Lead IT Systems Engineer

Government Recruitment Service; Southampton; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

A government agency in the United Kingdom is seeking a skilled Lead IT Systems Engineer to oversee and support Microsoft 365 services. The ideal candidate will lead second-line support, mentor a team of engineers, and drive project delivery while ensuring high-quality service operations. This position offers a robust benefits package, including generous annual leave and a significant pension contribution, promoting a positive work-life balance.

Benefits

Employer pension contribution of 28.97%

25 days annual leave increasing with service

Flexible working options

Qualifications

• Strong technical proficiency in Microsoft 365 services including Defender, Intune, and SharePoint.
• Experience in second-line support operations.
• Proven ability to manage teams and guide junior staff.

Responsibilities

• Lead and coach the IT Systems Engineers, providing expert escalation support.
• Manage daily task allocation and performance of Senior Systems Engineers.
• Deliver hands-on technical support to meet SLA targets.

Skills

Leadership skills

Technical Support in Microsoft 365

Incident Management

Project Delivery

Mentoring engineers

Job description

Have you got the technical depth and leadership skills to manage incidents, mentor engineers, and shape service excellence? Can you lead an engineer while driving innovation across Microsoft 365 services like Defender, Intune, and SharePoint? Do you thrive in high‑impact environments where second‑line support and project delivery go hand‑in‑hand? If so, we’d love to hear from you!

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) is seeking a skilled Lead IT Systems Engineer to join its Information Technology (IT) Directorate. Operating within the IT Support function, the Systems Engineering Team is responsible for managing and maintaining the MCA’s suite of applications and services, including Microsoft 365. The team works closely with the IT Service Desk to deliver second‑line support and ensure high‑quality service across the agency. With a focus on technical excellence, collaboration, and continual service improvement, the team supports both day‑to‑day operations and strategic IT projects.

Benefits

• Employer pension contribution of 28.97% of your salary. Read more about Civil Service Pensions here
• 25 days annual leave, increasing by 1 day each year of service (up to a maximum of 30 days annual leave), plus 8 bank holidays and a privilege day for the King’s birthday
• Flexible working options where we encourage a great work‑life balance.

Read more in the Benefits section below!

Find out more about what it's like working at: Maritime and Coastguard Agency - Department for Transport Careers

As a Lead IT Systems Engineer, you will manage and support Microsoft 365 services across the MCA, ensuring optimal performance and user experience. You’ll lead second‑line support, oversee technical projects, and act as an escalation point for the wider IT Systems Engineering team. Your work will directly contribute to the delivery of secure, reliable, and innovative IT services that support MCA’s national operations

Your responsibilities will include, but aren’t limited to:

Responsibilities

• Lead and coach the IT Systems Engineers, providing expert escalation support
• Manage daily task allocation and performance of Senior Systems Engineers
• Deliver hands‑on technical support to meet SLA targets
• Guide and mentor junior IT staff across support functions
• Drive queue and workload management to ensure service efficiency
• Oversee project delivery and resource planning for IT initiatives
• Maintain strong relationships with suppliers and technical partners
• Ensure secure, high-quality service operations aligned with MCA standards

Great line management is important to us as an organisation, and we will equip and support line managers to develop the skills they need. We aim to empower line managers to create teams where people can flourish and deliver excellent outcomes for the public.

For further information on the role, please read the role profile. Please note that the role profile is for information purposes only - whilst all elements are relevant to the role, they may not all be assessed during the recruitment process. This job advert will detail exactly what will be assessed during the recruitment process.