CNI Team Lead

National Energy System Operator Limited; Wokingham; Hybrid; GBP 67,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus

Flexible working

26 days annual leave

Pension scheme

Private medical insurance

Cycle to work

Job summary

National Energy System Operator (NESO) seeks a Critical National Infrastructure Team Lead to design, maintain and enhance its CNI platform, implementing DevSecOps across operations. Hybrid role in Wokingham or Warwick, open to full- or part-time applicants with NSV (SC) clearance requirements.

You will lead the RedHat-focused team, ensure 24/7 high availability, mentor staff, and collaborate with project teams to design and approve future CNI services that use storage and backup technologies.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience leading a team that supports Critical National Infrastructure environments.
• Proven design, construction, and management of storage and backup systems.
• Hands-on ITIL framework application in production environments.
• Practical capacity management, disaster recovery and business continuity skills.
• Strong network protocol knowledge; DNS/DHCP familiarity.
• Extensive customer-facing IT service experience; clear written communication.
• Experience in ITIL/DevSecOps based infrastructure support.

Responsibilities

• Lead the CNI Platform RedHat team and ensure 24/7 high availability.
• Collaborate with technical leads and third-party service centers.
• Design, review and approve future CNI services with storage/backups.
• Create project plans for new system designs and rollouts.
• Mentor colleagues; provide training and technical guidance.
• Monitor workflows, respond to incidents and requests, and manage problem resolution.

Skills

Team leadership

CNI environments

Storage & backup

ITIL framework

DevSecOps

Capacity management

Network protocols

Customer-facing

Documentation skills

Tools

RedHat

Infoblox

VMware

DNS/DHCP

Job description

About the Role

National Energy System Operator (NESO) are now looking for a Critical National Infrastructure Team Lead to be a part of our growing CNI team. This exciting opportunity will enable the successful candidate to design, maintain, and enhance NESO's Critical Infrastructure while implementing the DevSecOps methodology across all aspects of our operations. The CNI Team Lead will collaborate with other teams to ensure visibility and alignment of technology used throughout the organization. They will also promote an innovative mindset and a sense of shared responsibility among the CNI Operations teams. This role is vital for managing mission-critical environments. Additionally, the CNI Team Lead will closely interact with and support the CNI Project Teams, which will involve designing, reviewing, and approving future system technologies.

This role will be based at Wokingham or Warwick and we continue to offer hybrid working from office and home. We are open to full time and part time applicants, as well as flexible working arrangements. This role is designated as requiring a National Security Vetting (NSV) clearance (SC). The level of clearance associated with this role (SC) will usually need you to have been a resident in the UK for the last five years to apply. We would invite any applicants who do not currently meet this residency requirement to still express an interest in the role.

Key Accountabilities

• Lead the CNI Platform RedHat team
• Provide 24/7 system management and administration expertise in a high-availability, mission-critical environment
• Engage and collaborate with all technical leads
• Liaise with third-party service centers and engineers as needed
• Support project teams by designing, reviewing, and approving future CNI services that utilize storage and backup technologies
• Assist project teams in creating detailed project plans for new system designs and rollouts
• Embrace and strive to implement 'Best in Class' standards.
• Execute application and system transition processes to enable standby or site failover capabilities.
• Take ownership of and manage problem resolution
• Provide technical assistance, training, and mentoring to other aspiring technical resources
• Monitor workflow management tools and respond to logged tasks, incidents, and requests

Applicants must have the right to work in the UK by the start of employment. Visa sponsorship may not be available for this role and will be considered in line with business requirements.

About You

We’re forging the path, and we know we can’t do it alone. That’s why we need visionary minds like yours to join us on this transformative journey.

In this case, we’re looking for someone who has:

• Demonstrated experience in leading a team that supports Critical National Infrastructure (CNI) environments
• Proven expertise in the design, construction, and management of storage and backup systems
• Hands-on experience applying the Information Technology Infrastructure Library (ITIL) framework effectively
• Practical application of Capacity Management, Backup (Disaster Recovery), Business Continuity, and Performance Management
• Strong understanding of network protocols and topologies
• Extensive customer-facing experience in an IT service role
• Methodical and positive approach to problem-solving
• Experience working effectively as part of a highly productive small to medium-sized team in an Infrastructure/Application ITIL/DevSecOps-based support environment
• Background in managing business-critical real-time systems, ensuring high levels of availability through direct actions
• Commitment to accountability and follow-through in resolving issues successfully
• Ability to produce technical reports and documentation tailored for both technical and non-technical audiences
• Experience in training and mentoring colleagues is a plus
• Strong communication skills with excellent writing abilities

Essentials

• Very significant experience in a production IT environment leading the team and managing enterprise IT infrastructure, hardware, hosting service and network areas
• Ability to write architectural design documents or review design documents provided by others
• Knowledge and understanding of industry trends and new technologies and ability to apply trends to architectural needs

Desirables

• Previous experience in a Technical Lead role, and supervisory experience.
• Must have a thorough knowledge of the RedHat products and its concepts, and the interaction between hardware, operating systems, network, data centre, and application software
• Strong knowledge of Infoblox as well as management across physical and virtual platforms
• Strong working knowledge of VMware software.
• Deep understanding of TCP/IP and other network protocols.
• Familiarity with DNS, DHCP and other network services.
• Knowledge of managing a data centre in terms of systems monitoring, capacity planning and performance tuning.
• Ability to operate in a fast-paced, evolving environment appropriately prioritize tasks, and keep abreast of the latest technology.
• Maintain a deep understanding of TCP/IP and other network protocols, along with familiarity with DNS, DHCP, and other network services.
• Exhibit knowledge of data center management, including systems monitoring, capacity planning, and performance tuning.
• Be able to thrive in a fast-paced, evolving environment, prioritizing tasks effectively and staying up-to-date with latest technology.

What You'll Get

A competitive salary of £67,000 - £75,000 dependent on experience and capability.

• You will receive a bonus based on company performance
• 26 days annual leave as standard
• A competitive contributory pension scheme where we will double match your contribution to a maximum company contribution of 12%.
• Annual Enrollment to NESO Savings Plan, when you save between £20- £500 a month from your take-home pay, we will pay a 50% matching contribution.
• Flexible Bank Holidays & Holiday Trading
• Additional Birthday Day Off
• Cycle to Work Scheme, Retail & Gym Discounts
• Private Medical Insurance, Critical Illness Insurance & Personal Accident Insurance

About Us

At the National Energy System Operator (NESO), we play a vital role in tackling climate change and securing Great Britain's energy future. We already operate the world's fastest decarbonising electricity system and are working towards our ambition to run it carbon‑free for a short period this year - provided the market supplies electricity exclusively from renewable sources. Alongside this, we provide expert advice to government on how to deliver a clean power system by 2030. In autumn 2024, the Electricity System Operator (ESO) transitioned to become NESO - an independent, expert public corporation with a whole‑system view across electricity, gas, and hydrogen. NESO operates independently and transparently, always acting in the best interests of all energy users.

Licensed and regulated by Ofgem, we make impartial decisions that balance sustainability, affordability and security. Our organisation is fully independent from government, the regulator and all commercial interests, with a clear focus on system‑wide benefit, long term thing and public value. The time to deliver is now. Join the energy transformation and help shape the future. Your energy. Our future. Together

National Energy System Operator (NESO) recognises the potential of bright and talented individuals, and we encourage you to join us as Great Britain’s energy system undergoes an ambitious, exciting, and vital transformation. Together with industry, we are creating a cleaner, more sustainable energy future.