At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead IT support, manage infrastructure, and deliver impactful projects for global operations.
- Company: OpenWorks, a rapidly growing tech company in the defence sector.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, bonus potential, generous holiday, and private healthcare.
- Other info: Dynamic work environment with opportunities for growth and learning.
- Why this job: Join a passionate team making a real difference in defence technology.
- Qualifications: Experience in IT operations, Microsoft platforms, and strong problem-solving skills.
The predicted salary is between 45000 - 45000 £ per year.
We're looking for an IT Operations Engineer who can take ownership of our IT environment, from leading our managed support provision and maintaining critical infrastructure to delivering projects that support our continued growth. This is a great opportunity for an experienced IT support professional to grow alongside us. The ideal candidate will enjoy being hands-on, solving complex technical challenges and working across a broad range of IT operations as we scale internationally. You'll have the opportunity to make a genuine impact, supporting both our UK and USA operations while helping us build a secure, reliable and scalable IT environment.
OpenWorks is a rapidly growing business operating globally with a passion for exceptional engineering and building on a legacy of defence innovation in the North East of England. Our products provide ultra-high performance, real-time detection, tracking, identification and targeting of dynamic aerial threats. They have been deployed internationally to protect high profile military and civilian assets, and contribute towards the defeat of nuisance, misguided and maliciously deployed drones during operations.
Join a high-energy, collaborative team where great ideas thrive, challenges are embraced, and people genuinely love what they do. Here’s what our benefits have to offer:
- Rewarding Success - Competitive salary, starting from £45,000, plus a discretionary annual bonus of up to 25% of salary alongside a structured pay progression framework.
- Enhanced Pension – Up to 8% employer-matched contributions to help you plan for the future.
- More Time to Recharge – 25 days’ holiday plus public holidays, long-service rewards, and the option to buy up to 5 extra days.
- Breakfast & Lunch on Us – Enjoy team breakfasts and freshly prepared lunch every day courtesy of Chef Mark and his team.
- Health & Wellbeing – Private healthcare and life assurance for added peace of mind.
- Sustainable Travel – Salary sacrifice schemes, including EV car and Cycle to Work options.
- Team Socials – Regular events, from quiz nights and football to board games and more.
- Learning & Growth – A culture that empowers you to challenge, grow and make an impact, plus a £250 annual learning budget to invest in the development that matters most to you.
What you’ll be doing:
- Lead IT support delivery: Oversee our Managed Support Provider, manage performance against agreed SLAs and act as the escalation point for complex incidents.
- Drive service improvement: Identify opportunities to improve IT support processes, service quality, efficiency and user experience.
- Manage our IT infrastructure: Manage network design and configuration, infrastructure performance and the lifecycle of network and platform hardware.
- Manage Microsoft cloud platforms: Maintain and develop our Microsoft 365 and Azure environments to support a secure, reliable and scalable IT service.
- Deliver IT projects: Lead infrastructure projects covering networking, hardware and switches, as well as supporting office and site expansions.
- Plan for future growth: Undertake capacity planning, budgeting and technology planning to ensure IT infrastructure can support the changing needs of the business.
- Maintain business continuity: Develop and test IT incident response plans and lead responses to significant operational incidents.
- Support our USA operation: Administer OpenWorks USA IT systems, work with the USA senior team and ensure IT provision can scale alongside the operation.
What we’re looking for:
- IT Operations experience: Strong experience in IT infrastructure, systems administration or IT operations, with the ability to take ownership of a broad technical environment.
- Technical leadership: Experience leading IT support provision and managing or directing third-party IT support services.
- Microsoft expertise: Experience working with Microsoft 365 and SharePoint environments, ideally within a modern cloud-first environment.
- Infrastructure knowledge: Strong understanding of IT infrastructure, networking and cloud platforms, with the ability to define requirements and assess performance.
- Security awareness: Experience working within an ISO 27001 management system or similar, with knowledge of Cyber Essentials controls.
- Security clearance: Ability to obtain UK Security Clearance to Secret level.
- Commercial awareness: Experience of IT hardware budgeting, resource planning or supplier management would be beneficial.
- Business-focused approach: A practical, solutions-focused mindset with the ability to communicate effectively with both technical and non-technical users.
Vision: Help protect the territory and airspace of NATO countries and their allies.
Mission: Be a world-leading provider of autonomous technology for Surveillance applications and Defence.
Values: Be a Good Egg: Earn respect, have mutual trust and be honest. Do cool stuff: We develop cool tech with an awesome team, and we get stuff done. Be empowered: We are autonomous, reliable and take personal responsibility. We are one team: Look out for each other and the team. Things go wrong: Fail fast, learn and move on. Have fun: We’re doing amazing things with passionate people. We Get It Done: Focus on what matters and work with energy to bring ideas to life.
IT Operations Engineer in Prudhoe employer: OpenWorks Engineering
OpenWorks is an exceptional employer located in the North East of England, offering a vibrant work culture where creativity and collaboration thrive. With competitive salaries, generous benefits including private healthcare and a strong focus on employee growth through learning budgets, we empower our team to make a meaningful impact in the defence sector. Join us to be part of a passionate team dedicated to innovation and excellence, while enjoying regular social events and a supportive environment that values your contributions.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land IT Operations Engineer in Prudhoe
✨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 OpenWorks Engineering 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 OpenWorks Engineering 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 OpenWorks Engineering!
✨Direct Apply to OpenWorks Engineering
Let's not forget to apply directly through the OpenWorks Engineering 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 IT Operations Engineer in Prudhoe
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 OpenWorks Engineering.
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 OpenWorks Engineering. 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 OpenWorks Engineering
✨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.
