Technical Support Engineer

UK Biocentre has an opportunity for a Technical Support Engineer to join our busy IT support team in Milton Keynes, on a 6-month contract basis, reporting to the IT Manager.

UK Biocentre is a visionary organisation, providing leading edge bioscience laboratory services to Health Service, government and commercial organisations. We are currently serving as the largest laboratory supporting the UK national Covid-19 testing programme.

The organisation is a 24/7 operation, growing extremely fast, with exciting challenges to overcome during the latter part of 2020 and into 2021: The company will soon have over 800 staff, completing more than 200,000 Covid tests in its laboratories every day.

As well as playing a vital role in supporting society's return to a more normal way of life by helping to break the chains of COVID-19 transmission, you will also gain invaluable experience and exposure to some of the country's most highly skilled individuals in the scientific community.

This represents a once in a lifetime opportunity to go above and beyond to support public health, while also extending your already accomplished technical skills and positioning your Scientific career for further success and growth

Your responsibilities:

The successful candidate will provide a comprehensive and efficient service to all projects and company employees.

As a Technical Support Engineer will carry out all aspects of IT administration from desktop and end user support to basic maintenance of servers and network devices /services.

You will be able to work in a fast-paced environment, working as part of a four-person IT support team, under the technical leadership of the two Senior Technical Support Analysts and the Technical Support Team Leader, to deliver integrated and effective holistic IT services and solutions to the laboratory operation.

Your experience:

In order to be successful, you'll need the following skills and qualifications:

• Strong knowledge of Hybrid cloud/on-prem Active Directory administration, Azure sync, and managing distribution lists, security groups and mailboxes across the hybrid enterprise.
• In-depth knowledge of OUs and working with Group Policy.
• Experience of writing Powershell scripts.
• Strong knowledge and experience in MS Office 365, including strong skills in Excel.
• Basic working knowledge of installation and administration of Windows Server 2019.
• Long experience and in-depth knowledge of Windows 10 configuration.
• Sound experience in PC/laptop physical hardware set-up and maintenance.

Behavioural traits

• Ability to clarify, plan and prioritise own work to achieve objectives
• Take ownership and pride in projects, setting and achieving high standards for self and working with team.
• Ability to respond appropriately to the needs of demanding users, seeking guidance on priorities where appropriate.
• Ability to analyse complex problems and propose solutions.
• Must be self-motivated with a strong work ethic.
• Must see issues through to resolution.

In addition, the following education and experience are also desirable but not mandatory:

• Microsoft certification in desktop or server system support.
• In depth experience of installation and administration of Windows Server 2019.
• Working knowledge of basic network technologies such as IP/DHCP, WiFi, VPN, switch port management, in particular Meraki equipment.

In return:

As well as a competitive rate of pay, you'll receive comprehensive training on relevant lab procedures and equipment.

The role will involve extended hours working, either early or late, in a team rota. This may be either 06:00 to 16:30 or 11:30 to 22:00 depending on the team staffing on each day, but in practice the requirement for this contract will almost always be to work 11:30 to 22:00. The rota requires working seven days out of every twelve. The role involves providing paid on-call cover overnight, between 22:00 and 06:00) in a dovetailed rota pattern.

You will also be joining a diverse and hugely welcoming team. Diversity at NHS Test and Trace is about reflecting the communities we serve, holding the principles of equality and inclusion at the heart of everything we do and all that we stand for, embracing differences, creating possibilities, and growing together. We aim to foster a culture where individuals of all backgrounds feel confident in bringing their whole selves to work, feel included and their talents are nurtured, empowering them to contribute fully to our purpose.

This is literally a once in a lifetime opportunity to join a team of highly skilled individuals, all focused on delivering the best possible outcome.

If you're ready for a new challenge and want to be part of the team delivering this essential lab work, please apply today.

We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons regardless of their race, sex, disability, religion/belief, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnerships, pregnancy or maternity or age