Infrastructure Engineer

Working Hours: 35 hours per week, with a one-hour unpaid lunch break each day. Working hours will fall within the 8:00 to 17:30 operational window, with specific start and finish times determined by service requirements.

Salary: £40,000 - £45,000 per annum (depending on experience)

Benefits of working at Westminster include:

• Free access to the School’s leisure facilities, including a fitness gym (restricted hours)
• Cycle to Work Scheme and season ticket loans following completion of our standard probation period
• Private medical insurance (opt in)
• Discretionary Christmas shutdown period
• Free school meals are also available when on-site during working hours for the role.

The Infrastructure Engineer provides hands-on operational management of the School’s core IT infrastructure, under the direction of the Senior Infrastructure and Cybersecurity Engineer. You will provide day-to-day resolution of infrastructure-related escalations, working with the IT Helpdesk and other colleagues to resolve more complex problems. You will also contribute to IT projects, planned maintenance, system upgrades and service improvement initiatives, with opportunities to provide cover or additional operational capacity across adjacent areas of the IT service where appropriate.

Professional experience working with IT infrastructure or a closely related operational IT role is therefore essential. Demonstrable experience of supporting network technologies and supporting Windows Server and/or Linux server environments is also required. The successful candidate may not have worked in an educational environment, however this would be highly desirable.

This role covers operational administration, monitoring, maintenance and configuration across networking, server, storage, backup, identity and security systems across the School’s sites. This includes switches, firewalls, wireless networks, virtualised environments, cloud platforms, backups, disaster recovery arrangements, CCTV, access control and related services.

As part of a small, collaborative IT team supporting a large and high-profile school environment, this role offers broad hands-on exposure to a wide range of technologies and services. It is well suited to someone who wants to strengthen their practical experience, broaden their technical skills and contribute to the reliable delivery of IT services in a varied operational setting.

You will be responsible for operational administration, monitoring, maintenance and improvement of the School’s core infrastructure services, including network, server, cybersecurity and systems infrastructure; delivering planned maintenance, technical project tasks and escalation support for more complex technical issues.

Key Responsibilities:

• Network Administration and Support
• Administer and maintain wired and wireless networks, including Ruckus, Cisco and Meraki switching, routing and Wi-Fi
• Monitor network performance, availability and security, resolving issues and implementing improvements
• Operate and monitor next-generation firewalls (e.g. Palo Alto), including routine checks, incident follow-up and minor changes to filtering, VPN and security settings in line with agreed processes
• Maintain comms rooms, network cabinets, structured cabling, data patching, racks and UPS equipment to agreed housekeeping and safety standards
• Monitor physical network and server room environments, escalating issues relating to ventilation, dust, access, security or health and safety
• Maintain up-to-date network diagrams and configuration records
• Use monitoring tools and automation to track network performance and risks, escalating concerns and producing alerts or reports where required
• Server, Virtualisation and Storage Administration
• Administer Windows Server and Linux environments
• Operate and monitor Hyper-V and, where still in use, VMware virtual platforms, including routine administration and changes to individual virtual machines and workloads
• Administer storage, file services and other core infrastructure components
• Implement and monitor backup and recovery processes (Veeam and Barracuda) and support disaster recovery activities
• Carry out lifecycle management tasks for infrastructure hardware and software to maintain reliability and continuity
• Identity, Cloud and Platform Administration
• Support Active Directory, Group Policy and Entra ID administration where these relate to infrastructure, access, authentication or service availability
• Assist with enterprise application, SSO and Microsoft 365 configuration changes under agreed standards and senior technical direction
• Investigate infrastructure-related identity or cloud platform issues, escalating policy, security or design decisions as required
• Systems, Security and Endpoint Support
• Carry out operational cybersecurity measures, including patching, endpoint protection and compliance monitoring, escalating risks and remediation requirements as appropriate
• Maintain CCTV and access control systems, working with Estates and Security teams where required
• Provide cover or additional support for endpoint management platforms such as Intune and Jamf where required, working with the Lead Endpoint Engineer to maintain continuity of service and develop shared operational knowledge across the IT team
• Carry out system updates, upgrades and maintenance activities within agreed change, communication and escalation processes
• Support disaster recovery and business continuity readiness by reviewing maintenance agreements, buffer stock and critical infrastructure components, and taking follow-up action where required
• Advanced Support and Collaboration
• Provide escalation support for technical issues passed on by the Helpdesk Manager or Senior Helpdesk Engineer, drawing on infrastructure knowledge and collaborating with senior technical colleagues where needed
• Collaborate with the Senior Infrastructure and Cybersecurity Engineer, Lead Endpoint Engineer, Software Engineering team, IT Operations Manager, Helpdesk staff and external suppliers to resolve cross-platform issues
• Carry out practical IT project tasks, including configuration, testing, implementation, documentation and handover activities
• Maintain accurate technical documentation, configuration records and procedures

Hours of work: This is a full-time role of 35 hours per week, with a one-hour unpaid lunch break each day. Working hours will fall within the 8:00 to 17:30 operational window, with specific start and finish times determined by service requirements. The Infrastructure Engineer may occasionally be required to work out-of-hours when necessary to support planned maintenance, system upgrades or urgent issues. Where such additional work is required and has been agreed with the Senior Infrastructure and Cybersecurity Engineer, appropriate time off in lieu may be granted.

Equal Opportunities: We are an equal opportunities employer. We therefore encourage candidates to apply irrespective of age, disability, marriage or civil partnership status, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion and belief, gender identity, sex or sexual orientation.

Safeguarding and Child Protection: Westminster School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. Applicants must be willing to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the post, including checks with past employers and the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Working at Westminster: Westminster School is a busy, purposeful and vibrant place to be and an excellent workplace. The community is made up of around 750 pupils, 120 teaching staff and 108 support staff. Our staff are friendly and welcoming, and all newcomers quickly become part of the rhythm of life here. There is a real sense of community here as, being a boarding school many members of staff and pupils live on site and the School’s premises are very much treated as a home away from home.

At Westminster we will always select the best candidate for every position. We do know, however, that we can only truly choose the best person on every occasion if a broad and diverse pool of candidates see the job advertised and are encouraged to apply. As such, we continue to work on how our job roles are encountered, and particularly welcome applications from groups who have traditionally been underrepresented here. Westminster School is for everyone, regardless of gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation or any other protected characteristic. We hope you are encouraged to apply.

The School: Westminster School is an independent day and boarding school for boys aged 13-18 and girls aged 16-18, with a long history, a distinctive ethos, and a unique sense of place in the very heart of London. Pupils achieve exceptional examination results and entrance to some of the top universities in the world. It is a busy, passionate and purposeful place where independent and deep thinking is enjoyed, encouraged and respected by all, and where holistic excellence is nurtured and valued.