IT Systems Engineer in Poole

Candidate must be able to demonstrate long-term right to work in the UK for this role.

Company Background

As the leading provider of software solutions for public and private sector transport management and smart ticketing, for over 20 years Unicard has been trusted by millions of passengers to get them where they need to be. Today, our solutions can be found throughout the UK, processing several billion transactions a year. Since we started in 2003, a wide range of local authorities, transport operators and hardware manufacturers have depended on our capabilities in strategy, design, development, testing and delivery to help deliver passenger transport services every day.

• We deliver our cEMV tap on tap off solution delivering London style ticketing to transport for Wales’ rail network.
• Our technology powers Transport for West Midlands’ trailblazing ‘Swift’ integrated ticketing system, one of the largest and most well-respected schemes in the UK, and the largest after “Oyster” in London.
• We are trusted by 58+ local authorities to deliver their vital concessionary travel programmes – more than 25% of the market.
• Over 30% of all ITSO card terminals in the UK run on Unicard software.
• We have over 3.5 million cardholders currently under management, with transaction values in the tens of millions annually.

Employing approximately 115 people across the UK and Bulgaria, our in-house research, strategy and development capabilities give us an affordable, well-managed ability to develop market leading technologies and affordably maintain existing products. As a small-to-medium-sized enterprise, we pride ourselves on our reputation for outstanding products, technical support, delivery capability and high levels of customer service.

Role Purpose

The IT Systems Engineer is responsible for the reliable operation, maintenance, and improvement of Unicard’s core IT infrastructure. This role requires a general “all round” IT knowledge across server management, hardware support, networking, database management and application-based infrastructure. This role focuses on the administration and support of Windows Server environments, Hyper‑V virtualisation, and the physical management of servers and equipment within three core data centres. The role ensures systems are secure, resilient, and available to support business operations. The IT Systems Engineer will require a firm knowledge and experience working within ITIL and ISO 27001 environments. The role will be based in the Poole office, however travel will be required to datacentres as required.

Responsibilities

• Administer and maintain Windows Server environments (installation, configuration, patching, upgrades).
• Manage and support Hyper‑V virtualisation, including VM provisioning, performance, and availability.
• Monitor system health, capacity, and performance, proactively addressing issues.
• Perform physical server and network hardware management within data centres (rack & stack, cabling, replacements).
• Source and build new infrastructure environments based on latest technology and trends.
• Manage Active Directory, Group Policy, DNS, DHCP, and related core services.
• Administration of Microsoft environments including Entra ID and Intune.
• Implement and maintain backup, recovery, and disaster recovery solutions.
• Ensure systems meet security best practices, including patching, access control, and hardening.
• Troubleshoot and resolve infrastructure incidents and problems.
• Support hardware lifecycle management and vendor engagement.
• Maintain clear technical documentation.
• Maintain an accurate asset management system.
• Assist with infrastructure projects and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Provide technical support for Unicard’s staff.
• Embracing Unicard’s values.

Person Specification

Required Professional Skills/Experience

• Strong administration of Windows Server.
• Knowledge of Hyper‑V virtualisation.
• Experience configuring and maintaining server and networking hardware.
• Solid understanding of Active Directory, Group Policy, DNS, and DHCP.
• Firm networking understanding and experience.
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Intune.
• Experience with physical server hardware and data centre operations.
• Knowledge of storage technologies (SAN, NAS, local storage).
• Familiarity with backup and disaster recovery solutions.
• Strong troubleshooting and problem‑solving skills.
• Understanding of IT security principles, patching, and system hardening.
• Competence in change management and following IT best practices.
• Clear technical documentation.
• Prioritise tasks and manage incidents effectively.
• Strong communication skills when working with technical and non‑technical stakeholders.
• Comfortable working independently and as part of a wider IT team.
• Able to drive and own a vehicle to attend Datacentre visits and call outs.

Desirable Professional Skills/Experience

• Knowledge of Unicard’s core products and services.
• Experience working within software development environments.
• Understanding/experience of technical language XML/CSV/JSON/SQL.
• Experience with CISCO/Fortigate networks.
• Experience with Jira.
• Administration of Linux OS (Debian/Ubuntu (headless).
• Containerisation (Docker/LXC’s).

Personal Skills

• Great communicator at all levels, both written and verbal.
• Approachable and able to work collaboratively within the team and with other areas of the Business.
• Flexible and agile to meet the needs and demands of the business.
• Energetic and self-motivated – eager to learn and progress.
• Pro-active and focused to work efficiently and effectively.
• Highly adaptable within a fast-paced changing environment.
• Analytically and technically minded with a high degree of accuracy.
• Able to work optimally in a challenging environment, with a high degree of self-discipline.
• Punctual, dependable and reliable – ability to manage your own time and resources.
• Able to listen and understand customers’ issues.
• Able to identify and manage risk.
• Organised and methodical in approaching tasks and completing them.
• Managing a wide variety of tasks or responsibilities. Balancing long-term and short-term projects.
• Completing multiple things at once and handling a high-volume workload.

What we offer

• Competitive remuneration package.
• Company funded Healthcare plan.
• Life Assurance.
• Company pension.
• Hybrid working (minimum 4 days office attendance).
• 2 days per annum paid volunteer days.
• Modern working environment and friendly atmosphere.
• Knowledge sharing (working with experienced professionals).
• Autonomy and trust in decision-making.
• Office in a central location.
• Regular team building and office events.
• Career development.
• Charitable organisation.