Infrastructure Engineer - Database Administration

South Hampshire College Group; England; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous annual leave

Enhanced employer pension contribution

Regular training and development

Job summary

South Hampshire College Group is seeking an experienced Infrastructure Engineer (Database Administration) to join our Group IT team. You will own and optimise enterprise database platforms, ensuring security, availability and resilience across a multi-site environment.

You will lead 2nd line infrastructure support while acting as technical lead for database administration, collaborating with many stakeholders to deliver robust, scalable solutions and continuous improvement across the estate.

Qualifications

• Experience administering enterprise database environments.
• Experience with backup, recovery, security controls.
• Experience with cloud-based database technologies.

Responsibilities

• Act as the Group's technical lead for database administration.
• Develop and maintain secure, high-performing database environments.
• Monitor performance, availability, security; manage backups and migrations.
• Provide 2nd line infrastructure support across the Group's IT estate.

Skills

Enterprise database administration

SQL Server

Backup and recovery strategies

Security controls

Disaster recovery principles

Documentation skills

Stakeholder management

Tools

Microsoft SQL Server

Cloud databases

Job description

We are seeking an experienced and highly motivated Infrastructure Engineer (Database Administration) to join our Group IT team. Reporting to the Head of IT Infrastructure, you will play a pivotal role in maintaining, developing, and optimising our database platforms while supporting the wider IT infrastructure estate.

This is an exciting opportunity for a skilled infrastructure professional with specialist database administration expertise to take ownership of database availability, security, integrity, performance, maintenance, and recovery across a complex and evolving technology environment.

Working closely with colleagues across Infrastructure, Operations, and third-party suppliers, you will help ensure our systems remain secure, resilient, accessible, and aligned with our Secure, Accessible, Harmonious, Available, Robust and Adaptive (SAHARA) principles.

About the Role

As an Infrastructure Engineer (Database Administration), you will provide 2nd line infrastructure support across the Group's IT estate while acting as the technical lead for database administration.

You will be responsible for developing and maintaining secure, high-performing, and resilient database environments that support critical business systems and services. Alongside your specialist database responsibilities, you will contribute to the wider infrastructure team, supporting operational excellence, system availability, continuous improvement, and strategic development.

This role offers the opportunity to work across a broad range of technologies while taking ownership of a key area of the Group's digital infrastructure.

We offer great benefits including;

• Generous annual leave
• Enhanced employer pension contribution
• Regular training and development

Duties

Database Administration & Technical Leadership

• Act as the Group's technical lead for database administration.
• Lead the development and continuous improvement of database platforms, standards, and operational procedures.
• Provide specialist administration of database environments, ensuring availability, integrity, security, and performance.
• Manage database access controls, patching, backups, recovery processes, and lifecycle maintenance.
• Maintain comprehensive database documentation, configuration records, support arrangements, and recovery procedures.
• Provide technical oversight for database-related incidents, upgrades, migrations, supplier activity, and change requests.
• Ensure databases are secure, resilient, and compliant with relevant legislation and industry standards.

Infrastructure Development & Delivery

• Design, configure, and implement secure and scalable database solutions and associated integrations.
• Support the delivery of infrastructure projects and service improvements.
• Work closely with internal stakeholders to understand requirements and develop effective technical solutions.
• Collaborate with third-party suppliers and consultants to ensure best-practice implementation and support.
• Support business continuity and disaster recovery planning, testing, and documentation.
• Contribute to the Group's technical strategy and infrastructure roadmap.

Performance Monitoring & Continuous Improvement

• Monitor database performance, availability, capacity, backup success, and security.
• Identify and resolve database bottlenecks, risks, vulnerabilities, and single points of failure.
• Analyse performance trends and recommend improvements to enhance efficiency and reliability.
• Monitor infrastructure and user trends to support future developments.
• Research and evaluate emerging technologies and make recommendations for adoption where appropriate.

Infrastructure Support

• Provide expert 2nd line support across the Group's IT infrastructure.
• Support the maintenance and availability of infrastructure services alongside other Infrastructure Engineers.
• Manage escalated technical issues from the Operations team in line with agreed service levels.
• Assist in the development and mentoring of Operations team members through training and knowledge sharing.
• Ensure compliance with GDPR, Cyber Essentials, ISO standards, and other relevant regulatory requirements.

What We're Looking For

• Experience administering enterprise database environments.
• Strong knowledge of database administration, backup and recovery strategies, performance tuning, and security controls.
• Experience supporting business-critical systems in a complex IT environment.
• Understanding of database resilience, disaster recovery, and business continuity principles.
• Experience troubleshooting complex technical issues and delivering effective solutions.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and documentation skills.
• Experience working with external suppliers and technical partners.
• Experience with Microsoft SQL Server and other relational database platforms.
• Experience supporting cloud-based database technologies and services.
• Knowledge of database migration, integration, and optimisation projects.
• Familiarity with GDPR, Cyber Essentials, ISO 27001, and information security best practices.
• Experience working within education or multi-site organisations.

Personal Qualities

• Strong attention to detail and commitment to data integrity.
• A proactive and collaborative approach to problem-solving.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Commitment to continuous professional development.
• Ability to manage competing priorities in a fast-paced environment.

About Us

The South Hampshire College Group (SHCG) is a dynamic, purpose driven Further Education organisation with a commitment to Creating Better Futures for learners, employers and communities within South Hampshire and beyond.

We pride ourselves on living our values - Collaborative, Inclusive and Aspirational. We also understand the difference exceptional employees can make to us delivering outstanding results and we are always seeking to attract talent who can add value and who will be proud to be part of our growing organisation.

South Hampshire College Group is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Our recruitment practices follow safer recruitment guidance, including enhanced DBS checks, online checks, and thorough pre‑employment vetting. We value equity, diversity, inclusion and belonging, and welcome applications from all backgrounds.