Applications Engineer (L3/L4)

Thorn SDS Ltd; Corsham; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 60,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days annual leave

Employer pension contributions

Group Life Insurance

Health & Dental Cashback Plan

Wellbeing services & GP access

Training & professional development

Job summary

Thorn SDS Ltd is seeking an Applications Engineer (SFIA Level 3/4) to join a major UK defence programme. You will provide expert Level 3/4 support for mission-critical applications, working with service desks, resolver groups and engineering teams to ensure system reliability, security and availability in demanding environments.

The role is based on-site in Corsham, Hampshire, within a collaborative engineering team.

Qualifications

• Experience supporting enterprise or mission-critical applications.
• Strong analytical, troubleshooting and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Provide Level 3 or Level 4 technical support for enterprise applications.
• Diagnose, troubleshoot and resolve complex application issues.
• Deploy software updates, patches and enhancements across operational environments.
• Collaborate with Resolver Groups and engineering teams to resolve escalated incidents.
• Support software testing, validation and release activities.
• Monitor application performance, availability and security.
• Produce and maintain technical documentation and support procedures.
• Ensure services are delivered in line with ITIL best practices.
• Contribute to ongoing improvement of application support processes.

Skills

SFIA Level 3/4

Analytical skills

Troubleshooting

Job description

Help keep the UK's defence systems running when they're needed most.

Are you an experienced Applications Engineer who enjoys solving technical challenges and supporting business-critical systems?

We're looking for an Applications Engineer (SFIA Level 3/4) to join a nationally significant UK Defence programme delivering next-generation deployable IT services. This is an opportunity to work on secure, mission-critical technologies that support defence operations both in the UK and overseas.

If you're looking for a role where your technical expertise has real-world impact, this could be your next challenge.

About Thorn SDS

Thorn SDS is a specialist Managed Service Provider headquartered in Alton, Hampshire. We work exclusively across the Space, Defence and Security sectors, connecting exceptional technical professionals with some of the UK's most innovative and important programmes.

About the Programme

You’ll be joining a major transformation programme replacing legacy communication and information systems with secure, resilient and modern platforms.

As part of the Through Life Support (TLS) team, you’ll help ensure these systems remain secure, available and fully operational throughout their lifecycle.

The Role

As an Applications Engineer (SFIA Level 3 or Level 4), you’ll provide expert support for a portfolio of mission-critical applications, ensuring they remain reliable, secure and available in demanding operational environments.

Working alongside Service Desk teams, Resolver Groups, infrastructure specialists and software engineers, you’ll investigate complex technical issues, deploy updates and help continuously improve application performance.

Whether you’re an experienced Level 3 Engineer looking to develop your career or an established Level 4 Engineer ready to take ownership of complex technical challenges, you’ll play a key role within a highly skilled engineering team.

What You'll Be Doing

• Providing Level 3 or Level 4 technical support for enterprise applications.
• Diagnosing, troubleshooting and resolving complex application issues.
• Deploying software updates, patches and enhancements across operational environments.
• Working closely with Resolver Groups and engineering teams to resolve escalated incidents.
• Supporting software testing, validation and release activities.
• Monitoring application performance, availability and security.
• Producing and maintaining technical documentation, support procedures and knowledge articles.
• Ensuring services are delivered in line with ITIL best practice and programme standards.
• Contributing to the ongoing improvement of application support processes.

What We're Looking For

You’ll have experience supporting enterprise or mission-critical applications and enjoy working in technically challenging environments.

We’re particularly interested in candidates with experience in:

• Application support or engineering at SFIA Level 3 or Level 4.
• Diagnosing and resolving application issues.
• Software deployment, patching and application lifecycle management.
• ITIL service management, incident and problem management.
• Secure, regulated or high-availability environments.
• Defence, MOD or other security-sensitive sectors (desirable).
• Strong analytical, troubleshooting and communication skills.

You’ll also be comfortable working full‑time onsite in Corsham within a collaborative engineering environment.

What's In It For You?

Alongside a competitive, negotiable salary, you'll receive:

• 25 days' annual leave plus Bank Holidays.
• Employer pension contributions.
• Group Life Insurance.
• Health & Dental Cashback Plan.
• Wellbeing services including GP access, physiotherapy and lifestyle savings.
• Thorn Wellbeing Support Contribution.
• Employee Referral Scheme.
• Funded training and professional development opportunities.
• The opportunity to work on one of the UK's most important defence technology programmes alongside highly experienced engineering teams.

Security Requirements

Applicants must have the right to work in the UK and either already hold, or be eligible to obtain, a high level of UK National Security Clearance.

Please note that, due to the nature of our work, nationality, previous nationalities and country of birth may affect eligibility for certain security‑cleared positions.