Senior Operations Engineer

At Smiths we apply leading-edge technology to design, manufacture and deliver smarter engineering solutions for mission-critical applications, solving some of the world's toughest problems for our customers, our communities and our world. We are a FTSE100, global business of around 15,000 colleagues, based in 50 countries. Our solutions have a real impact on lives across the planet, enabling industry, improving healthcare, enhancing security, advancing connectivity, and supporting new homes. Our products and services are often critical to our customers’ operations, while our proprietary technology and high service levels help create competitive advantage. We welcome colleagues with a curious mind, who are happy with responsibility, enjoy a challenge and are attracted by the idea of working at a business with an almost 170-year history of innovation, and four global divisions, all experts in their field. 

Job Purpose: As a Senior Operations Engineer, you will play a key role in maintaining and enhancing the technology services that support Smiths' global operations. Working across infrastructure and cloud technologies, you will help deliver reliable, secure and modern services for colleagues worldwide while contributing to technology improvement and transformation initiatives.

We are looking for a proactive individual who takes ownership, takes pride in delivering excellent service, and is motivated to identify opportunities to improve the user experience, resolve problems and help colleagues succeed.

Responsibilities:

• Proactively ensure high levels of systems and infrastructure availability
• Troubleshoot end-to-end solutions spanning multiple operating systems, cloud platforms and networking technologies
• Support and administer Microsoft operating systems, Hyper-V, Active Directory, Entra ID, Azure and Azure Local (Azure Stack HCI)
• Install, configure, test and maintain operating systems, application software, backup solutions and system management tools
• Support the management and optimisation of system hardware and facilitating resources
• Diagnose and resolve physical and virtual server issues
• Identify opportunities to improve server and operating infrastructure performance
• Assist with operational ticket management, incident resolution and service improvements
• Support the implementation and adoption of Smiths BIS standards
• Collaborate with colleagues across infrastructure, cloud, networking and service teams to deliver effective technology solutions

Technical Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Experience supporting Wintel infrastructure, including Windows Server administration, patching and troubleshooting
• Working knowledge of Active Directory services, including Group Policy, DNS, DHCP and identity management
• Experience with Microsoft Entra ID, including authentication, identity lifecycle management and hybrid identity solutions
• Experience or exposure to Azure Local (HCI) environments and their integration with on-premises and cloud infrastructure
• Knowledge of Azure Local physical infrastructure, Software-Defined Networking (SDN), Storage Spaces Direct (S2D), and Azure Arc services would be beneficial
• Ability to troubleshoot infrastructure and performance issues within a remote support environment
• Understanding of DevOps fundamentals; Microsoft Certified: DevOps Engineer Expert or equivalent practical experience with Azure DevOps and CI/CD is advantageous
• Strong PowerShell scripting skills for task automation, system administration, and environment configuration
• Proven experience building and maintaining automated CI/CD pipelines using Jenkins and GitHub
• Solid understanding of Git workflows (branching, merging, pull requests) to manage automation code
• Experience with tools such as SolarWinds, BMC Helix, BeyondTrust PRA or Guardicore is desirable
• Ability to collaborate effectively across networking, server, cloud and identity teams
• Knowledge of ITIL methodology; ITIL certification is advantageous
• A willingness to learn new technologies and continually develop technical expertise
• Strong sense of ownership and accountability for delivering high-quality outcomes
• Proactive approach to identifying, investigating and resolving issues
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills, with a customer-focused mindset

Planning and Decision Making:

• Identify opportunities to enhance infrastructure services, processes and user experience
• Anticipate potential issues and take preventative action where possible
• Prioritise activities and issues effectively within a complex global environment
• Contribute ideas and recommendations that support continuous improvement and operational excellence
• Work collaboratively with internal teams and external partners to resolve problems and shape future technology direction

Impact and Scope: 

• Global scope supporting all Smiths divisions and business functions
• Contribute to the delivery of secure, reliable and high-performing technology services used by colleagues worldwide
• Support infrastructure services that enable business operations, productivity and growth across the organisation

Key Internal and External Relationships: 

• Demonstrate and promote Smiths Core Values: Customer Focus, Ownership, Integrity, Safety and Respect
• Build strong working relationships with Infrastructure Management, Service Management, Business Partnering and Infrastructure teams
• Collaborate with colleagues across technology functions to deliver reliable and effective services
• Maintain productive relationships with strategic vendors including AT&T and other third-party technology partners

Why Smiths?

• Growth Opportunities: At Smiths, we believe in your growth as much as our own. You’ll have the chance to shape your career and expand your leadership capabilities in an ever-evolving global landscape.
• Collaborative Culture: Join a diverse, collaborative team where innovation and fresh ideas are encouraged.
• Work-Life Balance: Enjoy flexible working arrangements and a supportive work environment.

We believe that different perspectives and backgrounds are what make a company flourish. All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment regardless of color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, economic status, disability, age, or any other legally protected characteristics. We are proud to be an inclusive company with values grounded in equality and ethics, where we celebrate, support, and embrace diversity.

At no time during the hiring process will Smiths Group, nor any of our recruitment partners ever request payment to enable participation – including, but not limited to, interviews or testing. Avoid fraudulent requests by applying jobs directly through our career’s website (Careers - Smiths Group plc)