IT Systems Engineering Lead

Location: Reading (Office-based with occasional home working opportunities)
Hours: Full-time, 37.5 hours per week
Start Date: ASAP (Ideally September/October)
Contract Duration: 12 months, with potential for extension
Salary: £84,200 - £114,000 per annum (negotiable for exceptional candidates)

About the Role

We are seeking an experienced IT Systems Engineering Lead to join a major project delivery team and provide technical leadership across IT Infrastructure, Cybersecurity, Enterprise Architecture, and Operational Technology (OT) integration.

This is a key role responsible for ensuring the quality, integrity, security, and compliance of IT systems throughout both project execution and operational environments. The successful candidate will play a pivotal role in shaping technical standards, driving best practices, and ensuring seamless integration between enterprise IT and industrial OT systems.

Key Responsibilities

Technical Leadership & Governance

• Lead the assurance of IT systems design and engineering activities, ensuring solutions meet performance, reliability, security, and compliance requirements.
• Own and develop project IT Systems standards, ensuring alignment with industry regulations, cybersecurity requirements, and regional data protection legislation.
• Optimise technical standards and design approaches to deliver cost-effective and scalable solutions.
• Identify and resolve design issues during early project phases, including Pre-FEED and FEED stages.

Design Assurance & Compliance

• Review critical technical deliverables, calculations, and engineering documentation to ensure compliance with regulatory, project, and industry standards.
• Evaluate proposed deviations from standards using a risk-based approach and provide expert guidance on interpretation and implementation.
• Ensure quality assurance processes are effectively applied throughout the project lifecycle.

Contractor & Vendor Management

• Provide technical oversight of contractor-led design and engineering activities.
• Support technical bid evaluations and vendor selection processes.
• Ensure the overall integrity, quality, and performance of delivered systems and solutions.

IT & OT Systems Integration

• Lead the integration of IT and Operational Technology (OT) systems to support project digitalisation and operational readiness.
• Ensure project systems, data flows, industrial networks, historian platforms, and control system connectivity are effectively designed and implemented.
• Assess existing infrastructure and data integrity to determine integration feasibility and identify potential risks.
• Contribute to digital strategy initiatives, leveraging emerging technologies, tools, and methodologies to enhance system reliability and data exchange.

Risk Management & Continuous Improvement

• Apply risk management principles to guide technical decision-making and prioritisation.
• Identify critical project equipment and systems, developing appropriate optimisation and engineering surveillance strategies.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to proactively address technical challenges and maximise project value.

About You

To be successful in this role, you will demonstrate:

• Extensive experience across IT Infrastructure, Enterprise Architecture, Cybersecurity, and Operational Technology (OT) environments.
• Strong understanding of IT and OT systems integration within complex project or industrial environments.
• Experience developing and implementing IT standards, specifications, and scopes of work.
• Knowledge of cybersecurity frameworks, industrial networks, control systems, and data management platforms.
• Proven ability to provide technical assurance and governance on large-scale engineering or capital projects.
• Strong stakeholder management skills with experience working alongside contractors, vendors, and multidisciplinary teams.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and risk assessment capabilities.
• Experience supporting project phases including Pre-FEED, FEED, detailed design, and project delivery.

What's on Offer

• Competitive salary of £84,200 to £114,000 per annum with flexibility for the right candidate.
• Opportunity to work on complex, high-profile projects.
• Exposure to leading-edge technologies and digital transformation initiatives.
• Potential for contract extension beyond the initial 12-month term.
• Flexible working arrangements with occasional home working opportunities.

If you're a highly experienced IT Systems professional with a passion for driving technical excellence, cybersecurity, and IT/OT integration, we'd love to hear from you. Join us and play a key role in delivering innovative and resilient technology solutions.