System admin

Pontoon; Chester; On-site; GBP 38,000 - 52,000; Full time

Job summary

Pontoon is seeking a Senior Systems Administrator / Patching Coordinator to support server patching and security remediation across a large technology environment. The role focuses on coordination, scheduling and remediation management rather than hands-on administration.

The successful candidate will work with cross-functional teams including Applied Information Technology (AIT) to understand deployment requirements and ensure patches and packages are scheduled and delivered on time.

Qualifications

• Previous experience in a Systems Administration, Systems Analysis, Patching or Infrastructure coordination environment.
• Experience with large numbers of servers or large-scale infrastructure estates.
• Understanding of Windows and Linux environments.
• Experience coordinating patching, fixes or software/package deployments.
• Understanding server-related security vulnerabilities and remediation.
• Strong communication and stakeholder-management skills.
• Excellent written communication skills; ability to interpret requests from technical teams.
• Strong organisational skills to coordinate multiple activities and deadlines.
• Comfortable working across technical teams without being the hands-on technical expert.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate server patching activity across Windows and Linux environments.
• Manage and schedule servers for patching and remediation.
• Coordinate deployment of fixes, patches and software packages.
• Collaborate with AIT and other teams to understand deployment requirements.
• Translate technical requirements into actionable patching activities.
• Ensure packages are prepared and scheduled for deployment.
• Monitor remediation of server security vulnerabilities.
• Maintain awareness of patching status and outstanding remediation.
• Support security reporting relating to servers and patching.
• Communicate updates to technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Maintain records and provide written patching updates.
• Coordinate activity across large server estates within timescales.

Skills

Server patching

Windows

Linux

Coordination

Stakeholder mgmt

Written comms

Organisational skills

Non hands-on tech

Job description

Systems Administrator / Patching Coordinator

Location: Chester - 3 days per week
Contract: 12 months

Role Overview

We are looking for a Senior Systems Administrator / Patching Coordinator to support the coordination and management of server patching and security remediation activity across a large technology environment.

This is not a hands-on technical Systems Administrator role. The successful candidate will have a good general understanding of Windows and Linux environments, combined with strong coordination, communication and organisational skills.

The role will involve working closely with technical teams, particularly Applied Information Technology (AIT), to understand patching and software deployment requirements, coordinate activity across servers, and ensure required fixes and packages are scheduled and delivered appropriately.

Key Responsibilities

• Coordinate server patching activity across Windows and Linux environments.
• Manage and schedule servers for patching and security remediation.
• Coordinate the deployment of required fixes, patches and software packages.
• Work with AIT and other technical teams to understand deployment requirements.
• Translate technical requirements into clear and actionable patching activities.
• Ensure required packages are prepared and scheduled for deployment.
• Monitor and coordinate remediation of server-related security vulnerabilities.
• Maintain awareness of server patching status and outstanding remediation activity.
• Support security reporting relating to servers and patching.
• Communicate effectively with technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Maintain accurate records and provide clear written updates on patching activity.
• Coordinate activity across large server estates and ensure work is completed within agreed timescales.

Technical Environment

The candidate should have a general understanding of:

• Windows Server
• Linux
• Unix/Solaris environments
• Server patching and vulnerability remediation
• Software/package deployment
• Server scheduling and maintenance
• Security and vulnerability reporting
• Patching automation and associated processes

Expert-level technical knowledge is not required. The key requirement is an understanding of how Windows and Linux server environments operate and how patches, fixes and packages are coordinated and deployed.

Essential Skills & Experience

• Previous experience in a Systems Administration, Systems Analysis, Patching or Infrastructure coordination environment.
• Experience working with large numbers of servers or a large-scale infrastructure estate.
• Understanding of Windows and Linux environments.
• Experience coordinating patching, fixes or software/package deployments.
• Understanding of server-related security vulnerabilities and remediation.
• Strong communication and stakeholder-management skills.
• Excellent written communication skills.Ability to understand and interpret requests from technical teams.
• Strong organisational skills, with the ability to coordinate multiple activities and deadlines.
• Comfortable working across technical teams without necessarily being the hands-on technical expert.

Ideal Background

Candidates may come from backgrounds such as:

• Systems Administrator
• Systems Analyst
• Infrastructure Analyst
• Patching Coordinator
• Infrastructure Coordinator
• Server Administrator
• IT Operations Analyst
• Vulnerability/Remediation Analyst

Candidates with experience supporting large server estates would be particularly relevant.

Role Focus

The key distinction is that this role is primarily focused on coordination, scheduling, communication and remediation management, rather than hands-on server administration.