Senior Linux / HPC Project Engineer & Team Lead

Deerfoot Recruitment Solutions Limited; Haywards Heath; On-site; GBP 65,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading HPC data centre organization in the United Kingdom is seeking a Senior Linux/HPC Project Engineer to lead projects, provide expert technical support, and drive innovation in a hybrid work environment. Candidates should have strong Linux skills, project management experience, and the ability to mentor a technically skilled team. This influential role offers competitive compensation and the chance to work with cutting-edge technologies in a collaborative and dynamic team.

Benefits

Bonus

Benefits

Qualifications

• Strong technical background with advanced Linux engineering/architect-level experience.
• Proven ability to run technical projects from discovery to implementation.
• Experience integrating new technologies into business environments.

Responsibilities

• Lead and deliver end-to-end technical projects.
• Provide 3rd line escalation support for complex technical issues.
• Integrate new tools and technologies into business functions.

Skills

Linux Administration

HPC Environments / Clustering

Ansible

Puppet

GitLab

Terraform

Containerisation

Docker

Kubernetes

OpenStack

CI/CD

Scripting in Bash / Python / Perl

ITSM tools

Jira

Cloud Administration

Virtualisation

GPU Technologies

RAID Technologies

Oil Immersion Cooling

CCRBs

Education

Relevant certifications: LPIC‑2/3, CompTIA Linux+, ITIL Foundation

Job description

Senior Linux/HPC Project Engineer & Team Lead

Hybrid Working with Offices near Haywards Heath, West Sussex

Package: Salary Circa £65k DOE + Benefits + Bonus

Overview

Join an international, next-generation HPC data centre organisation as a Senior HPC Engineer and Eastern Hemisphere Technical Project Team member. This is a varied, high-impact position with broad responsibility – blending Level 3 technical support, technical project delivery, leadership, and cross‑team collaboration.

Key responsibilities

• Lead and deliver end‑to‑end technical projects: discovery, evaluation, proof of concept, implementation, documentation, and presenting outcomes to a wide audience.
• Provide 3rd line ("last line") escalation support for the most complex technical issues.
• Work extensively on technical projects and proof of concepts, focusing on next‑generation data centre technologies (e.g. oil immersion cooling).
• Integrate new tools and technologies into business functions and continuously look to improve how existing systems operate.
• Act as a senior technical engineer/architect within an HPC and next‑gen data centre environment.
• Serve as a strong deputy to senior leadership, stepping up to run meetings, gather updates, and communicate clearly with senior stakeholders when required.
• Present confidently to various audiences, propose new technologies, and ensure communication is clear and professional at all times.
• Promote collaboration, pull together a technically strong but introverted team, and support mentoring as needed.
• Be proactive and autonomous: identify improvements and solutions independently, and bring them forward for team consideration.
• Potential travel to support wider regional projects, including new data centre builds (especially within Asia‑Pacific), as required.
• When available, join a 24/7 on‑call rota (approximately 10 % on‑call allowance), once settled into the role and as dictated by team needs.

Requirements

• Strong technical background with advanced Linux engineering/architect‑level experience; direct HPC background is highly desirable but not mandatory if you have high‑level Linux and architectural skills and learn quickly.
• Proven ability to run technical projects end‑to‑end: from discovery through evaluation, proof of concept, implementation, documentation, and presentation.
• Experience integrating new technologies into business environments and improving existing systems.
• Ability to act as a hands‑on senior technical engineer while also stepping up as deputy when needed.
• Comfortable running meetings, gathering updates, and communicating clearly and confidently with both technical colleagues and senior business stakeholders.
• Strong presentation skills; capable of proposing and explaining new technologies to different audiences.
• Team‑oriented mindset – able to mentor, encourage collaboration, and help pull together a group of technically excellent but introverted engineers.
• Displays clear leadership potential or established leadership experience, with a willingness to develop people and stakeholder management skills.
• Proactive and autonomous: able to identify challenges and introduce improvements without waiting for specific instruction.
• Mature and experienced enough to fit as a senior technical leader.
• Excellent communication in English, with experience engaging UK‑based stakeholders.

Technical Stack / Skills

Linux Administration, HPC Environments / Clustering, Ansible, Puppet, GitLab, Terraform, Containerisation, Docker, Kubernetes, OpenStack, CI/CD, Scripting in Bash / Python / Perl, ITSM tools, Jira, Cloud Administration, Virtualisation, GPU Technologies, RAID Technologies, Oil Immersion Cooling, CCRBs.

Relevant certifications: LPIC‑2/3, CompTIA Linux+, ITIL Foundation.

What Makes This Unique

• Wide remit: combine projects, leadership, and L3 troubleshooting.
• Discovery and adoption of emerging tech (e.g., immersion cooling).
• Regional influence, with possible future travel across Asia‑Pacific.
• Fast‑growing, collaborative, close‑knit team (4‑5 core members).
• Hands‑on role with lasting impact on team, tech vision, and operations.

Location & Working Arrangements

The office is near Haywards Heath / Burgess Hill and is easily commutable (15‑35 minutes) from Crawley, Horsham, Worthing and Uckfield. Within an hour of Guildford, Woking, Royal Tunbridge Wells, South London, Maidstone and Eastbourne. Hybrid working is available, but candidates should ideally be within an hour of the office.

Visa Sponsorship

Visa sponsorship is available; however, prior UK‑based experience is required. You must already reside and be settled in the UK with UK employer experience.