Platforms, Networking & Cloud Lead

Thorntons Law LLP; City of Edinburgh; Hybrid; GBP 30,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

Thorntons Law LLP seeks a Platforms, Networking & Cloud Lead to shape and modernise our technology foundation. This senior role offers hybrid working from Edinburgh or Dundee, with close collaboration to the Infrastructure & Cyber Security Manager and senior stakeholders.

You will guide hosting, cloud, networking and security initiatives, ensuring resilient services while mentoring teams and driving continuous improvement across the IT landscape.

Qualifications

• Significant hands-on experience in senior technical roles covering platform engineering, hosting, server operations, cloud and networking.
• Deep knowledge of Microsoft Azure, hybrid and private cloud environments, and enterprise networking.
• Understanding of Zero Trust principles and Secure Access technologies.
• Ability to act independently as a senior technical advisor on complex issues.
• Experience reviewing work delivered by MSPs, cloud providers and partners.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with evidence-based recommendations.

Responsibilities

• Lead operation and continual improvement of hosting, servers, storage, virtualization and platform services.
• Design and maintain infrastructure across Azure, private cloud, hyperconverged and colocation environments.
• Provide senior technical leadership across LAN, WAN, WLAN, remote access and SD-WAN.
• Lead advanced troubleshooting and root cause analysis for complex infrastructure incidents.
• Identify and reduce platform, cloud and network risks; support resilience and disaster recovery.
• Analyse performance, capacity, resilience, cost and lifecycle position of platforms.
• Coach and develop colleagues, support knowledge transfer and insourcing initiatives.

Skills

Platform engineering

Hosting

Server operations

Cloud

Networking

Azure

Zero Trust

Stakeholder management

Leadership

Problem solving

Tools

Azure

Job description

Salary: £30,000 - 70,000 per year

Requirements

• Significant hands-on experience in senior technical roles covering platform engineering, hosting, server operations, cloud and networking, ideally within a complex enterprise environment.
• Deep practical knowledge of Microsoft Azure, hybrid and private cloud environments, server and desktop virtualisation, storage, backup, disaster recovery and hyperconverged infrastructure, alongside strong enterprise networking expertise including routing, switching, firewalls, segmentation, SD-WAN and remote access.
• A good understanding of Zero Trust principles, ZTNA, cloud networking and modern secure access technologies such as Secure Service Edge.
• The confidence and ability to act independently as a senior technical advisor on complex, non‑routine or sensitive issues, using sound judgement to assess options, risks and recommendations.
• Experience reviewing, challenging and assuring work delivered by managed service providers, cloud providers and implementation partners, with the ability to balance technical requirements, risk, cost, supportability and long-term value.
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills, with the ability to assess technical risk, resilience, performance, capacity and lifecycle position and turn this into clear, evidence‑based recommendations.
• Strong communication, stakeholder management and influencing skills, with the confidence to challenge constructively and explain complex technical matters clearly to both technical and non‑technical audiences.
• Technical expertise, curiosity, sound judgement, leadership and a genuine sense of ownership, with experience supporting technology planning, lifecycle management, budgeting, procurement, supplier performance and continuous service improvement.

Responsibilities

• Lead the operation and continual improvement of hosting, servers, storage, virtualisation and wider platform services, ensuring they remain available, performant, secure, well maintained and properly documented.
• Design, plan, build and maintain infrastructure across Microsoft Azure, private cloud, hyperconverged and colocation environments, supporting cloud adoption, modernisation and transitions between hosting models.
• Provide senior technical leadership across LAN, WAN, WLAN, remote access, SD‑WAN, segmentation, Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) and other modern networking technologies.
• Lead advanced troubleshooting and root cause analysis for complex infrastructure incidents, driving practical, lasting solutions and continually improving resilience and reliability.
• Identify and reduce platform, cloud and networking risks; support cyber resilience, business continuity and disaster recovery; and review technical designs, changes and risk assessments to maintain strong standards and controls.
• Analyse technical performance, capacity, resilience, cost and lifecycle position to ensure platforms remain fit for purpose, supportable and cost‑effective.
• Constructively challenge supplier recommendations where they introduce unnecessary cost, complexity or risk, while supporting procurement, budgeting, renewals, supplier performance and value for money decisions.
• Support IT leadership with technology planning and wider change programmes, assessing feasibility, risk, cost, resourcing and operational readiness across platform, networking and cloud services.
• Coach and develop colleagues, lead knowledge transfer and insourcing initiatives, and build internal technical capability through mentoring, documentation and practical guidance.

Technologies

• Azure
• Cloud
• Support
• LAN
• Network
• Security
• WLAN
• DevOps

More

At Thorntons Law, we are a different kind of law firm where every moment matters. We are looking for our Platforms, Networking & Cloud Lead to help shape and modernise the technology foundation that supports our firm. This senior role is based in Dundee or Edinburgh, with a hybrid working pattern, and offers the opportunity to work closely with our Infrastructure & Cyber Security Manager, IT colleagues, senior stakeholders and technology partners. We offer a strong benefits package including 39 days annual leave, contributory pension scheme, private medical insurance, critical illness cover, income protection, group life assurance, exceptional family leave packages, health care cash plan, wellbeing support, free legal fees for moving home and life planning, cycle to work, gym and retail discounts, professional development opportunities, and a welcoming, inclusive workplace that supports diversity and flexibility.