Job Title: Senior 3rd Line IT Engineer

Department: Digital and Technology

Location: Bedford

Reports to: Head of Digital and Technology

Grade: Contractor

Direct reports: 0

Date: July 2026

Key Purpose of the Job:

An experience 3rd line IT engineer is required on a temporary basis to be the senior technical lead of ARA’s operational IT due to long term absences, the engineer will have experience of providing technical leadership (not line management) to a small group of IT engineers and deal with technical escalations and problems across our Windows, Linux, Cisco, Dell and VMWare estate.

Administration and 3rd line support of Networks

Administration and 3rd line support of Servers

Investigating and addressing technology risks and issues on the network

Maintaining and upgrading systems to remain in compliance against policy

Support of backend applications

Server and communication room remediation including cabling, UPS device installation/configuration.

Patching and logging data cabling

Engage supplier to address support issues

Designing, implementing, managing a solution to mitigate ransomware attacks.

Needs to Do:

* Incident, problem and change management

* Current state analysis of the IT/OT Systems

* Produce designs and supporting documentation for the development of new IT/OT services

* Administer and maintain backup and restore services

* Ensure patching is implemented in line with policy and best practice (Cyber Essentials & NCSC)

* Monitoring of firewalls, servers and applications

* Administration of Hyper Visors, Windows Servers & Linux Servers

* Supporting service delivery activities by providing systems deployment and trouble shooting support.

* Designing and performing tests for the functionality, performance and manageability of IT services to support service transition activities.

* Ensure IT processes and procedures are applied adhered to. Ensuring that all system and operating documentation and knowledge based articles are up to date and properly utilised.

* Comply with company Health and Safety procedures and standards.

* Carry out any other duties which may be required in order to facilitate the efficient and effective running of the department as requested by the IT Manager or Head of Digital & Technology.

Needs to Know:

Essential
* Windows server experience (designing, configuring, managing)
* Linux server experience (designing, configuring, managing)
* VMware experience (designing, configuring, managing)
* Networking experience (Switches, Firewalls, Proxies, VPN’s as a minimum, ideally Cisco, Palo Alto and Barracuda devices)
* Experience and knowledge of Secure by Design, Zero Trust and Cyber Essentials
* Relevant certification in network and / or server management such as MCSE, CCNA, VMware certification, etc
* SC security clearance
* Experience in using IT Service Management tooling such as Managed Engine, ServiceNow, or similar.

Desirable
* Degree in IT
* ITIL foundation
* Experience with JIRA / Confluence
* Defence IT or other Critical National Infrastructure system design, up to and including UK SECRET (experience of working to Secure by Design principles).

Needs to Be:

* Someone with excellent customer service and problem-solving skills
* Someone with the ability to use, understand and interpret the best practice, policies and procedures to ensure compliance
* Someone who is able to use their experience and knowledge to constructively challenge others for a better outcome
* Team player who can promote team working
* Focused on IT security
* Encourages sharing of knowledge and expertise
* Able to work under little to no supervision
* To keep updated on IT & Cyber Security developments

Key Relationships:

* ARA members of staff
* Third party IT support staff
* Falconworks and other BAE IT and Cyber teams

Measures of Performance:

* Incidents, changes and project tasks updated and closed in IT Service Management and Project Management task tooling
* User feedback
* Service availability