At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead complex projects in infrastructure, networking, cloud, and security while mentoring junior engineers.
- Company: Join a 20-year-old IT Managed Service Provider with a supportive team culture.
- Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, hybrid working, 25 days leave, and a dedicated training budget.
- Other info: Great career progression opportunities in a dynamic and friendly workplace.
- Why this job: Be the go-to expert for challenging technical problems and make a real impact.
- Qualifications: 5-7 years in an MSP environment with strong technical skills in infrastructure and security.
The predicted salary is between 45000 - 55000 £ per year.
Reports To: Head of Professional Services
Employment Type: Full Time, On-Site
About Fifteen Group
We're a Stoke-on-Trent based IT Managed Service Provider celebrating our 20th anniversary in 2026. We support around 60 SMB clients across the UK with both reactive technical support and proactive project delivery, split between our Technical Services and Professional Services teams.
The Role
We're looking for a Lead Engineer to join our Professional Services team. This is a senior, hands‑on technical role for someone who genuinely enjoys solving the toughest problems and leading complex projects from design through to delivery. You’ll be the engineer the team turns to when something has everyone else stumped, leading the design and delivery of our most technical projects across infrastructure, networking, cloud, and security. You’ll also play a key role in raising our security posture both internally and across our client estate.
Time Allocation
- 60% Project Delivery & Design – leading our most complex projects
- 20% Senior Escalations – final technical escalation point for both teams
- 20% Security & Standards Work – reviews, audits, and raising security baselines
Key Responsibilities
Technical Leadership- Act as the senior technical escalation point for both Professional Services and Technical Services teams
- Lead the design and delivery of complex client projects across infrastructure, networking, cloud, and security
- Mentor engineers across both teams, sharing knowledge and helping develop the next generation of senior talent
- Maintain high-quality technical documentation and contribute to our internal knowledge base
- Support pre‑sales conversations with technical scoping and solution design
- Design, deploy, and troubleshoot on‑premise server infrastructure including RAID configurations, Windows Server, Active Directory, and Group Policy
- Lead virtualisation projects across Hyper‑V and VMware environments
- Design and implement backup and disaster recovery solutions
- Design and implement storage solutions including SAN, NAS, and local storage
- Design and implement secure, resilient network solutions across our client base
- Configure and troubleshoot WatchGuard firewalls, DrayTek routers, Ubiquiti wireless, and Cisco equipment
- Design VLANs, routing, VPNs (site‑to‑site and remote access), and network segmentation
- Perform network performance and capacity planning
- Design and deliver Microsoft 365 and Azure projects, including tenant migrations, Intune deployments, Conditional Access, and Entra ID configuration
- Design hybrid identity and infrastructure solutions where appropriate
- Lead quarterly security reviews for key clients, identifying risks and presenting findings clearly
- Drive standardised security baselines across our client estate, including MFA, LAPS, Conditional Access, legacy protocol elimination, and network segmentation
- Act as the subject matter expert for our Huntress MDR offering
- Support incident response activities, including post‑incident reviews and remediation planning
- Contribute to the development of productised security service offerings
Minimum 5–7 years working within an MSP or similar multi‑client technical environment
Proven experience leading complex projects from design through to delivery
Strong on‑premise infrastructure fundamentals including RAID, Windows Server, Active Directory, Group Policy, and file/print services
Hands‑on experience with Hyper‑V and VMware virtualisation platforms
Strong networking experience including firewall configuration, VLANs, routing, and VPNs (ideally WatchGuard, DrayTek, Ubiquiti, or Cisco)
Experience designing and managing backup and disaster recovery solutions
Strong Microsoft 365 experience including Entra ID, Conditional Access, Intune, and Microsoft Defender
Practical understanding of cyber attack vectors such as phishing, pass‑the‑hash, and lateral movement, and how to defend against them
Excellent troubleshooting skills with a methodical, evidence‑led approach
Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to explain technical concepts to both technical and non‑technical audiences
Full UK driving licence
Right to work in the UK
Relevant certifications such as:
- Microsoft AZ‑104
- Microsoft AZ‑500
- Microsoft SC‑200
- Microsoft SC‑300
- CompTIA Security+
- Equivalent industry certifications
Experience with additional backup solutions
PowerShell scripting for automation and auditing
Experience presenting to senior client stakeholders
Previous experience as a Senior Engineer or Lead Engineer within an MSP
What You'll Get From Us
- Competitive salary of £45,000 - £55,000, depending on experience
- Hybrid working opportunities where appropriate
- 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays
- Dedicated training and certification budget
- Clear technical career progression within a 20‑year established business
- Modern office in Stoke‑on‑Trent with free parking
- Supportive, friendly team culture
- Exposure to a wide variety of technologies and projects across approximately 60 SMB clients
What Success Looks Like
Within your first 90 Days- Become fully embedded within the Professional Services team
- Build strong working relationships with Technical Services
- Review and contribute to the current project pipeline
- Identify opportunities to improve security and technical standards across our client base
- Become the trusted senior escalation point across both teams
- Lead the design and delivery of multiple complex projects
- Run quarterly security reviews for key clients
- Contribute to mentoring and developing engineers across the business
Additional Information
Location: Stoke‑on‑Trent, Staffordshire
Work Location: On‑site
Driving Licence Required: Yes
Right to Work in UK Required: Yes
Fifteen Group is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from candidates of all backgrounds and experiences.
This role offers an excellent opportunity for an experienced infrastructure, networking, and security professional looking to take ownership of complex projects and become a key technical leader within a growing MSP.
Lead Engineer (Professional Services) employer: Fifteen Group - Be Smarter through Technology
Fifteen Group is an exceptional employer, offering a supportive and friendly team culture in the heart of Stoke-on-Trent. With a commitment to employee growth through dedicated training budgets and clear career progression paths, we empower our staff to tackle complex projects while enjoying a competitive salary and hybrid working opportunities. Join us to be part of a well-established IT Managed Service Provider that values innovation and collaboration across a diverse range of technologies.
Contact Details:
Fifteen Group - Be Smarter through Technology Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Lead Engineer (Professional Services)
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We think you need these skills to ace Lead Engineer (Professional Services)
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Your Problem-Solving Skills:In IT consulting, it's all about problem-solving, so make sure your CV highlights your analytical skills and any relevant projects you've tackled. Mention specific technologies or methodologies you've used to resolve issues or improve processes; this shows you can think critically and deliver results, which is vital for us at Fifteen Group - Be Smarter through Technology.
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Tailor Your Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to connect personally with us at Fifteen Group - Be Smarter through Technology. Share stories about your experiences in IT consulting, and how they shaped your desire to join our team. Mention why you’re excited about this particular role, and how you see yourself contributing to our projects.
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✨Brush Up on Your Technical Skills
For an IT consulting role, be ready to demonstrate your technical prowess. You might face questions on systems integration, cloud technologies, or even troubleshooting specific software. If you have experience with tools like AWS, Azure, or even specific programming languages, make sure you can talk about them fluently.
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✨Know the Business Impact of IT Solutions
When discussing your experiences, focus not just on the tech solutions you implemented, but also on their business impact. Employers want to see that you can connect IT with organisational goals. Prep examples that highlight how your tech contributions improved efficiency or reduced costs for past clients or projects.
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Since IT consulting often involves teamwork and client interactions, expect behavioural questions that assess your interpersonal skills. Be prepared with examples that demonstrate your adaptability, communication skills, and how you handle client feedback. Before the interview, think of situations where you worked closely with clients to create effective IT strategies or changes.
