Infrastructure Engineer in Sunderland

At Sunderland AFC, you’re not just becoming part of a football club; you’re entering a vibrant community fuelled by passion and pride. Our commitment to making a difference means you’ll engage with local initiatives that truly matter, allowing you to leave a positive impact right here at home. You’ll thrive in an exciting, dynamic atmosphere where every day is a new adventure filled with the thrill of football and teamwork. We believe in nurturing talent, so you’ll have access to training programs and mentorship opportunities. Our diverse and inclusive culture celebrates individuality, ensuring that every voice is heard and valued. You’ll be part of a team that unites in the spirit of collaboration and respect, making your work environment both rewarding and inspiring.

About the IT Team: We are a group of passionate innovators and problem-solvers dedicated to ensuring that our systems run seamlessly, enabling every team to perform at their best. We take pride in providing reliable IT support and infrastructure.

The Opportunity: Sunderland AFC is seeking a skilled and dedicated IT Infrastructure Engineer to join our team. In this role, you will be instrumental in maintaining and supporting the club’s stadium and IT infrastructure, ensuring smooth operation during matches and events. Your responsibilities will include managing the stadium’s network systems, Wi‑Fi, CCTV, PA systems, and operational technologies to deliver a seamless experience for fans and staff alike. Additionally, you will oversee the management of Microsoft 365 and SharePoint platforms, ensuring their availability, security, and proper governance to facilitate effective collaboration across the Club. The role also involves designing, deploying, and supporting core IT systems such as servers, switches, routers, firewalls, and cloud services, all with a focus on high availability and security. You will implement security controls and ensure compliance with relevant data protection standards, safeguarding the club’s data and infrastructure. Providing timely technical support to staff, coaching teams, and external partners is essential, as is monitoring system performance and planning upgrades to support ongoing growth and increasing operational demands. Developing disaster recovery plans and backup solutions will be critical to maintaining operational continuity, while managing relationships with technology vendors, contractors, and external service providers will ensure smooth procurement, support, and maintenance processes. Maintaining detailed documentation of infrastructure configurations, procedures, and compliance records will also be part of your responsibilities.

What We Ask For: The ideal candidate will bring a relevant qualification in Computer Science, Network Engineering, or a related field, along with a minimum of three years’ experience supporting infrastructure, preferably within sports, stadiums, or large‑scale venues. You’ll have a solid understanding of network infrastructure, Wi‑Fi deployment, CCTV systems, and stadium technology, with hands‑on experience working with enterprise‑grade networking equipment and protocols. While certifications like Cisco CCNA or Extreme ECP are a plus, they’re not mandatory. Your familiarity with stadium safety and operational standards, combined with experience in stadium access control, ticketing systems, and large‑scale AV/IT solutions, will set you apart. A strong grasp of security standards, data protection, and compliance specific to a sports environment is essential. You'll need sharp problem‑solving skills, excellent communication, and stakeholder management abilities to navigate the fast‑paced, high‑pressure environment of a top‑flight football club. Flexibility, proactivity, and a forward‑thinking mindset are crucial to succeed, especially during matchdays and major events when the stakes—and demands—are at their highest. You will be required to obtain an Enhanced DBS through SAFC.

Benefits:

• Annual Leave: 25 days leave (in addition to public holidays), increasing to 27 days after 5 years’ service.
• Death in Service Employee Benefit: Provides peace of mind for you and your family, offering a safety net of four times the basic annual salary in the unfortunate event of a loss.
• Salary Exchange Schemes: Agree to reduce your salary through our Salary Exchange Schemes to enjoy benefits like tax savings, increased pension contributions for a larger retirement fund, eco‑friendly travel with EV Salary Sacrifice, and healthier commutes with Cycle 2 Work.
• Complimentary Season Tickets: Score two free tickets for all home fixtures.
• Enhanced Family and Parental Pay: Enhanced Paternity, Maternity, and Adoption pay provide new parents with more than just statutory pay.
• Employee Assistance Programs: Offer confidential support services that go beyond just workplace wellness.
• Free Parking: Free parking at both the Stadium of Light and the Academy of Light.
• Discounts: Various discount packages from the club’s partners, including exclusive offers at the Club Store.