Lead Engineer (Specialist) | London, UK

Bank of England; London; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 91,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a leading central bank as a Lead Platform Engineer for the SAP Platform, responsible for ensuring high availability and managing complex technical projects. This role involves mentoring engineers and overseeing critical systems that support national financial stability.

Benefits

Non-contributory pension

Discretionary performance award

8% benefits allowance

26 days' annual leave

Private medical insurance

Qualifications

• Expert BASIS knowledge of SAP Oracle based platforms.
• End to end experience of major SAP Platform Change programmes.
• In-depth knowledge of the entire SAP Application Lifecycle.

Responsibilities

• Lead major technical change projects involving the SAP Platform.
• Manage risk within an agreed framework.
• Provide technical support to business users Bank-wide.

Skills

SAP BASIS

Oracle

Linux

Communication

Education

SAP Certified Application Associate

Tools

SAP Solution Manager

Jira

Job description

Job Description

Location: Leeds or London

The SAP Platform is the foundation for the NIPS (Notes In Circulation Processing System) and GBM (Gold Bar Management) products. NIPS is designated Tier 0. The consequent demands for high availability and warranty of both of these products means that this role is critical to the mission of the Bank.

The SAP Platform Team manage the development and operations of the platform in a complex / high availability environment! The platform itself consists of a Production Environment, two test environments and a development environment. In turn each of these consists of 4 landscape components. Each of these is comprises application and database servers in dual sites running on Oracle / Linux. Additionally, an SAP Solution Manager manages the entire application lifecycle - change and monitoring. The management of risk and adherence to ISTD standards is key to the operation of the platform itself.

The Lead Platform Engineer - SAP Platform is expected to provide technical expertise for the SAP Platform and mentor engineers on the team. The role requires high levels of technical competency acquired over several years of experience, experience in the maintenance and upgrade of SAP Systems and ensuring high levels of availability and warranty. It will also require mentoring, coaching and peer reviewing of team members' outputs along with advising on more complex operational incidents and problems. The candidate will work and lead on multiple work-streams and help oversee maintenance, change and risk management performed by other members of the team. The role requires in depth knowledge of the SAP application, underpinning databases (currently Oracle) and operating systems (Red Hat Linux - RHEL for SAP Solutions), alongside strong communication and people coaching skills.

Responsibilities include:

• Major technical change projects involving the SAP Platform - these include Programmes such as DCMP, and shortly SAP Next Gen.
• The maintenance of the system - significant upgrades to the application, database, o/s.
• The management of risk - within an agreed risk framework supporting the SAP Platform Lead in ensuring that concessions, remediation plans are in place and being delivered.
• Technical expertise on defining as-is and to-be designs and architectures for SAP platform technology (BASIS layer) - supporting High Level and Low level design tasks.
• Ensuring technical support to business users Bank wide for the Bank's NIPS and GBM Products 24 x 6 with flexibility to provide occasional out of hours (evening and weekend) support cover.
• Producing outputs to high standards of quality and maintainability, which comply with software development and assurance principles.
• Displaying the core Bank values in daily work, namely being: collaborative, inclusive, empowering, decisive and open.

Role Requirements

Minimum Criteria -

• Expert BASIS knowledge (to at least SAP Certified Application Associate) of SAP Oracle based platforms - including hands on capability to perform upgrades and other major changes.
• End to end experience of major SAP Platform Change programmes and projects e.g. SAP Application, Platform, Database and Operating System Migration.
• Experience of at least 3 installation or upgrade SAP Projects end to end - requirements -> design -> delivery -> BAU support.
• Capability to fully support the Solution Architecture process from a SAP Technical perspective.
• The management of third parties of the above mentioned.
• In-depth, hands-on knowledge of the entire SAP Application Lifecycle including SAP software logistics, enhancement packs, upgrades, advanced corrections.
• Application Lifecycle Management using SAP Solution Manager - (Change, QGM, Technical Monitoring)
• Excellent SAP BASIS, Oracle and Linux O/S skills

Essential Criteria

• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Be able to demonstrate a high level of professionalism, organisation, self-motivation, and a desire for self-improvement.
• Ability to plan, schedule and manage a demanding workload.
• Good knowledge of agile delivery methodologies as associated toolsets such as Jira.

Desirable Criteria

• Formal Solution Architecture skills - TOGAF foundation, preferably on SAP Technology
• SAP Next Generation Technologies - S/4 HANA, SAP Fiori, SAP Integration Technologies (PI/XI)
• Hands on experience of migration from on premise to Cloud based SAP Solutions.
• Experience of Oracle RAC and Oracle Database clustering
• In-depth skills in RHEL - preferably including RHEL for SAP Solutions.
• Experience in the line management of a team of Engineers (up to 6 engineers)

Our Approach to Inclusion

The Bank values diversity, equity and inclusion. We play a key role in maintaining monetary and financial stability, and to do that effectively, we believe we need a workforce that reflects the society we serve.

At the Bank of England, we want all colleagues to feel valued and respected, so we're working hard to build an inclusive culture which supports people from all backgrounds and communities to be at their best at work. We celebrate all forms of diversity, including (but not limited to) age, disability, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, race, religion, sexual orientation and socioeconomic status. We believe that it's by drawing on different perspectives and experiences that we'll continue to make the best decisions for the public.

We welcome applications from individuals who work flexibly, including job shares and part time working patterns. We've also partnered with external organisations to support us in making adjustments for candidates and employees in the recruitment process where they're needed.

For most roles where work can be carried out at home, we aim for colleagues to spend half of their time in the office, with a minimum of 40% per month. Subject to that minimum requirement, individuals and managers should work together to find what works best for them, their team and stakeholders.

Finally, we're proud to be a member of the Disability Confident Scheme. If you wish to apply under this scheme, you should check the box in the 'Candidate Personal Information' under the 'Disability Confident Scheme' section of the application.

Salary and Benefits Information

We encourage flexible working, part time working and job share arrangements. Part time salary and benefits will be on a pro-rated basis as appropriate.

We offer a salary as follows:

Leeds circa £72,320 - £81,360

London circa £80,320 - £90,360

In addition, we also offer a comprehensive benefits package as detailed below:

• Currently a non-contributory, career average pension giving you a guaranteed retirement benefit of 1/80th of your annual salary for every year worked. There is the option to increase your pension (to 1/65th) or decrease (to 1/105th) in exchange for salary through our flexible benefits programme each year. The Bank has the discretion to vary standard accrual rates and dial up and dial down rates at any time and to withdraw dial up and dial down options at any time.
• A discretionary performance award based on a current award pool.
• A 8% benefits allowance with the option to take as salary or purchase a wide range of flexible benefits.
• 26 days' annual leave with option to buy up to 12 additional days through flexible benefits.
• Private medical insurance and income protection.

National Security Vetting Process

Employment in this role will be subject to the National Security Vetting clearance process (and typically can take between 6 to 12 weeks post offer) and the passing of additional Bank security checks in accordance with the Bank policy. Further information regarding the vetting and security clearance requirements for the role will be provided to the successful applicant, and information about how the Bank processes personal data for these purposes, is set out in the Bank's Privacy Notice.

The Bank of England welcomes applications from all candidates, but as a UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) approved sponsor, we have a responsibility to comply with the Immigration Rules and guidance. As such, our ability to employ individuals who require sponsorship for immigration purposes is limited. The Bank cannot guarantee that you and / or the role you are applying for will be eligible for sponsorship and that any application made to UKVI will be successful. Eligibility will therefore be considered on a case by case basis.

The Application Process

Important: Please ensure that you complete the 'work history' section and answer ALL the application questions fully. All candidate applications are anonymised to ensure that our hiring managers will not be able to see your personal information, including your CV, when reviewing your application details at the screening stage. It's therefore really important that you fill out the work history and application form questions, as your answers will form a critical part of the initial selection process.

This role closes on 30 May 2025.

The assessment process will comprise of two interview stages.

Please apply online, ensuring that you complete your work history and answer ALL the application questions fully and in detail as your application will not be considered if all mandatory questions are not fully completed.

About Us

We are the UK's central bank - and we are a bank like no other; known by our peers for our world-leading thinking on policy and strategy.

Our mission is to promote the good of the people of the UK by maintaining monetary and financial stability. We seek to keep prices stable and people's money safe. We know our work matters to people, to families, up and down the UK. We are driven by curiosity and the desire to do important, challenging work.

It takes a great team to run the Bank of England. We rely on each other to play our part. We benefit from a collaborative culture and long-established flexible ways of working, supporting our colleagues balance their work and personal lives. We strive to be a place where people feel they belong and have equal access to opportunities, because different perspectives helps us make the best decisions for the public.

There's much to gain from working with us - from career defining work at the heart of the UK economy, being part of a fantastic team, and a rewarding compensation package.

Join us and find a bank like no other. Together, we can make a difference.

The Bank of England will use and protect the information you provide when you apply for a role with us, in line with our obligations under data protection law. This is so we can assess your suitability for the role and administer your application. If you're successful we'll use it to offer you a position and onboard you to join the Bank.

If you would like more details about how your information will be used and your information rights, please visit our recruitment privacy notice

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