At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead technical responses to major incidents and manage complex infrastructure platforms.
- Company: Join a dynamic managed services team in Manchester with a focus on innovation.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, hands-on leadership role, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Be part of a supportive team with excellent career advancement opportunities.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by solving complex issues and mentoring future engineers.
- Qualifications: 10+ years in infrastructure engineering with expert-level VMware and cloud skills.
The predicted salary is between 50000 - 65000 £ per year.
We are looking for an Infrastructure Lead to join as the most senior operational resource within a dedicated managed services team, supporting complex hybrid cloud and on-premises infrastructure platforms for multiple customers. This is a hands-on technical leadership role, not a purely managerial one; you'll be the person others turn to when an issue can't be resolved at the first line, and you'll own it through to a fix.
You'll act as the technical authority for the operational team: taking ownership of complex incident resolution and root cause analysis, leading platform engineering and hardware lifecycle work, and mentoring Infrastructure Engineers as they develop their own skills. You're expected to be comfortable making high-stakes calls under pressure during major incidents, and to drive resolution when nobody else can.
Day to day, that means:
- Leading the technical response to P1 and P2 major incidents
- Managing Dell VxRail and VMware VCF platform lifecycle operations
- Overseeing Veeam backup architecture and Azure DR strategy
- Delivering capacity management reporting
You'll present complex RFCs at the weekly Change Advisory Board, manage vendor escalations with Dell, HPE, VMware (Broadcom) and Microsoft, and contribute to quarterly strategic reviews. While you won't hold the Solution Architect title, you're expected to understand the target architecture well enough to make sound operational decisions day-to-day and to know when a change needs formal architectural review. You'll also sit on the on-call rota as the most senior responder, providing escalation support when the team needs it.
What you'll be doing:
- Incident response & problem management
- Lead technical response to P1 and P2 major incidents
- Own root cause analysis, delivering RCA reports within 5 working days of closure
- Chair post-incident review sessions
- Platform engineering
- Manage Dell VxRail cluster upgrades, node expansion, firmware and VSAN health
- Run advanced troubleshooting and optimisation of VMware VCF - vSphere, VSAN and NSX
- Maintain HPE ProLiant hardware (firmware via SPP, break-fix coordination) and administer HPE MSA 2050 SAN storage
- Backup, DR & cloud
- Own Veeam Backup & Replication architecture, policy design and recovery testing, maintaining a >98% success rate
- Oversee Azure DR strategy, landing zone governance and hybrid platform management
- Reporting & governance
- Deliver monthly capacity management reports across compute, storage and backup
- Prepare and present RFCs to the weekly Change Advisory Board, with risk assessment and rollback plans
- Manage vendor escalations with Dell, HPE, VMware (Broadcom) and Microsoft
- Improvement & automation
- Build and maintain PowerShell and Bash/Ansible automation for operational tasks
- Identify opportunities to improve efficiency across the customer estate
What you'll bring:
- 10+ years in enterprise infrastructure engineering or operations, ideally including managed services delivery
- Expert-level VMware VCF - vSphere 7/8, VSAN and NSX-T - including troubleshooting and lifecycle management
- Hands-on Dell VxRail HCI experience: deployment, lifecycle management, and VSAN health
- Strong HPE ProLiant (Gen 7-10) knowledge, including iLO and SPP deployment
- HPE MSA 2050 SAN administration
- Expert Veeam Backup & Replication skills
- Good working knowledge of Microsoft Azure - governance, backup/ASR, Update Manager, Sentinel and Arc
- Advanced Windows Server and Linux administration
- Solid grounding in ITIL change and incident management, including CAB participation
- Willingness to join a 1-in-5 weekly on-call rotation
Nice to have:
- Dell PowerProtect Data Manager or Cyber Recovery
- Zerto or RecoverPoint for VM-level DR replication
- VMware Aria Operations for capacity analytics
- Oracle Linux or SUSE Linux Enterprise administration
- SQL Server administration fundamentals
- Azure Bicep/ARM template development
Qualifications Required:
- VMware VCP-DCV or VCAP (or equivalent)
- Microsoft AZ-104 (Azure Administrator Associate) or equivalent
Desirable:
- Dell VxRail Deploy certification, or equivalent demonstrated experience
- HPE Accredited Solutions Expert (ASE)
- Veeam Certified Engineer (VMCE)
Infrastructure Lead - Manchester employer: Nextech Group Limited
Join a forward-thinking company in Manchester that values technical expertise and fosters a collaborative work culture. As an Infrastructure Lead, you'll not only tackle complex challenges but also mentor the next generation of engineers, ensuring your professional growth alongside the team's success. With competitive salaries and a commitment to employee development, this role offers a unique opportunity to make a significant impact in a dynamic environment.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Infrastructure Lead - Manchester
✨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 Nextech Group Limited 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 Nextech Group Limited 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 Nextech Group Limited!
✨Direct Apply to Nextech Group Limited
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We think you need these skills to ace Infrastructure Lead - Manchester
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 Nextech Group Limited.
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 Nextech Group Limited. 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 Nextech Group Limited
✨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.
