IT Systems Engineering Lead

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.

If you receive suspicious outreach claiming to be from us, please contact us via the ManpowerGroup website