Data Centre Engineer Assistant Vice President in London

Here at SMBC Group, we want to help you find the next step in your career so read on to discover if this opportunity is the one for you. We like to recognise potential in our people, so we welcome your application even when your experience doesn’t perfectly align with the job description. Whilst we’ll always strive to be better, we’re proud of our inclusive culture, and encourage our applicants and colleagues to be their authentic, unique selves.

Who we are

United by a sense of purpose towards our customers – to be a trusted partner for the long-term – and our universal banking platform in EMEA, SMBC Group has an international growth agenda and award-winning products, meaning we provide exciting opportunities to work on a diverse range of projects and initiatives. We deliver a full suite of corporate finance products and solutions to our customers as well as investment banking and advisory services, and a range of innovative solutions in global capital markets. Read on to find out how you could enhance your skills and gain valuable experience, by joining us to support our clients transition to a sustainable future.

compensation

The anticipated salary range for this role is £64,000 - £96,000, with the final offer determined based on the candidate’s skills, experience, role scope, location, and relevant market factors. In addition to base salary, the role may be eligible for a discretionary incentive award and a competitive benefits package, including core benefits such as pension provision.

Role Summary

The Data Centre Engineer supports the reliable, secure and efficient operation of SMBC’s data centre environments across the EMEA region. The role provides technical expertise and operational oversight to protect the availability, integrity and resilience of the physical infrastructure underpinning the bank’s critical technology services. Working within established governance, security and regulatory frameworks, the role ensures that data centre services and infrastructure changes are delivered safely, accurately and consistently. Success is demonstrated through service stability, effective risk management, accurate infrastructure records and the continuous improvement of operational standards.

Background and Organizational Context

The Data Centre Management team forms part of the Business Infrastructure and IT Service Delivery function and supports the physical data centre infrastructure underpinning SMBC’s critical technology services. The Data Centre Engineer works across operational and project activities in collaboration with Network, Server, Storage, Security, Facilities and Project Management teams. The role also engages with data centre operators, telecommunications carriers, managed service partners, hardware vendors and other third-party service providers across the EMEA region.

Scale and Scope

Supports SMBC’s data centre facilities and associated technology infrastructure across the EMEA region. Operates across multiple UK office and data centre locations, including London, Redhill and Harlow. Works within a mission-critical and highly regulated banking environment. Engages with regional and global technology teams, data centre operators, telecommunications carriers, managed service providers and infrastructure vendors. Supports both operational services and infrastructure projects with short, medium and long-term delivery requirements. Travel within the UK and across EMEA may account for approximately 15% to 30% of working time. Participation in planned out-of-hours maintenance, weekend implementations and an on-call support rota may be required.

Key Accountabilities and Responsibilities

• Coordinate and execute the installation, commissioning, relocation and decommissioning of servers, network devices, storage platforms and telecommunications equipment, applying established technical, security and operational standards.
• Manage and resolve incidents, service requests and operational issues within agreed service levels, exercising technical judgement to troubleshoot faults, determine appropriate corrective actions and escalating material risks.
• Maintain ownership of data centre asset and configuration records, ensuring device locations, rack allocations, power information and physical connectivity records within Nlyte, ServiceNow and associated documentation remain accurate, complete and auditable.
• Assess infrastructure health, capacity and operational risk, recommending corrective or preventative actions to protect service availability, resilience and compliance.
• Plan and implement approved infrastructure changes and maintenance activities, making day-to-day technical decisions within established procedures and escalating where there is a potential impact to production services, security or regulatory compliance.
• Coordinate internal teams, vendors, telecommunications carriers and data centre service providers to resolve complex technical issues, manage dependencies and support successful operational and project outcomes.
• Define and improve operational procedures, standards and technical documentation, applying practical experience and lessons learned to improve efficiency, control and service quality.
• Determine operational priorities within the assigned workload, balancing incidents, service requests, planned changes and project activities while communicating risks, constraints and dependencies to relevant stakeholders.

Knowledge, Skills and Experience

• Proven experience within enterprise or mission-critical data centre operations, infrastructure support or network engineering environments.
• Strong knowledge of data centre infrastructure, including rack systems, structured cabling, patching, power, cooling, connectivity and physical security controls.
• Good understanding of network infrastructure technologies and data centre networking principles, with experience supporting enterprise platforms from vendors such as Cisco, Gigamon, Dell, Palo Alto and Check Point, or equivalent.
• Experience managing incidents, service requests, changes and operational activities through an IT Service Management platform such as ServiceNow.
• Experience using a Data Centre Infrastructure Management platform such as Nlyte, or equivalent, to maintain accurate asset, location, capacity and connectivity information.
• Strong troubleshooting and problem-solving skills, with the ability to assess incomplete information, identify technical risks and determine appropriate actions within a controlled production environment.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to explain technical information clearly and build effective relationships with stakeholders at different organisational levels.
• Ability to work effectively both independently and as part of a wider team, demonstrating sound judgement, attention to detail and a proactive and professional approach.
• Experience within banking, financial services or another highly regulated industry.
• Experience supporting critical production environments with high availability and operational resilience requirements.
• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Engineering or a related discipline, or equivalent relevant industry experience.
• Relevant industry certifications such as CCNA, BICSI, CDCDP, CDCS, structured cabling qualifications or other data centre, networking and infrastructure certifications.
• Evidence of continuous professional development and maintaining current knowledge of data centre operations, infrastructure technologies and industry standards.

What we offer

For all the expertise and experience you bring to help us make a difference, it’s only sustainable if we support you to build your career and be your best self so we offer competitive company benefits, centred around promoting positive well-being and work-life balance. We also believe in fostering a diverse and inclusive work environment, where all team members' perspectives and contributions are valued. Initiatives in place which promote a diverse and inclusive culture and healthy work life balance include hybrid working, Sport & Social Clubs and Diversity and Inclusion networks.

As an employee of SMBC you have access to a host of both useful and exciting benefit offerings. See below some of the benefits on offer to you:

• Hybrid and flexible working
• Competitive paid leave days
• Benefits to support your physical wellbeing, including private medical insurance and life and invalidity insurance
• Various policies to support your mental wellbeing, including a robust behavioural health network with counselling and coaching services
• Access a wide range of learning and development opportunities and career progression opportunities

So, if you like a challenge and want to continuously grow and develop in a role where you will be supported along the way by a dynamic and diverse team. We recognise our role as a bank to support social change and welcome all applications, including those from groups often under-represented in financial services. We value the uniqueness of professional and personal backgrounds and perspectives as they play a vital role in continuing the sustainable growth of our organisation. We’ll ensure reasonable adjustments to our recruitment process are offered due to a disability or long-term condition whenever requested.

We are committed to transparent and equitable pay practices. Compensation is determined using objective criteria, including skills, experience, and role responsibilities, and applied consistently throughout our recruitment processes. We do not request candidates' pay history and are committed to preventing unjustified pay disparities.