Lead Infrastructure Engineer

Zest.; Bournemouth; Hybrid; GBP 47,000 - 52,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible + hybrid working

Learning & mentoring plan

24 days annual leave (+5 with long‑ten

Bonus scheme

Health & wellbeing support

Modern office near West Cliff Beach

Job summary

Zest Plan Bournemouth is seeking a Lead Infrastructure Engineer to act as the senior escalation point for infrastructure, cloud and IT support. This hands-on role offers influence to shape technology use, including AI, with space to bring in new tools as the team grows.

You will mentor junior engineers, maintain documentation, and drive automation and security best practices across on‑premise and cloud environments. Hybrid work available in the UK.

Qualifications

• Five+ years in 2nd/3rd line IT support or senior infrastructure role.
• Strong MS tech experience: Windows Server, M365, Azure, Entra ID, Intune, Exchange Online, SharePoint, Teams, OneDrive.
• Solid AD, DNS, DHCP, GPO, CA, MFA, RBAC and identity controls.

Responsibilities

• Act as senior escalation point for complex infra, cloud, networking, security, and end-user issues.
• Lead infra and IT projects across Microsoft 365, Azure, Windows Server, virtualization, networking, and security.
• Support and improve hybrid on‑premise and cloud environments.
• Mentor junior engineers and develop technical capability across the IT team.
• Maintain clear tech docs, processes and standards.
• Identify automation opportunities and introduce new technologies.
• Advise on secure, practical use of AI within the business.

Skills

Microsoft 365

Azure

Windows Server

Entra ID

Intune

Exchange Online

SharePoint

Teams

OneDrive

Active Directory

DNS

DHCP

Group Policy

MFA

RBAC

Networking

Security

VMware vSphere

Hyper-V

Documentation

Mentoring

Tools

VMware vSphere

Hyper‑V

Job description

Bournemouth | Hybrid | £47k-£52k (DOE) | 1 year contract with future opportunity for permanent role

We cannot offer visa sponsorship, please only apply if you have the right to work in the UK.

Keep the engine room running and help shape where it goes next

We're looking for a Lead Infrastructure Engineer to act as our senior technical escalation point across infrastructure, cloud and IT support. Someone who can lead projects, mentor our junior engineer, and help shape how we use technology (including AI) as we grow. This is a hands‑on role with influence: you'll have the space to bring in new tools and approaches, backed by a Founder‑led team that’s moving fast!

About Zest Plan

We’re specialists in home appliance care with 20 years of experience and a community of 40,000 UK‑based customers. We build customer trust and offer care plans with expert advice and appliance maintenance services, repairs and replacements.

What you’ll be doing

• Act as a senior escalation point for complex infrastructure, cloud, networking, security and end-user support issues.
• Lead infrastructure and IT projects across Microsoft 365, Azure, Windows Server, virtualisation, networking and security.
• Support and improve our hybrid infrastructure, including on‑premise and cloud environments.
• Mentor and guide our junior engineer, sharing knowledge and helping develop technical capability across the IT team.
• Maintain clear technical documentation, processes and standards.
• Identify opportunities to automate processes, improve resilience and introduce new technologies.
• Advise on secure, practical use of AI and emerging tools within the business.

Experience that would help you be successful

• At least five years’ experience in 2nd/3rd line IT support, infrastructure engineering or a similar senior technical role.
• Strong Microsoft technology experience, including Windows Server, Microsoft 365 administration, Entra ID, Azure, Intune, Exchange Online, SharePoint, Teams and OneDrive.
• Good understanding of Active Directory, DNS, DHCP, Group Policy, conditional access, MFA, RBAC and related identity controls.
• Experience with virtualisation technologies such as VMware vSphere or Hyper‑V.
• Solid networking knowledge across LAN, WAN, VLAN, VPN, TCP/IP, routing, wireless and managed firewalls.
• Strong security awareness, including backup and restore, endpoint protection, patching, incident response, data protection and GDPR.
• Excellent troubleshooting, communication and stakeholder management skills.
• A proactive, customer‑focused approach and the ability to manage competing priorities.
• Join a friendly, supportive and diverse Technology team.
• Work in an environment where Tech support is valued and approached positively.
• Contribute to big, meaningful projects, including cloud migration, automation and technology improvement work.
• Have the space and scope to introduce new tools and approaches.
• Receive mentoring and support from Platform and Data Architecture specialists.
• Play a key role in a growing, Founder‑led business with ambitious plans.

We care about our team as much as we do about our customer community. Joining Zest gives you access to:

• Flexible + hybrid working
• Focused learning + development plan with mentoring
• 24 days annual leave (+ up to 5 days extra with long service)
• Performance‑related bonus scheme
• Medical health cash plan + mental health support
• A Zest‑designed modern office that’s 5 mins walk to West Cliff Beach
• Zest Bites kitchen with onsite chef, subsidised meals + free refreshments including Pearhaus speciality beans coffee machine
• Social calendar with cultural, foodie + experiential events