Systems Engineer in Bristol

Actual Annual Salary: £40,958 - £43,697 (CLF Grade F)

Contract Type: Permanent

Hours: Full-Time, 37 hours per week, Monday to Friday/All year-round

Provisional Start Date: September/October 2026, based on completion of pre-employment checks

This is a hybrid role, with home serving as your primary base. The designated office location is Federation House, Kingswood Bristol, although this may vary depending on your location within the Federation. There are no fixed office days. Instead, you'll work from Federation House or other CLF sites as required to support meetings, projects, collaboration, or other operational needs. You'll have the flexibility to manage your own schedule, balancing home working with time spent across the Federation to meet the demands of the role.

Your opportunity to shape and streamline digital systems across our trust:

We are seeking a highly skilled and proactive Systems Engineer to join our central IT team at Cabot Learning Federation. In this pivotal role, you will take ownership of the integration of our critical information systems, ensuring seamless data flows and automation that empower thousands of learners and educators across our academies. This role is responsible for managing and developing the CLF’s systems to ensure that interconnected data remains accurate, reliable, and well-maintained. The post holder will oversee a range of processes that support the safe movement of data across multiple CLF-deployed platforms, including but not limited to Azure, Paxton Net2 Access Control, Office 365, Fabric, Microsoft School Data Sync, and the Nimble Training Platform. These systems are critical to the ongoing success and progression of the trust. You'll lead on trust-wide system integration and development, design bespoke applications to improve operational efficiency, and collaborate with colleagues across the organisation to ensure our systems are secure, resilient, and aligned with best practice. From building automation processes and managing data lakes to supporting large-scale system upgrades, your work will be central to delivering a robust and innovative digital experience for our federation.

About you:

• Extensive technical knowledge of IT systems and infrastructure, including Microsoft Active Directory, Azure AD, Intune, Azure Dev Ops.
• Strong proficiency in programming languages, SQL, PowerShell, with experience in APIs and automation processes.
• Hands-on experience integrating complex systems, managing data flows, and developing bespoke applications.
• Excellent problem-solving and communication skills, with the ability to advise stakeholders at all levels and translate technical concepts into actionable solutions.
• A proactive and adaptable mindset, capable of managing conflicting priorities in a fast-paced, multi-site environment.
• A commitment to safeguarding, inclusion, and continuous improvement, with a focus on supporting education through effective technology.
• Relevant qualifications, including a degree in Computer Science or a related field, or equivalent experience.

Applicants are advised to refer to the full requirements of the role in the attached job description and person specification, prior to submitting an application.

Why work in CLF’s Central IT Team?

In this role, you’ll be a key part of our Central IT Team – responsible for delivering secure, reliable, and innovative technology solutions across the trust. You’ll have the opportunity to shape system integration strategy, work with cutting-edge tools, and contribute to a mission-driven organisation that values technology in education.

We offer:

• A chance to lead and influence system integration and automation across a multi-academy trust.
• Flexible, hybrid working arrangements – from our Bristol office, home, and onsite support.
• Opportunities for professional development and certification.
• A collaborative and supportive team environment.
• The satisfaction of making a meaningful impact on the digital experience of students and staff.

Why work at CLF?

We are a diverse and inclusive community of 36 academies across five cluster regions in the South West that is committed to excellence and making a positive impact. Our people bring unique perspectives, but we’re all driven by a shared moral purpose and a passion for making a positive impact, whether in a teaching, leadership or support role. We’re proud to foster a culture where everyone can thrive, feel valued, and make a meaningful difference to the lives of others. We are an equal opportunity employer and proud to serve a diverse student population and our communities. We strongly believe that representation matters and so encourage applications from underrepresented and global majority groups including ethnicity, gender, transgender, age, disability, sexual orientation or religion. We aim to remove any barriers to employment, ensuring everyone can compete on equal terms. Job share, part-time and flexible working opportunities will be considered.

What we can offer you:

• Access to a generous pension through the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS).
• Generous annual leave.
• A comprehensive induction and ongoing commitment to wellbeing and career progression, through a range of training, apprenticeships and in-role/wider-trust development opportunities.
• Well-being support through an Employee Assistance Programme.
• Health benefits, including wellness sessions, gym discounts, and flu jabs.
• A range of generous family leave options, including above industry average occupational maternity pay.
• Additional benefits like cycle to work scheme, on-site parking plus many more!

Recruitment timeline:

• Closing Date: 12 August 2026 @ 11.59pm
• Shortlisting: 13 August 2026
• Interviews: 25 August 2026

As part of our commitment to Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE), we do not accept CVs – a full education and employment history must be provided through our application form. We are unable to offer sponsorship with this role. As a Disability Confident Committed Employer, we are dedicated to equity and inclusion and commit to interviewing applicants with a disability who meet the essential criteria. We aim to provide an inclusive and accessible recruitment process, and support employees throughout their employment. If you have a disability, are neurodivergent, or require any adjustments to support you through the application or interview process please let us know how we can assist.