At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the design and support of collaboration tools for a global news organisation.
- Company: Join the Financial Times, a leading news organisation known for integrity and quality.
- Benefits: Enjoy generous leave, medical cover, gym memberships, and community engagement opportunities.
- Other info: Hybrid work model with a focus on flexibility and team collaboration.
- Why this job: Make an impact in journalism while working with cutting-edge technology and diverse teams.
- Qualifications: Experience in collaboration tools and a passion for emerging technologies like AI.
The predicted salary is between 56700 - 69300 £ per year.
About Us
The Financial Times is one of the world’s leading news organisations, globally recognised for its authority, integrity and accuracy, with a mission to deliver quality information and services worldwide. At the FT, curiosity thrives and ambitious thinking is rewarded. Here, you’re given the chance to reach millions, create work that matters and deliver impartial journalism in a polarised world. In our warm, collaborative culture, you’ll connect with a diverse community of experts who support your growth, career aspirations and wellbeing. Your future at the FT will be filled with opportunities that challenge and inspire you. With no fixed path, you’ll discover new skills and forge a career that can take you anywhere. Build a newsworthy career at the FT.
Our Commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
We believe in the power of unique perspectives and want all voices in our organisation to be heard, respected and valued. A supportive workplace is one where employees feel they can be themselves and operate to their full potential. We are committed to removing barriers for everyone, with a focus on addressing those faced by underrepresented groups.
The Role Overview
Reporting into the Head of Collaboration Tooling in the Infrastructure & Operations group in Technology, this role is for a senior engineer to help implement and support the collaboration tools and services used by the staff of the Financial Times.
About the team:
Infrastructure & Operations has around 90 people working in multiple teams that have diverse remits, including: cloud services, code management, the management and provision of end-user devices, collaboration tools, networking, a global service desk, identity and access management, and technical operations support. We value transparency, accountability, shared responsibility and teamwork. The team works closely together with a very supportive, knowledge-sharing ethos. We ensure FT Staff have the tools they need to run a business providing world-class journalism to our customers. We support informal knowledge sharing alongside more formal training opportunities.
What you will work on:
- Lead technical design and architectural decisions for collaboration tooling platforms, providing guidance and direction for engineers across the team.
- Act as a subject matter expert for AI capabilities within collaboration tooling, helping teams understand, adopt and safely leverage AI-powered features and services.
- Engage with other disciplines, groups and teams across FT Technology and beyond, making sure we are all working together effectively, and evangelising the tools and solutions that the team own and manage.
- Contribute to the product and renewal roadmaps for the tools the team owns.
- Understand the capabilities our collaboration tools provide, and stay abreast of relevant developments in the marketplace.
- Help manage and select suppliers of key collaboration tools or technologies.
- Liaise with vendors and internal customers of collaboration tools.
- Help set and reinforce our inclusive, respectful, multidisciplinary, and open culture.
- Help to improve the technology, processes and skills of the team.
- Establish and promote engineering standards, operational practices and architectural principles for collaboration tooling and associated integrations.
- Ability to make and communicate sound technical decisions in ambiguous situations.
- Comfortable acting as a technical escalation point for complex problems.
- Curiosity about emerging technologies, particularly AI and automation, and an ability to translate them into practical business value.
Collaboration Tools
Your focus will be on our collaboration tools such as ChatGPT, Google Workspace, Google Gemini, Slack, Jira, Confluence, Figma, Make, MASV, Monday.com, Zapier, LucidChart & LucidSpark. This list is neither exhaustive nor comprehensive.
About You
You are enthusiastic about contributing to all areas of the team's responsibilities. Our ideal candidate will bring a unique point of view to the work that we do. We firmly believe that diverse perspectives help us create great tools and enhance the team. Characteristics we value:
- Ability to raise the skills and performance of those around you.
- Keen to take action whilst being pragmatic.
- Passion for realistic, high-quality engineering excellence.
- Attention to detail and common sense.
- Being collaborative and supportive.
- Enjoy learning and teaching — whether that be pair programming, lightning talks, good documentation, leading workshops or mentoring other members of the team.
- A love of solving problems with technology.
What’s in it for you?
Our benefits vary by location but we are committed to providing best-in-class perks across all our offices. These include generous annual leave, medical cover, inclusive parental leave packages, subsidised gym memberships and opportunities to give back to the community. Full details of our benefits are available here.
We currently operate a hybrid model which requires staff to work onsite 50% of the time, subject to role requirements & regular review. While flexible working requests will be considered, not all patterns are suitable for all roles. We believe this balanced approach supports flexibility and protects our culture, making collaboration and communication easier, building stronger relationships and team cohesion, and supporting peer learning.
Accessibility
We are a disability confident employer and Valuable 500 signatory. Please let us know if you require any reasonable adjustments/personalisation as part of the application process or to enable you to attend an interview. If you would like to discuss your requirements or have any questions, email talent@ft.com and a member of our team will be happy to help.
Further information
At the FT, we embrace innovation and the use of technology and appreciate that individuals may leverage AI tools as part of their job application process. Whilst we are happy for you to use AI to assist with your application, it is essential that all information provided is authentic and accurately represents your skills, experience, and qualifications. Candidates should be aware that the use of AI throughout the application process may be monitored to ensure a fair and transparent hiring process for all.
Senior IT Engineer in London employer: Financial Times
The Financial Times is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic and inclusive work environment where curiosity and ambition are celebrated. With opportunities for professional growth and a commitment to diversity, employees can thrive in a culture that values unique perspectives and fosters collaboration. The flexibility of remote or hybrid working arrangements from Belfast or London, combined with a comprehensive benefits package, makes the FT an attractive choice for those seeking meaningful and impactful careers in the legal field.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior IT Engineer in London
✨Join the IT Consultancy Buzz
Get involved in local or virtual IT consultancy meetups and forums. This is where we can rub shoulders with industry professionals, get insights into what Financial Times values, and even spot unadvertised opportunities. Don't miss out on these chances to make a name for ourselves in the IT world!
✨Show Off Your Skills
Create a personal project or case study relevant to the challenges Financial Times might face. Use platforms like GitHub or Medium to share your findings. This not only demonstrates our consulting skills but shows a proactive attitude, making us stand out from the crowd when applying for that full-time gig.
✨Leverage LinkedIn for Connections
Follow and engage with the relevant thought leaders and influencers in IT consultancy on LinkedIn. Share insightful content and join discussions to gain visibility. A well-placed comment or shared article could catch the attention of someone at Financial Times!
✨Direct Apply to Financial Times
Let's not forget to apply directly through the Financial Times website! Tailor your application to showcase our understanding of their consulting style and how we can contribute to their projects. A personalised approach can make a huge difference in landing that full-time position!
We think you need these skills to ace Senior IT Engineer in London
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 Financial Times.
Highlight Relevant Certifications:Certifications like ITIL, PMP, or even specific tech stack qualifications can really make you stand out. Make sure to include these in your CV, as they not only demonstrate your expertise but also your commitment to staying current in the field. We love seeing candidates who are proactive about their professional development!
Tailor Your Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to connect personally with us at Financial Times. 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.
Keep It Clear and Concise:We're all busy, so make sure your application is easy to read. Use bullet points for key achievements, and don’t overload us with jargon. A clean, professional layout goes a long way. Remember, the clearer your application, the more likely we are to invite you in for an interview!
How to prepare for a job interview at Financial Times
✨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.
✨Showcase Your Problem-Solving Approach
IT consulting is all about solving problems for clients. Think about how you can illustrate your approach to a past challenge using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result). It's a great way to show how you tackle complex issues and come up with effective solutions.
✨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.
✨Prepare for Behavioural Questions
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.
