Overview
Senior System Administrator | Head of IT Jobs in Cheltenham, England, United Kingdom at Optimal
Title: Senior System Administrator | Head of IT
Company: Optimal
Location: Cheltenham, England, United Kingdom
System Administrator/Head of IT | Infrastructure, Networks & End-User Support | Linux & Microsoft | Azure | 1st – 3rd Line
Location: Cheltenham, Gloucestershire (Onsite)
Package: £35,000 – £45,000 + Meaningful Bonus + Benefits
Eligibility: Must be able to obtain and maintain UK Government SC clearance – ILR or British Passport
Must Have: Heavy 3rd Line Support | No Sponsorship Available
Due to time constraints you will need to be available to start ASAP 4 weeks maximum
🚨 Please only apply if you have commercial experience with all of the following 🚨
• Managing internal IT systems across desktop, server, network and cloud environments
• Administering both Linux and Microsoft operating systems
• Using network and systems management tools
• Implementing and maintaining strong security controls across an IT estate
• Installing, configuring and troubleshooting hardware, operating systems, networks and applications
• Producing clear, accurate technical documentation and procedures
Required Tech Stack
Must-have hands-on experience with the following:
- Microsoft Azure & Azure Active Directory / Entra ID (3rd line support level – essential)
- Microsoft 365 & Intune (MDM)
- Windows Server & Linux (Debian/Ubuntu/RHEL or similar)
- Active Directory & Group Policy
- Firewall & network security technologies (e.g. Fortinet, Cisco, Palo Alto or similar)
- VPN and remote access solutions
- Ticketing and ITSM platforms (e.g. ServiceNow, Jira, Freshdesk or similar)
- Virtualisation (e.g. VMware, Hyper-V)
The Role
This is a hands-on System Administrator position in a well-established technical organisation that values innovation, quality and team culture. You'll own internal IT operations end-to-end in an onsite environment, managing infrastructure and security while supporting both internal staff and client-facing technical remediation work.
Must-Haves
• Experience managing internal IT systems (end-user, server, network and cloud)
• Hands-on administration of Linux and Microsoft environments
• Knowledge of network security and firewall technologies
• Experience with ticketing systems and knowledge-base tools
• Experience with MDM platforms
• Ability to install, configure and troubleshoot hardware and software
• Excellent communication skills and proactive, service-focused approach
What You'll Be Doing
• Manage and support internal IT systems, monitor health/stability, respond to alerts
• Implement security controls and maintain compliance with internal standards
• Assist clients in implementing technical fixes following assessments
• Produce documentation, procedures and supporting materials
• Support colleagues with day-to-day IT requirements
• Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives
Hands-On Experience With
• Office, desktop, server and network administration
• Linux and Microsoft operating systems
• Infrastructure-as-a-service cloud platforms
• Network security and firewall technologies
• VPN / remote access solutions
• Ticketing and knowledge-base systems
• Mobile device management tooling
• Hardware, operating system and network configuration
Bonus Experience
• Exposure to delivering technical remediation for clients
• Experience with ISO-aligned processes (e.g. ISO27001)
• Microsoft desktop or cloud certifications
• Experience supporting or mentoring junior team members
Important Notes
• This is a fully onsite role in Cheltenham
• Candidates must be eligible for and capable of holding UK Government Security Clearance (SC)
• A hands-on role with active ownership of internal IT systems
If you match the above criteria and would like a confidential discussion about the role, please get in touch.
