At a Glance
- Tasks: Maintain and operate Linux-based VPN data capture systems for market research.
- Company: RealityMine, a pioneer in data-driven insights for media and market research.
- Benefits: Flexible hybrid working, free parking, and excellent public transport links.
- Other info: Opportunity to grow in a supportive and innovative workplace.
- Why this job: Join a dynamic team and work with cutting-edge technology in a collaborative environment.
- Qualifications: Strong Linux administration skills and experience with server environments.
The predicted salary is between 63000 - 77000 £ per year.
RealityMine has been a pioneer in delivering data-driven insights to the media and market research industries for over a decade. Our data capture systems give our customers insight into the online behaviour of opted-in market research participants, collected in a privacy-safe way, enabling them to make strategic, informed decisions. We are seeking an Operations Engineer FTC (Fixed Term Contract, 12 months) to support the operation, maintenance and controlled evolution of our legacy server-based VPN data capture systems. This role is focused on Linux-based server operations, deployment, scaling, monitoring and proactive maintenance of customer-facing capture infrastructure.
The work is operational and hands-on, with a strong emphasis on Linux administration, traditional hosted servers, deployment, capacity management, monitoring and issue resolution. The primary focus is the legacy SVPN platform and its supporting services. These systems provide hosted VPN-based capture capability for opted-in market research participants and are built from a combination of open-source and bespoke software running on Linux. The candidate will focus on keeping the server estate reliable, secure and appropriately scaled, including reviewing operational metrics, investigating performance trends, responding to monitoring alerts and addressing security notifications or findings proactively.
The environment is Linux-heavy and includes traditional dedicated and virtual servers hosted with third-party providers. Some work will involve capacity reduction as legacy usage declines, while other areas may require short-term scaling, tuning or operational improvement to maintain service quality. The role will involve working with existing tooling and processes, including exposure to Puppet and supporting applications or scripts written in PHP and Python. Deep development experience is not essential, but the ability to understand, troubleshoot and make safe operational changes in these technologies would be valuable.
You will work closely with the Operations Team Lead, Server Capture technical colleagues and wider engineering stakeholders to plan and carry out maintenance, deployments, capacity changes and incident follow-up in a controlled and well-communicated way.
Key Responsibilities- Maintain and administer Linux-based SVPN data capture servers and supporting services
- Plan and execute controlled deployments, configuration updates and operational changes
- Manage capacity across the legacy estate, including reducing unused capacity where appropriate and scaling up where customer demand requires it
- Review metrics, performance indicators, monitoring dashboards, alarms and alerts to identify and address issues early
- Investigate service performance, availability and reliability issues across traditional hosted server environments
- Respond to security notifications, vulnerability findings and operational risks, coordinating remediation through agreed processes
- Work with dedicated server and VPS providers to provision, resize, decommission or troubleshoot infrastructure
- Use existing automation and configuration management, including Puppet, to support repeatable and controlled operations
- Troubleshoot operational issues involving supporting PHP and Python code or scripts where needed
- Document changes, follow established processes and communicate operational status clearly to the team
- Adhere to company policies and procedures with respect to security, quality and health and safety
We are looking for someone who can become productive quickly in an established operational environment, work carefully with legacy systems, and bring a pragmatic approach to keeping critical services stable, secure and observable. You should be comfortable working with traditional server infrastructure, following existing processes, investigating unfamiliar systems and making proportionate, well-tested changes. The role will suit someone who is operationally disciplined, self-sufficient and confident asking the right questions when context is needed. Good communication is important: you will need to explain findings, risks and progress clearly, especially when coordinating capacity changes, security remediation or provider interactions.
Here’s what we’re looking for:- Strong Linux administration experience, ideally with CentOS, AlmaLinux or similar server distributions
- Experience operating traditional dedicated or virtual server environments
- Confidence with deployment, configuration, patching and troubleshooting of production services
- Experience reviewing monitoring, performance metrics, logs and alerts to diagnose operational issues
- Ability to manage capacity thoughtfully, including decommissioning, resizing and scaling services safely
- A proactive approach to security findings, vulnerability notifications and operational risk
- Ability to follow established processes, document work clearly and communicate progress effectively
- Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to source information independently
- Experience with Puppet/Puppet Bolt
- Exposure to PHP and Python
- Experience running VPN, proxy, networking or high-throughput capture services at scale
- Experience working with VPS and dedicated server hosting companies worldwide
- Experience diagnosing Linux networking, routing, kernel tuning or performance issues
- Familiarity with monitoring, alerting and incident response tools such as PagerDuty or equivalent
- Experience improving operational runbooks, handover notes or system documentation
We support a flexible hybrid approach where it helps with collaboration, operational handover and planning: Located in Trafford Park, our Manchester office offers an inspiring, collaborative space to work alongside your colleagues. Free parking and secure bike shed. Excellent public transport links. Hybrid working pattern to be agreed based on project needs, collaboration and operational handover. Access to the internal context, tooling and team support needed to carry out the agreed contract scope effectively. Working arrangements, availability and handover expectations to be agreed as part of the contract engagement.
If you’re a Linux-focused Operations Engineer with experience maintaining legacy server estates, data capture platforms or similar production systems, we’d like to hear from you. Please email your CV with the heading ‘Operations Engineer FTC – Fixed Term Contract, 12 Months’ to recruitment@realitymine.com.
Operations Engineer FTC employer: RealityMine
RealityMine is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment in Trafford Park, Manchester, where collaboration and innovation thrive. With a strong focus on employee growth, we provide opportunities for professional development while maintaining a flexible hybrid working model that supports work-life balance. Our commitment to a supportive culture, combined with the chance to work on cutting-edge data capture technologies, makes RealityMine a rewarding place to advance your career as an Operations Engineer.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Operations Engineer FTC
✨Get Hands-On with Temporary Projects
Temporary roles are all about flexibility and quick results. Look for short-term engineering projects or gigs that local companies might need help with. You can find these on job boards like Indeed or even niche platforms like PeoplePerHour. Don't be shy to reach out directly to firms—sometimes they have needs that aren't posted yet!
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Let your friends and family know you're on the hunt for a temporary engineering role. Often, personal recommendations can get you in the door faster than any application. Share your goals and what you’re looking for through social media or casual conversations; you’d be surprised how many people might have the right connections!
✨Stay Sharp with Online Courses
While you're searching, keep those skills fresh! Take on some online courses related to your engineering field. Platforms like Coursera or edX can help you stay current and even get some certifications under your belt. This shows potential employers at RealityMine that you’re committed to growth, making you a more appealing candidate for temporary roles.
We think you need these skills to ace Operations Engineer FTC
Some tips for your application 🫡
Highlight Your Versatile Engineering Skills:For a temporary engineering role like this one at RealityMine, make sure to showcase a broad range of your engineering skills. Talk about different projects you’ve undertaken, focusing on your problem-solving ability and adaptability—key traits for temporary positions that depend on quick integration into teams.
Be Clear About Your Availability:Since this is a temporary role, clarity is essential. In your cover letter, be upfront about your availability and how soon you can start. Employers like RealityMine want to know that you can hit the ground running, so don’t shy away from mentioning your flexibility!
Tailor Your CV to Showcase Relevant Experience:Make sure your CV is tailored to reflect the specific engineering projects relevant to the job. For instance, if you’ve worked on temporary contracts before or have engaged in diverse engineering processes, highlight these experiences to show how well-rounded you are.
Include References from Past Employers:Temporary positions often require trust and reliability. Adding references from previous employers can significantly boost your application. It shows that you have a strong work ethic and can adapt quickly, which is exactly what RealityMine will be looking for.
How to prepare for a job interview at RealityMine
✨Get to Grips with Your Technical Skills
Engineering roles often involve assessing your technical expertise, so be prepared to delve into your core skills. Brush up on relevant software and tools you’ve used before, as well as any engineering principles that relate to the position at RealityMine. We want you to showcase your hands-on experience and problem-solving capabilities – it could be the difference between you and another candidate!
✨Prepare for Problem-Solving Scenarios
Expect to tackle some practical scenarios during the interview. Whether it's a design challenge or a troubleshooting test, RealityMine might want to see how you approach real-world engineering problems. Think of specific examples from your past work where you had to think on your feet and be ready to walk your interviewers through your thought process.
✨Show Your Adaptability in Temporary Roles
Since this is a temporary position, it’s key to demonstrate your flexibility and ability to hit the ground running. Make sure to convey your eagerness to learn and adapt quickly to the team and the specific projects at RealityMine. We all know that temporary roles can be a bit of a whirlwind, so emphasise your quick learning skills and your approach to managing change.
✨Highlight Relevant Portfolio Projects
If you've worked on engineering projects that align with the role at RealityMine, make sure to bring them up! A portfolio can be a great way to illustrate your engineering prowess. Discuss the challenges you faced, the solutions you implemented, and the results achieved – this will give the interviewers a tangible idea of what you bring to the table.
