> Markdown version of [/jobs/ext/2871369-it-lead-engineer](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/jobs/ext/2871369-it-lead-engineer). Every page supports `.md` or `Accept: text/markdown`. Links point to the HTML versions so they work for humans too. Agent guide: [/agents.md](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/agents.md). --- # IT Lead Engineer - **Company:** PhysicsX Ltd - **Location:** London, UK - **Experience:** Expert - **Salary:** £53,646.0 - **Contract:** Permanent contract - **Skills:** Microsoft Windows, Apple Mac Systems, Bash Shell, Cloud Computing, Configuration Management, Continuous Integration, Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol, Linux, Programming Tools, Domain Name System (DNS), Github, Identity and Access Management, Virtual Private Networks (VPN), Job Scheduling, Python (Programming Language), Linux System Administration, Automation of Marketing, Routing, Performance Tuning, Public Key Infrastructure, Windows PowerShell, Wireless Networks, Data Logging, Sysadmin, Firewalls (Computer Science), Information Technology, Casper Suite, Build Process, Slurm, Software Version Control - **Published:** September 13, 2026 - **Apply:** https://www.adzuna.co.uk/jobs/details/5881150650 ## About the Role * 7-10 years of experience in IT infrastructure, systems administration, or HPC support, with at least 2-3 years in a lead or senior technical role. * Demonstrable hands-on experience managing HPC infrastructure including cluster administration, job schedulers, and performance tuning for CPU/GPU workloads. * Experience with compliance frameworks (e.g. SOC 2, ISO 27001) and able to translate control requirements into actual technical implementation (access reviews, logging, encryption, change management), not just pass an audit checklist. * Strong Linux administration skills, plus comfort supporting a mixed Linux/macOS/Windows environment typical of an engineering org. * Experience supporting developer tooling and workflows including CI/CD systems, version control, license management, and internal engineering platforms. * Experience in cloud-native environments across multiple cloud vendors. * Strong experience designing and setting up zero trust environments. * Comfort working in a scale-up: fewer guardrails, more ownership, and a need to build process as well as solve problems. * Strong networking fundamentals and hands-on operational experience: routing and switching, segmentation, firewalls, VPN, enterprise wireless, DNS/DHCP/IPAM and TLS/PKI, with confident packet-level troubleshooting. * Excellent structured troubleshooting: you can take an ambiguous "it's slow" report, isolate the layer, prove the cause and prevent the recurrence and teach that method to someone else. * Strong automation and scripting ability (Python, Bash, PowerShell) with infrastructure as code and configuration management as your default way of working. Nice to Have Skills * Strong AV experience: designing and building AV from scratch, not just supporting existing setups. * Compliance automation platforms (Vanta, Drata). * Relevant certifications (e.g. CCNA,CCNP, SC-300, MS-102, RHCE, Jamf etc.) * Experience configuring security tooling and working with security teams. ## Description As IT Lead Engineer, you'll own the infrastructure that lets our engineers push CPU/GPU-heavy physics simulations without hitting a wall. You'll bring HPC operator experience rather than generalist sysadmin breadth, paired with the calm to fix a boardroom AV fault and the judgment to mentor the engineer who caused it. This is a high-ownership role in a scale-up: you'll be building process as much as running it, and you'll be the person people escalate to when "it's slow" needs a real root cause, not a restart. What you will do * Own and evolve our HPC environment: cluster administration, job scheduling (e.g., Slurm/PBS/LSF), performance tuning, and capacity planning for compute-heavy engineering workloads. * Experience with Entra ID Governance: Access Reviews, Identity Protection, Privileged Identity Management (PIM) at scale. * Provide hands-on IT support across the company with an automation-first mindset * Mentor and develop junior IT/support engineers, building a culture of ownership and technical rigor rather than ticket-closing. * Act as an escalation point for complex or high-priority issues across HPC, dev tooling, and general IT support. * Configure, support and improve developer tooling (e.g. Github Actions/Workflows, JFrog, Chainguard) ## Related Videos - [Running Secure Life Science Research at Scale using Hybrid GPU HPC and Kubernetes 🧬](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/100355-running-secure-life-science-research-at-scale-using-hybrid-gpu-hpc-and-kubernetes) - [Innovating Developer Tools with AI: Insights from GitHub Next](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/1268-innovating-developer-tools-with-ai-insights-from-github-next) - [Docker network without Docker](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/1418-docker-network-without-docker) - [Shipping Faster with Less: Render on Cloud Hosting, AI Workloads, and the Future of DevOps](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/1894-shipping-faster-with-less-render-on-cloud-hosting-ai-workloads-and-the-future-of-devops) - [Bringing AI Model Testing and Prompt Management to Your Codebase with GitHub Models](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/1536-bringing-ai-model-testing-and-prompt-management-to-your-codebase-with-github-models) - [Docker exec without Docker](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/1094-docker-exec-without-docker) ## Related Articles - [How We Built a Worry-Free System That Runs for 10+ Years – And What We’d Do Again](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/751-how-we-built-a-worry-free-system-that-runs-for-10-years-and-what-we-d-do-again) - [What’s the Difference between a Junior, Mid, and Senior Developer?](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/238-what-s-the-difference-between-a-junior-mid-and-senior-developer) - [The Most Popular IT Jobs on the Market](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/376-the-most-popular-it-jobs-on-the-market) - [Dev Digest 120 - Apple and peers](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/455-dev-digest-120-apple-and-peers) - [What Are The Top Skills Required For Azure Developers?](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/77-what-are-the-top-skills-required-for-azure-developers) - [Why Upskilling And Reskilling is Important For Developers](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/428-why-upskilling-and-reskilling-is-important-for-developers)