Principal Engineer (Microsoft)

Role Mission
To support customer outcomes by making deep, hands-on Microsoft centric expertise available to customers and internal teams across hybrid identity, security and endpoint management. This includes Windows Active Directory and integration with Microsoft Entra ID, unified security operations with Microsoft Defender XDR and Microsoft Sentinel, and modern endpoint and device management with Microsoft Intune and Microsoft Configuration Manager (SCCM/ConfigMgr), providing practical guidance, design assurance and implementation support where needed.
Objectives & Key Results
Deliver consulting-grade architecture assurance and outcomes for customers
Provide high quality architecture reviews and design assurance for complex customer opportunities and deliveries, highlighting risks, trade-offs and pragmatic options
Produce clear customer-facing technical outputs (e.g., current-state assessments, target-state architectures, and phased roadmaps) that accelerate decision-making
Improve consistency and reduce avoidable rework for customers by using repeatable patterns, checklists and standards aligned to Claranet ways of working.
Essential Roles & Responsibilities
Technical Leadership & Delivery
Serve as a senior technical expert within the Office of the CTO, providing hands-on technical depth and assurance in support of the UK CTO
Provide hands-on technical contribution and specialist support across Microsoft identity, security, endpoint and cloud platforms—drawing on broader networking and architecture skills where customer engagements require it
Behavioural Competencies – Organisational & Behavioural Fit
Technological Curiosity: Naturally curious, proactively explores how new and existing technologies work, experiments safely, and shares what they learn
Hands-On Mindset: Enjoys being “on the keyboard” solving technical challenges
Customer Engagement: Exceptional presence and clarity when engaging with customers
Influence Without Authority: Guides teams through expertise and collaboration, not hierarchy
Clear Communicator: Able to articulate complex problems simply and confidently
Calm & Composed: Operates effectively in high-pressure or ambiguous situations
Ownership & Accountability: Takes responsibility for delivering high-quality outcomes
Continuous Improvement: Always seeking ways to enhance technical and engineering quality, security and efficiency
Travel: Ability to travel to different sites and locations on a weekly basis
Critical Competencies – Technical Competencies (Essential)
Strong architectural capability across Microsoft Azure and core Microsoft cloud services
Proficiency in security technologies, frameworks, and secure architecture patterns (including Microsoft Defender XDR and Microsoft Sentinel)
Strong expertise in Windows Active Directory and hybrid identity integration with Microsoft Entra ID
Experience with modern endpoint and device management and configuration management, including Microsoft Intune and Microsoft Configuration Manager (SCCM/ConfigMgr)
Hands-on capability in automation, IaC, CI/CD, scripting and platform engineering
Comfortable using AI tools to achieve outcomes (e.g., accelerating analysis, troubleshooting, automation and documentation) with appropriate security and data-handling practices
Critical Competencies – Technical Competencies (Desirable)
Experience with distributed systems or modern application architectures
Exposure to data engineering, observability platforms or edge networking
Please note: You will be required to have been resident in the UK for five years prior to application and to hold or be prepared to undergo UK Non-Police Personnel Vetting (NPPV) and/or a Security Check (SC) clearance as part of this role