Compute Lead

Job title: Compute Lead
Contract: 3 months rolling
Location: London (Hybrid)
Inside IR35

Job description
As the Compute & Cloud Leader, you will be responsible for the operation, stability, and optimisation of enterprise compute platforms, spanning Cloud (primarily Azure), Linux, AIX, Windows, VMware, and Red Hat environments. You will lead a team of outsourced specialists to ensure compute services are secure, resilient, and scalable, while driving automation and lifecycle management in line with industry best practices. This role requires strong technical leadership, operational discipline, and a focus on service reliability.

Key Responsibilities
* Lead day-to-day operations of enterprise compute platforms (Cloud (Azure), Linux,
AIX, Windows, VMware, Red Hat).
* Ensure compliance with patching, security, and configuration standards across all
compute environments.
* Manage lifecycle activities, including End-of-Life (EoX) planning, upgrades, and
migrations.
* Oversee platform monitoring, capacity management, and performance optimisation.
* Implement standard operating procedures and ensure consistency across compute
services.
* Collaborate with engineering and architecture teams to influence design for
operability.
* Drive automation of routine operational tasks using tools such as Ansible, SCCM, or
equivalent.
* Lead incident and problem resolution for compute-related issues, ensuring effective
RCA and remediation.
* Provide operational reporting on platform performance, incidents, and compliance.
* Manage vendor relationships for hardware and OS support contracts.
* Contribute to IT audits, risk assessments, and compliance reporting.
* Support disaster recovery testing and business continuity planning for compute
platforms.
* Identify opportunities for continuous improvement in platform reliability, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness.

Required Skills & Experience
* Proven experience in compute operations leadership within a large-scale enterprise.
* Strong technical knowledge of Cloud Infrastructure, Linux, AIX, Windows Server,
VMware, and Red Hat environments.
* Demonstrated expertise in patch management, configuration compliance, and
performance tuning.
* Demonstrated expertise of platform migrations, e.g. VMware to OpenShift
* ITIL-aligned operational management experience (incident, change, problem).
* Knowledge of automation and orchestration tools (e.g., Ansible, SCCM).
* Excellent troubleshooting and analytical skills.
* Strong stakeholder management and communication skills.

Desirable Qualifications
* ITIL v4 certification.
* Experience with hybrid cloud and on-prem compute integration.
* Knowledge of containerisation platforms (Docker, Kubernetes, OpenShift).
* Familiarity with monitoring tools such as SCOM, SolarWinds, or Nagios.
* Experience managing large, distributed teams and global operations.

Core Technical Skills (Must-Have)

VMware (strong hands-on)
Linux (Red Hat preferred)
Windows Server
Security vulnerability management & patching
Enterprise compute platforms
Cloud / Modern Infrastructure (Highly Desirable)
Containers & orchestration:

Docker
Kubernetes
OpenShift / OpenStack
Infrastructure as Code
CI/CD pipelines
Automation (Ansible)
Experience modernising traditional VM / physical estates into cloud-native or hybrid models
Soft Skills & Profile Fit

Strong hands-on technologist (not primarily managerial)
Able to advise on "what good looks like" from prior transformation experience
Comfortable working in post-incident recovery environments
Collaborative and visible in-office presence