• Practical familiarity with roadside infrastructure such as cabinets, feeder pillars, ducts or cabling systems, with experience working with suppliers or contractors in installation, maintenance or operational environments.
• 18th Edition (BS 7671) or experience working to electrical standards is desirable but not essential.
• A proactive learner with an interest in developing towards a technical specialism or professional accreditation.

About us:

Here at National Highways, we manage and improve England's motorways and major A roads, helping our customers have safer, smoother and more reliable journeys. Our priorities are safety, customers and delivery, and at the core of this, are our values of passion, integrity, safety, teamwork and ownership.

The Digital Services Directorate is helping to reshape the way National Highways operates by delivering digital, data, and technology services across all areas, from frontline to back office, in a modern and efficient manner. Our vision is to develop integrated information and technology that empowers our colleagues and provides real-time information to our customers, as well as integrating with intelligent vehicle and transport systems as they evolve, to enhance journey safety and reliability.

External candidates will be offered a starting salary at the lower end of the pay scale, while current employees will be appointed in accordance with our established pay policy. We are committed to creating a diverse environment and welcome applicants from all backgrounds.

Why you should join us:

At National Highways we believe in a connected country. We are passionate about creating a culture where colleagues feel connected, included and enjoy greater wellbeing to achieve this. We're proud that as an organisation we are continually striving to do better and actively encourage and support our colleagues to do the same with their careers.

So, if you put safety first, take ownership of your work, show passion for what you do, work effectively in a team, and demonstrate integrity in how you do it then you'll be a great fit for our organisation.

A connected and sustainable working approach has been adopted across National Highways. For some roles, this means being able to work in a hybrid way spending up to 60% of time working from a remote location such as home.

Please wait until the interview stage before asking us about flexibility, and we will explore what is possible.

Our benefits package includes:

• Basic salary, the potential for a performance related bonus.
• Contributory pension scheme with employer contribution of up to 10%.
• Annual Leave starting at 26 days (plus Bank Holidays) rising by 1 day each year up to 31 days (plus Bank Holidays).
• Flexible hours and an approach driven by connected and sustainable working which includes hybrid working.
• Life assurance of 4 times annual salary.
• Health and wellbeing support, including an Employee Assistance Programme, available 24/7 365 days and network of mental health first aiders.
• Access to a wellbeing app to enhance your self-care 24/7.
• Occupational health service and flu vaccines.
• A cycle to work scheme for the purchase of a bicycle and equipment for healthy, low carbon travel.
• Significant investment in your career development, through learning and development, talent management, coaching, mentoring and on job experience.
• Family friendly with enhanced maternity leave and pay, paternity leave (15 days), shared parental leave, adoption leave.
• Access to financial support for holiday play schemes and paid special leave (up to 5 days pa), e.g., for caring responsibilities.
• Money friendly with access to a discounts platform including over 3000 discounts for supermarkets, eating out, leisure, holidays.
• Community friendly offering paid leave to volunteer, 3 days basic/year.

If you are successful, it is key to know all offers of employment are subject to satisfactory completion of our pre-employment checks which include: Right to work check, 3 year employment history references, DBS criminal record check, Social media and adverse journalism check, Driving licence check (if applicable), Fit to work questionnaire (for all), followed by a medical check (if applicable), Qualifications and/or professional membership check (if applicable).

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