At a Glance
- Tasks: Join our Instore Engineering Team to support and innovate across 800+ retail locations.
- Company: Next, a leading FTSE-100 fashion retailer with a global presence.
- Benefits: Enjoy 25% off products, performance bonuses, and flexible gym memberships.
- Why this job: Combine technical skills with hands-on project delivery in a dynamic retail environment.
- Qualifications: Solid understanding of Windows OS, networking fundamentals, and a growth mindset.
- Other info: Travel opportunities and excellent career development await you!
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
The Instore Engineering Team is the backbone of Next’s physical retail presence. We are a high-impact group of technical specialists responsible for the operational health and development of over 800 stores across the Next Retail Estate and our Third-Party (TP) clients. We bridge the gap between Head Office innovation and real-world execution. Our team culture is built on collaboration, technical curiosity, and a shared commitment to keeping our global retail operations running smoothly. Whether we are troubleshooting in the workshop or deploying new technologies on-site, we work together to ensure that our systems are scalable, secure, and future-ready.
This is a unique role that offers the perfect balance between office-based technical development and field-based project delivery.
The Mix: You will be based in our office/workshop for stock management and 3rd line support, but you’ll also hit the road to manage hardware installs and project deliveries at various retail locations.
The Impact: You’ll act as a 3rd line escalation point for stores, Head Office, and 3rd party maintenance providers, ensuring that any issue—from software isolation to hardware faults—is resolved swiftly.
The Projects: You won't just be fixing things; you’ll be building. You will collaborate with other IT teams to deliver new technologies, manage project timelines, and ensure all new systems are documented and handed over seamlessly.
The Flexibility: To provide comprehensive support, this role includes regional travel and regular overnight stays. You’ll also participate in an on-call rota and occasional overtime to support our 24/7 retail environment.
About You: You are a self-motivated problem solver who thrives when working autonomously but knows the value of being a team player. You are just as comfortable communicating technical updates to senior management as you are diagnosing a hardware fault in a store.
What you’ll bring to the table:
- Technical Proficiency: You have a solid understanding of Windows Desktop OS and basic knowledge of Mobile OS (Android/iOS). You understand networking fundamentals like TCP/IP, DNS, and DHCP.
- Logical Mindset: You can remain calm under pressure, applying logical thinking to fault diagnosis and software issue isolation.
- Organizational Skills: You can manage your own schedule, prioritise workloads, and keep project plans up to date.
- Growth Mindset: You are eager to learn. Whether it’s Cloud services, storage platforms, or new monitoring tools (like Meraki or SureMdM), you are proactive about expanding your skill set.
- Attention to Detail: You recognise that documentation and adherence to corporate change processes are just as important as the technical fix itself.
Location: The engineer will be based in the Hemel Hempstead Regional Service Centre, which will also be used to hold minimal stock. However, jobs will be field-based across the Southern Region of the Next/Total Platform clients retail sites. It will be expected that jobs will also be allocated across other parts of the UK/Ireland where necessary (company car provided). The wider Instore Engineering department's main base is in the Next Dearne Valley Boxed Warehouse in Rotherham and the engineer will be expected to be in this location a minimum of 2 days every 2 weeks to assist with day to day running of the department. This includes kit preparation, hardware building or general workshop duties.
About Us: You know Next, but did you know we’re a FTSE-100 retail company employing over 35,000 people across the UK and Ireland. We’re the UK’s 2nd largest fashion retailer and for Kidswear we’re the market leader. At the last count we have over 500 stores, plus the Next Online and it’s now possible to buy online from over 70 countries around the world! So we’ve gone global!
About The Team:
- 25% off most NEXT, MADE*, Lipsy*, Gap* and Victoria’s Secret* products (*when purchased through NEXT)
- Company performance based bonus
- Sharesave scheme
- 10% off most partner brands & up to 15% off Branded Beauty
- Early VIP access to sale stock
- Access a digital GP and other free health and wellbeing services
- Financial Wellbeing – Save, track and enhance your financial wellbeing
- Apprenticeship – Grow and develop on the job whilst gaining a qualification
- Direct to Work – Discount online and in-store, collect your items the next day for free from your place of work or local store
- Support Networks – Access to Network Groups to empower and celebrate each other
- Wellhub – Discounted flexible monthly gym memberships, with apps, PT sessions and more
Conditions apply to all benefits. These benefits are discretionary and subject to change. We aim to support all candidates during the application process and are happy to provide workplace adjustments when necessary. Should you need support with your application due to a disability or long-term condition, feel free to get in touch with us by email headoffice_careers@next.co.uk (please include ‘Workplace Adjustments’ in the subject line), or call us on 0116 284 2486 and leave a voicemail.
Instore Engineer employer: Next
Contact Detail:
Next Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Instore Engineer
✨Tip Number 1
Get to know the company inside out! Research Next’s values, culture, and recent projects. This will help you tailor your conversations during interviews and show that you're genuinely interested in being part of the Instore Engineering Team.
✨Tip Number 2
Network like a pro! Connect with current employees on LinkedIn or attend industry events. Building relationships can give you insider info about the role and might even lead to a referral, which is always a bonus!
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for technical questions! Brush up on your knowledge of Windows OS, networking fundamentals, and troubleshooting techniques. Being able to demonstrate your technical proficiency will set you apart from other candidates.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to showcase your problem-solving skills! During interviews, share specific examples of how you've tackled challenges in the past. This will highlight your logical mindset and ability to thrive under pressure, which is key for this role.
We think you need these skills to ace Instore Engineer
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Technical Skills: Make sure to highlight your technical proficiency in your application. We want to see your understanding of Windows Desktop OS, networking fundamentals, and any experience with mobile operating systems. This is your chance to shine!
Demonstrate Problem-Solving Abilities: We love self-motivated problem solvers! Share examples of how you've tackled technical issues in the past, whether it's diagnosing hardware faults or isolating software problems. Show us how you keep calm under pressure.
Emphasise Teamwork and Communication: While we appreciate independent workers, being a team player is key for us. Talk about your experiences collaborating with others and how you communicate technical updates to different audiences, including senior management.
Apply Through Our Website: Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensure it gets the attention it deserves. We can’t wait to see what you bring to the table!
How to prepare for a job interview at Next
✨Know Your Tech Inside Out
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of Windows Desktop OS and basic Mobile OS. Be ready to discuss networking fundamentals like TCP/IP, DNS, and DHCP, as these are crucial for the role. Showing that you can talk confidently about these topics will impress the interviewers.
✨Demonstrate Problem-Solving Skills
Prepare to share examples of how you've tackled technical issues in the past. Think of specific instances where you diagnosed a hardware fault or resolved a software issue under pressure. This will showcase your logical mindset and ability to remain calm when things get tough.
✨Show Your Organisational Skills
Be ready to discuss how you manage your time and prioritise tasks. You might be asked about how you keep project plans up to date, so having a clear strategy in mind will help you stand out. Mention any tools or methods you use to stay organised.
✨Emphasise Your Growth Mindset
Express your eagerness to learn new technologies and skills. Whether it's cloud services or monitoring tools, showing that you're proactive about expanding your skill set will resonate well with the team culture. Share any recent learning experiences or certifications you've pursued.