Senior Applications Operations Engineer - NCA - SEO

Location

Birmingham, Bristol, Calder (Normanton), Leicester, London*, Warrington

* For roles based in London, your contractual place of work will be Stratford. While the Stratford site is expected to become operational from November 2025 – March 2026, you will be required to carry out your contractual duties from Vauxhall or another reasonable location on a temporary basis during the interim period. Please note that, as Stratford will be your contractual place of work, any subsequent move from a temporary location will not entitle you to payments for travel time or costs under the Relocation and Excess Travel Policy.

About the job

Job summary

We are currently looking to recruit Senior Application Operations Engineers to work within the TI (International) Engineering and DF Engineering teams, which form part of the Specialist Operational Services function. The Specialist Operational Services (SOS) team works within the wider DDaT Enterprise Services function and runs and maintains the NCAs most sensitive operationally focused front-line IT services.

The team is comprised of IT professionals, law enforcement and staff with a technology focused mind-set, willing to go that extra mile to achieve real world benefits for the UK. Together, we ensure that specialist services are fit for purpose, agile, delivered 24/7 and have a direct impact on the NCAs mission of protecting the public from serious and organised crime (SOC).

Through developing and provisioning of cutting edge technology services, the SOS function will enhance intelligence collection, surveillance and digital forensics capabilities to support the Agency’s fight against serious and organised crime. 

The SOS function brings together Digital Forensics and Targeted Interception services which include International deployments.  Additional teams and specialist services are also being identified to move into this Engineering function so the Agency is able to respond proactively to the changing nature of the SOC threats. 

The Targeted Interception (TI) International Engineering function is responsible for deployment, configuration and support of hi-end technical capabilities including infrastructure, networking and software used within Integrated Communications Intelligence (ICI) department, wider policing partners including National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC)  and Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) and overseas partners. Targeted Interception Engineering leads on specifying, designing, developing, delivering and supporting new technical capabilities and for the requirements capture to make use of raw intelligence material for ICI and partners.

Please note, due to the nature of this role, regular international travel will be required. 

The Digital Forensics (DF) engineering function is responsible for deployment, configuration and support of hi-end digital forensics tools including infrastructure, networking and software used within the Investigations department and overseas partners.

Please note, staff within DF Engineering will form part of an on-call rota.

Job description

Digital, Data & Technology (DDaT), supports NCA operational commands with how we exploit data and to ensure the NCA uses the best technology platforms with the right tools and applications to further enable the NCA to protecting the public from serious and organised crime. We are responsible for defining and delivering our data and technology strategy, policy and architecture, and building and sustaining resilient services which are critical to our mission success.
The pace of change within the digital and tech world means we need to be agile and innovative in how we respond to threats while exploiting the opportunities this presents.

The purpose of the Senior Applications Operations Engineer role is to ensure critical digital forensic and intelligence collection applications are delivered and maintained effectively to ensure they meet the NCAs evolving operational demands. Working in a small team of highly enthusiastic IT professional staff, transferring skills within the team will ensure we are better placed to look after the SOS networks to provide full critical support, upgrades, development and maintenance.

The role is responsible for:
Delivering 1st, 2nd and mainly 3rd line support of technical systems to a professional standard, adapting to and meeting user requirements; installing new hardware, installation and configuration of a mixture of Operating Systems including Windows Server 2019, 2019, 2022 and Windows 10, 11, virtual hardware (VMWare and Hyper-V) and the use of containerized technologies; maintaining and upgrading systems in line with technical requirements for business area. An understanding of network protocols would be beneficial.

Security is extremely important for all the services that SOS maintain, therefore systems must be maintained to ensure these systems are accreditable. This includes updating system high - and low - level designs and associated documentation.  

Due to the nature of this role, travel between sites may be required. As such, a Full, clean, UK Driving License is desirable. 

This role aligns to Senior Application Operations Engineer within the Government Digital and Data career framework.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• BAU Support - Help deliver 2nd and 3rd line support of the supported SOS systems to a professional standard, meeting user requirements, reacting to system problems to ensure continued availability of SOS systems within defined service levels.  Support 1st and 2nd line functions if required to ensure the business can function as efficiently as possible.
• Installation of hardware - Installation of desktop computers, screens and build/delivery of laptops where required.
• Installation of software - Installation, updating or upgrading of software including of support, asset management plus managing licensing requirements.
• Identification of obsolescence - Notification of obsolescence issues early in the hardware lifecycle to ensure funding and approvals are in place as early as possible, avoiding unnecessary system outages due to obsolescence.
• Creation and maintenance of system documentation - Create technical designs and ensure High and Low Level Designs (HLD/LLD) are maintained to an accurate level.
• Continual Improvement - Researching advances in technology to better meet business requirements with innovative solutions to meet business or technical problems.
• Client Image Build - Creation of client images including deployment and testing, using Windows Deployment Server or similar technologies.
• Patching and upgrades - Using standard IT tooling to deploy and test software patches.
• Configuration - Implementation of Group Policies for servers and clients to ensure the secure running and use of the systems.
• DHCP and DNS - Be able to deploy DHCP and DNS services, fault find these services in the event of a system problem being identified.
• Certificates - Be able to generate system certificates at renewal or based on certificate requests.
• Server Maintenance - Provide support, upgrades, develop and maintain the servers within the current network.
• Supporting the wider SOS team - Providing support to the wider team, assisting where needed and mentoring to share knowledge and upskill less experienced staff, provide briefing sessions and training material to aid in that process.
• Assist in project work - Be the lead for new projects in developing new technologies to best meet the requirements.
• Digital forensic principles - To gain an understanding of digital forensic tools or techniques would be useful, even at a basic level.
• Networking - Have a basic understanding of networking to be able to fault find servers and / or network issues.
• Storage Management and Configuration - Provision of storage for use within IT systems.
• Active Directory Management - Upgrade of Domain Functional Levels and AD architecture in line with industry best practice.

Virtual Open Evening Event

To find out more about the role and the application process we will be holding a virtual opening evening via MS Teams on Wednesday, 22nd October 2025 at 6:00 p.m.

This event is by invitation only. To register, please click on the following link

DDat Enterprise Services Engineers - Virtual Event

Please note, you will be asked for your name and email address. The registration will close on Sunday, 19 October 2025 at 11:00 p.m.

You will not be able to register after this date and time.

Person specification

• Understanding of Servers, storage systems and configuration - In-depth knowledge of IT hardware; installation and configuration of operating systems including virtualized environments.
• Problem Solving - Using logic and imagination to make sense of a situation and find an intelligent solution.
• Communication - Conveys information clearly and effectively through written and verbal communication. 
• Team Work - Works effectively with others to focus on and achieve joint outcomes, rather than individual goals.
• Adaptability - Be able to learn quickly in a fast-moving agile environment and adapt to new technologies.
• Fault finding - Troubleshooting and provide resolution for system incidents.  Recording and sharing the knowledge where appropriate.
• Software and applications - In-depth knowledge of software/application; installation and configuration including with virtualized environments.

On-Call Working

The post holder may be required to participate in an on call 24/7 Rota. If you do perform on-call duties, you will be entitled to an On-Call allowance, for each session you are on-call, aligned to renumeration policy.

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Managing a Quality Service
• Delivering at Pace

Technical skills

We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

• A basic knowledge of Servers including the configuration & installation.