Senior Infrastructure Operations Engineer

Job summary

Information about the Command

Digital, Data & Technology (DDaT), supports NCA operational commands with how we exploit data and to ensure the NCA uses the best technology platforms with the right tools and applications to further enable the NCA to protecting the public from serious and organised crime. We are responsible for defining and delivering our data and technology strategy, policy and architecture, and building and sustaining resilient services which are critical to our mission success.
The pace of change within the digital and tech world means we need to be agile and innovative in how we respond to threats while exploiting the opportunities this presents.

Information about the Business Area

Enterprise Services provides and manages the enterprise IT capabilities that support the NCA and its partners in delivering operational outcomes across the Serious and Organised Crime (SOC) system. Operating 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, all year round, the team ensures services are reliable, resilient, and available when they are needed most.

Working in partnership with suppliers, Enterprise Services maintains a strong focus on delivering cost-effective, high-quality services that meet current organisational needs while supporting ongoing transformation. The team leads the introduction of new services into live operation, ensuring they are implemented smoothly and deliver tangible value across the estate.

Enterprise Services plays a critical role in managing and driving the supply chain, enabling the NCA to remain agile and responsive, while building and sustaining a future-ready technology environment.

Job description

The Specialist Operational Services (SOS) team works within the wider DDaT Enterprise Services function and runs and maintains the NCAs most sensitive operationally focused front-line IT services. The team is comprised of IT professionals, law enforcement and staff with a technology focused mind-set, willing to go that extra mile to achieve real world benefits for the UK, together we ensure that specialist services are fit for purpose, agile, delivered 24/7 and have a direct impact on the NCAs mission of protecting the public from serious and organised crime (SOC).

Through developing and provisioning of cutting-edge technology services, the SOS function will enhance intelligence collection, surveillance and digital forensics capabilities to support the Agency’s fight against serious and organised crime.

The SOS function brings together Digital Forensics and Targeted Interception services which include international deployments. Additional teams and specialist services are also being identified to move into this Engineering function, so the Agency is able to respond proactively to the changing nature of the SOC threats.

The Digital Forensics (DF) engineering function is responsible for deployment, configuration and support of hi-end digital forensics too including infrastructure, networking and software used within the Investigations department and overseas partners.

The Targeted Interception Engineering function is responsible for deployment, configuration and support of hi-end technical capabilities including infrastructure, networking and software used within Integrated Communications Intelligence (ICI) department, wider policing partners including National police Chiefs Council (NPCC) and Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) and overseas partners. Targeted Interception International Engineering leads on specifying, designing, developing, delivering and supporting new technical capabilities and for the requirements capture to make use of raw intelligence material for ICI and partners.

We are currently looking to recruit Senior Infrastructure Operations Engineers at one of our locations in Warrington, London, Birmingham, Leicester, or Bristol (team dependent - see below) with the ability to travel between sites (A full, clean, British driving license is essential) within the Specialist Operational Services function.

Please note that Targeted Interception (TI Domestic) Engineering posts are located only at our London and Warrington bases.

The Targeted Interception (International) Engineering posts can be located at any of the advertised locations, however our International roles will also require regular international travel.

Our Digital Forensics (DF) engineering roles can be located at any of the advertised locations.

Please note, staff in our TI (Domestic) and DF Engineering functions will form part of an on-call rota. Our TI (International) team currently does not have an on-call rota, however this may be subject to change.

The purpose of the Senior Infrastructure Operations Engineer role is to ensure critical Intelligence Collection and Digital Forensics capabilities are delivered and maintained effectively to ensure they meet the NCAs evolving operational demands. Working in a small team of highly enthusiastic IT professional staff, transferring skills within the team will ensure we are better placed to look after specialist NCA capabilities and networks to provide full critical support, upgrades, development and maintenance.

The role is responsible for: Delivering 1st, 2nd and mainly 3rd line support of technical systems to a professional standard, adapting to and meeting user requirements; Installing new hardware, installation and configuration of a mixture of Operating Systems including MS Server 2016-24, various flavours of LINIX on physical and virtual hardware (mainly Hyper-V or VMWare) and the use of containerized technologies; Maintaining and upgrading systems in line with business technical requirements. An understanding of network protocols would be beneficial.

Security is extremely important for all of the services SOS maintain, therefore systems must be maintained to ensure these systems are accreditable. This includes updating system high and low level designs and associated documentation.

Due to the nature of this role, travel between sites is regularly required. As such, a Full, clean, UK Driving License is essential.

This role aligns to Senior Infrastructure Operations Engineer within the Government Digital and Data career framework.

Person specification

• BAU Support - Help deliver 3rd line support of the supported SOS systems to a professional standard, meeting user requirements, reacting to system problems to ensure continued availability of SOS systems within defined service levels. Support 1st and 2nd line functions if required to ensure operational teams can function as efficiently as possible.
• Specification of hardware - Matching business requirements to hardware specifications that meet and often exceed those requirements.
• Installation of hardware - Installation of physical servers and storage systems to meet business requirements. Racking and cabling of hardware to an industry best practice level, including asset management registering of support, licensing.
• Identification of obsolescence - Notification of obsolescence issues early in the hardware lifecycle to ensure funding and approvals are in place as early as possible, avoiding unnecessary system outages due to obsolescence.
• Creation and maintenance of system documentation - Create technical designs and ensure High- and Low-Level Designs (HLD/LLD) are maintained to an accurate level.
• Continual Improvement - Researchi