IT Systems Support Engineer - MLC 1621

View Vacancy -- IT Systems Support Engineer - MLC 1621
Open Date
14/07/2021, 14:00
Close Date
08/08/2021, 23:55
Research Institute  
MRC Harwell Institute
Research Institute / Unit Information  
MRC Harwell Institute is an international biological research centre at the forefront of the use of mammalian models to study genetics and human diseases. Located on the Harwell Campus, just south of Oxford, it is nestled amongst a vibrant community of leading science organisations. We aim to advance medicine through cutting-edge research into the genetic basis of disease. Our research programmes span an entire lifetime, from embryonic development to diseases of ageing. There are over 300 staff at the Institute made up of research scientists, technicians, animal carers, and business support personnel.
UK Research and Innovation is a new entity that brings together nine partners to create an independent organisation with a strong voice for research and innovation, more information can be found at www.ukri.org
Band  
MRC - 4
Location  
Harwell Campus, Oxfordshire
Salary  
£32,005 - £40,769 per annum (depending on experience)
Contract Type  
Permanent
Job Type  
Technical & Scientific Professionals
Full Time / Part Time  
Full Time
Job Description  

Overall purpose:

We are seeking a highly motivated Systems Support Engineer to join the IT Services Division of the BioComputing Group at MRC Harwell. This is an exciting opportunity to learn a broad range of technical skills and IT domains within a supportive and collaborative Informatics department. 

We are responsible for managing and maintaining a modern and robust IT Infrastructure, across a wide range of platforms and devices. We provide support to over 700 computers serving 260 staff within a secure, resilient high-performance network. We maintain and support over 130 physical and virtual servers (Windows, Linux, VMWare), with an onsite purpose-built data centre at the heart of our infrastructure. We have over 900 TB of disk storage, plus a secondary server room with replication, disaster recovery and back-up. 

The successful candidate will have experience in server administration, alongside competency in network administration and large-scale storage solutions. We require an excellent team player who is self-motivated and willing to learn with training opportunities.

Main duties / key responsibilities:

• Daily management and monitoring of our IT infrastructure, ensuring maximum system availability
• Server administration, scheduled patching, support and monitoring; in both physical and virtual (VMware) environments - Windows and Linux
• Support and management of our Compellent data storage infrastructure
• Network management and troubleshooting, ensuring efficient and resilient data transfer and routing
• Management of the Microsoft Office 365 and Exchange hybrid infrastructure
• Manage and support MRC Harwell’s Microsoft Active Directory Domain.
• Ensure data security, continuity and integrity with various strategies and technologies (Snapshots, replication, disk backup, tape backup, archiving)
• Audit and maintain security in line with Cyber Essentials
• Ensure our adherence to MRC and UKRI IT policies

Working relationships:

We have a large BioComputing Group which includes a number of teams covering infrastructure and research. The Infrastructural IT Team supports all IT infrastructure and internal systems development. It is comprised of 7 posts within the IT Services Division (providing System Support and Services) and 4 posts within the Software Development team. All of these are part of a larger BioComputing Group which also has a research Bioinformatics Team (18 people) consisting of Developers, Informaticians and Data Wranglers. The post-holder will: 

• Work alongside the IT Services Support Technicians team, communicating change management and direction as required
• Report to the Head of Infrastructural IT to convey progress and pro-actively contribute strategic ideas for continual improvement
• Collaborate with bioinformaticians and software developers in the wider BioComputing group, providing infrastructural support
• Work closely with end users and those responsible for generating substantial data; assisting with good data management practices

Equality & Diversity:

The MRC values the diverse skills and experience of its employees and is committed to achieving equality of treatment for all. Our objectives are that all individuals shall have equal opportunities for employment and advancement on the basis of their skills, aptitudes and abilities. The MRC is committed to the engagement and retention of the best possible talent and to creating an environment that encourages excellence in scientific research through good equalities and diversity leadership and management.

Corporate/Local responsibilities & requirements:

The job holder must at all times carry out their responsibilities with due regard to the MRC’s: 

• Code of Conduct
• Equality and Diversity policy
• Health and Safety policy
• Data Protection and Security policy

Job descriptions should be reviewed on a regular basis and at the annual appraisal. Any changes should be made and agreed between the post holder and their manager. 

The above lists are not exhaustive and the job holder is required to undertake such duties as may reasonably be requested within the scope of the post. All employees are required to act professionally, co-operatively and flexibly in line with the requirements of the post and the MRC

Person Specification  

Education / Qualifications / Training required:

Essential:

• University degree or HND (or equivalent) in Engineering, IT or any other technical discipline 

Desirable:

• CCNA qualification 

Previous work experience required:  

Essential:

• Demonstrable experience in a similar IT support environment

Knowledge and experience:

Essential:

• Networking administration and troubleshooting
• Microsoft Exchange Server
• VMware hosts, virtual servers and associated infrastructure
• Managing a Windows Active Directory Domain
• Administration and management of Windows server and desktop environments 

Desirable:

• IT Security knowledge
• Administration and management of Linux server environments
• Experienced in the administration and back up of a large storage solution

Personal skills/behaviours/qualities:

Essential:

• Effective communication skills are essential, both written and verbal
• A pro-active, self-motivating attitude to project delivery
• An ability to work both collaboratively and independently
• An excellent team player with the ability to prioritise effectively
• Willingness to take ownership of a task through to a successful delivery
• Ability to create concise and effective documentation
• Ability to liaise with both 3rd party solution providers
• Proven troubleshooting and problem-solving skills

Further Information  

The BioComputing Department includes two groups, one which supports all IT Infrastructure and internal systems development at MRC Harwell (Infrastructural IT) and a second which focuses upon scientific research (BioComputing).

The Infrastructural IT group is comprised of both the IT Services team (7 posts) and the Information Management Software Development team (5 posts).

MRC Harwell, based in Oxfordshire, is a major international research centre at the forefront of studies in mouse genetics and functional genomics. We are investigating a wide variety of disease models in mice, in order to enhance our understanding of the molecular and genetic basis of disease.

The end users are biological and bioinformatics research staff and administrative, technical and engineering support staff within the MRC Harwell. The research generates large volumes of complex data that is supported by the Infrastructural IT Team. 

Choosing to come to work at the MRC means that you will have access to a whole host of benefits from a defined pension scheme and excellent holiday entitlement to access to employee shopping/travel discounts and salary sacrifice cycle to work scheme, as well as the chance to put the MRC on your CV in the future. 

More information about MRC Harwell can be found at http://www.har.mrc.ac.uk/

The MRC is a great place to work and progress your career, be it in scientific research or the support functions.The MRC is a unique working environment where our researchers are rewarded by world class innovation and collaboration opportunities that the MRC name brings. The MRC is an excellent place to develop yourself further and a range of training & development opportunities will be available to you, including professional registration with the Science Council.
Choosing to come to work at the MRC (part of UKRI) means that you will have access to a whole host of benefits from a defined benefit pension scheme and excellent holiday entitlement to access to employee shopping/travel discounts and salary sacrifice cycle to work scheme, as well as the chance to put the MRC and UKRI on your CV in the future.
Our success is dependent upon our ability to embrace diversity and draw on the skills, understanding and experience of all our people. We welcome applications from all sections of the community irrespective of gender, race, ethnic or national origin, religion or belief, sexual orientation, disability or age. As "Disability Confident" employers, we guarantee to interview all applicants with disabilities who meet the minimum criteria for the vacancy.
UKRI supports research in areas that include animal health, agriculture and food security, and bioscience for health which includes research on animals, genetic modification and stem cell research. Whilst you may not have direct involvement in this type of research, you should consider whether this conflicts with your personal values or beliefs.
We will conduct a full and comprehensive pre-employment check as an essential part of the recruitment process on all individuals that are offered a position with UKRI. This will include a security check and an extreme organisations affiliation check.