Summary
A lead infrastructure engineer manages third party provision of infrastructure services and the provision of expertise to develop architectural solutions for infrastructure services, throughout the service product life cycle.
At this role level, you will:
• oversee programmes and projects
• work with technical architects to translate the architectural designs into operations and support technical architects in operationalising the designs
• lead and direct infrastructure specialist teams in building, managing, supporting and maintaining solutions according to departmental policy (if taking a managerial path)
Background
| Description | Background |
|---|---|
| Has a broad understanding of the technical and operational aspects of working with external telecommunications service suppliers. Has an extensive knowledge, both theoretical and practical of a wide range of communications systems, networks, software, hardware and supplier services, networking media, services, and facilities. Understands the technical and economic needs of the business, is budget conscious and possesses strong interpersonal skills and knowledge of project management. | Prior Knowledge and Skills |
Work Activity Components
| Title | Details |
|---|---|
| Advice/guidance (NTDS) (Level 5) | Provides advice and guidance to, business management, analysts, designers, and less experienced colleagues on all aspects of network design and technology. Ensures that all network requirements are reflected in design specifications. |
| Assessment/selection (NTDS) (Level 5) | Assists in the assessment and selection of suitable networking solutions to meet all or parts of specified requirements, including the design and establishment of call centre telecommunications systems and services. |
| Logical design (NTDS) (Level 5) | Produces logical network designs showing, for example, processes, objects, topologies and components. Identifies and applies common processes. |
| Option evaluation (NTDS) (Level 5) | Reviews network costs against external service providers, new developments and new services, initiating proposals to change network design where appropriate cost reductions and benefits can be achieved. Obtains and evaluates proposals from suppliers of equipment and software, and other network service providers. |
| Physical design and operational requirements (NTDS) (Level 5) | Translates logical designs into physical designs taking account of the target environment, performance requirements, existing systems, regulatory constraints, budgets, power supply requirements, fire protection and any potential safety-related aspects. |
| User interfaces (NTDS) (Level 5) | Specifies user/system interfaces, including reports, validation and error correction procedures, processing rules, access, security and audit controls, recovery routines and contingency procedures. |
| Automation tools (ITOP)(Level Four) | Configures tools to automate the provisioning, testing and deployment of new and changed infrastructure. |
| Incident management (ITOP)(Level Four) | Responds to operational incidents and contributes to their resolution, checking that they are managed in accordance with agreed standards and procedures. |
| Communities of practice (Level 4) | Provides advice, guidance and, where appropriate, support for the establishment and organisation of communities of practice. |
| Development needs (Level 4) | Supports the identification and prioritisation of development needs for a professional practice area. Identifies development activities that align with organisational priorities, learning and development strategies and career pathways. |
| Communication and liaison (SUPP)(Level Five) | Ensures that users in own organisation are aware of the terms and conditions of contracts and deal appropriately with suppliers, resolving any disputes or conflicts. Facilitates good communications between suppliers and users within own organisation. |
| Incidents, problems and disputes(SUPP)(Level Five) | Manages operational relationships between suppliers. Ensures potential disputes or conflicts are raised at an early stage, with clear escalation paths for resolving them. |
| Service improvements and collaboration (SUPP)(Level Five) | Manages the implementation of supplier service improvement actions. Uses suppliers' expertise to support and inform development roadmaps. |
| Supplier performance (SUPP)(Level Five) | Performs benchmarking and makes use of supplier performance data to ensure that supplier performance is properly monitored and regularly reviewed. |
Behavioural Skills
| Title | Details |
|---|---|
| Conceptual Thinking | Acquiring understanding and insights regarding the underlying issues in complex problems or situations through the development of abstract representations, the identification of patterns and the analysis of hypotheses. |
| Cross-Functional and Inter-Disciplinary Awareness | Understanding the needs, objectives and constraints of those in other disciplines and functions. |
Technical Skills
| Title | Details | Depth |
|---|---|---|
| Big Data | The discipline associated with data sets so large and/or complex that traditional data processing applications are inadequate. The data files may include structured, unstructured and/or semi-structured data, such as unstructured text, audio, video, etc. Challenges include analysis, capture, curation, search, sharing, storage, transfer, manipulation, analysis, visualization and information privacy. | Familiar with |
| Business Continuity Planning | Methods and techniques for risk assessment, business impact analysis, establishment of countermeasures and contingency arrangements relating to the serious disruption of IT services. | Familiar with |
| Communications Modelling Tools | Tools and techniques (manual or automated) that can be used to plan or document an understanding of the design, structure, relationships and usage of networks. | Proficient in |
| Corporate, Industry and Professional Standards | Applying relevant standards, practices, codes, and assessment and certification programmes to the specific organisation or business domain. | Familiar with |
| Infrastructure Architecture | The frameworks and principles on which networks, systems, equipment and resources are based both on premises and cloud-based. | Proficient in |
| Network Data Security | Network security and threat mitigation, including physical, electronic, firewalling, encryption, access, and authorisation; protecting data at rest and in transit; defending against viruses and malware; the impact of Big Data; and the integration of robust security controls into enterprise services and policies. | Proficient in |
| Network Traffic Analysis | Methods and techniques for the capture of traffic information (packet level) and the forensic analysis of this information into its constituent elements. | Proficient in |
| Safe Installation Practice | The knowledge and ability to install and maintain hardware systems to operate within their planned specification in a way that ensures they are safe to use by those authorised to work with them. | Familiar with |
| Wi-Fi | The principles, functions and operation of WiFi components, routers, hubs and repeaters and the installation of WiFi hot-spots with appropriate use of security and encryption techniques. | Proficient in |
| Networking and Communications | The planning and management of the interaction between two or more networking systems, computers or other intelligent devices. | Expert in |
| Cloud/Virtualisation | The principles and application of cloud/ virtualisation (including ownership, responsibilities and security implications). Use of tools and systems to manage virtualised environments. | Proficient in |
| Configuration Management | The discipline that gives precise control over IT assets and components by recording and maintaining information about the 'configuration items', including hardware devices, computer programs, software licences, documentation, network devices, and data centre facilities (virtualised and static). | Familiar with |
| Infrastructure/System Security | The security threats and vulnerabilities that impact and/or emanate from system hardware, software and other infrastructure components, and relevant strategies, controls and activities to prevent, mitigate, detect and resolve security incidents affecting system hardware, software and other infrastructure components. | Proficient in |
| Operating Systems | System software that controls activities such as input, output, dynamic resource allocation, and error reporting, within the operation of a computer configuration. | Proficient in |
| Programming Languages | A set of codes and syntax (supported by software tools) that enables the unambiguous translation of specified functionality into source code for the creation of computer programs. | Proficient in |
| Telecommunications Protocols | Rules for the inter-operation of networking components. | Proficient in |
| Third Party IT Products and Services | The IT products and/or services supplied to own organisation by external suppliers. | Proficient in |
Other Skills
| Title | Details | Depth |
|---|---|---|
| Budgets | Principles, methods, techniques and tools for the preparation and monitoring of budgets to manage costs and ensure cost-effectiveness and value for money. | Familiar with |
| Project Planning and Control Techniques | Methods and techniques associated with planning and monitoring progress of projects. | Familiar with |
| Risk Management | Methods and techniques for the assessment and management of business risk. | Familiar with |
| Techniques for Effective Meetings | Methods and techniques for running effective meetings and for understanding and influencing the roles played by participants. | Familiar with |
| Coaching Techniques | Methods and techniques for coaching individuals or groups by a balanced combination of support and direction, which could include use of virtual learning environments plus add-ons to augment feedback specific to work items, workflow or career plans. | Familiar with |
| Contract Management | Methods and techniques for managing contracts to ensure that suppliers adhere to agreed contract requirements. | Familiar with |
| Service Level Agreements | The purpose and composition of a service level agreement (SLA); the relationship between an SLA, an OLA (Operational Level Agreement) and an underpinning contract for the supply of services. | Proficient in |
Training
| Title | Details |
|---|---|
| Local Area Networks | Features and characteristics of local area networks relevant to installation and support of hardware and software components. |
| Program Design Methods and Tools | Programming or system development methods (e.g. structured program design). |
| Security Awareness | Tools and techniques to help users and employees understand the role they play in helping to combat information security breaches and for IT and security professionals to prevent and mitigate risk. |
| Software Configuration | Installation, configuration and tuning of applications or systems software. |
| User Interface Design | Principles, practices, tools and techniques for user interface design and the creation of graphical user interfaces that make user interaction with systems, software, and applications as simple and efficient as possible. |
| Wide Area Networks | Features and characteristics of networks configured over a wide area i.e. beyond the geographical boundaries of a single site. |
| Coaching | Concepts, methods and techniques for providing coaching in subject specialisms to individuals or groups (e.g. GROW model). |
| Mentoring | Methods and techniques for providing mentoring support to less experienced individuals. |
| Contract Law Principles | Knowledge and understanding of general contract law principles and awareness of key issues in contracts, such as Sale of Goods and Services Act 1982, limitations of liability, indemnities, warranties and termination rights. |
Professional Development Activity (PDA)
| Title | Details | PDA Group |
|---|---|---|
| Deputising | Standing in for supervisor or manager on a temporary basis during periods of absence. | Broadening Activities |
| Gaining Knowledge of Broader IT Issues | Increasing and maintaining currency of knowledge of broader IT issues through reading, attending and participating in seminars or conferences, special studies, temporary assignments etc. | Increasing Knowledge |
| Gaining Strategic Knowledge of Employing Organisation | Developing a comprehensive understanding of the business environment in which the employing organisation operates and its position, policies and direction in relation to health and care, country and global issues. | Increasing Knowledge |
| Job Shadowing and Special Assignments | Undertaking temporary periods or secondments in other roles, particularly those that offer a new perspective on own function or exposure to other environments and cultures. | Broadening Activities |
| Mentoring | Acting as a mentor, advising those for whom there is no direct responsibility, on matters to do with their job role, career and professional development. | Broadening Activities |
| Negotiating and Influencing | Undertaking learning and practice of negotiating with and influencing others. | Developing Professional Skills |
| Participation in Professional Body Affairs | Taking an active part in professional body affairs at branch, specialist group, committee or board level. | Participation in Professional Activities |
| Project Assignments | Participating in a project team, working group or task force established to deliver a solution to a specific problem or issue - especially valuable if the group is inter-disciplinary. | Broadening Activities |
| Research Assignments | Exploring a topic which is not part of own normal responsibilities and presenting findings to colleagues and/or management | Increasing Knowledge |
| Team Leadership | Undertaking learning and practice of the skills required to lead teams, including motivation, direction, coaching, delegation, appraisal, counselling and developing others. | Developing Professional Skills |
Qualification Components
| Title | Awarding Bodies |
|---|---|
| Chartered IT Professional (CITP) | BCS The Chartered Institute for IT |
| FEDIP Advanced Practitioner | The Federation for Informatics Professionals |
Government Digital and Data Profession Capability Framework Skills
| Skill | Level |
|---|---|
|
Coding and scripting (infrastructure engineer) Coding and scripting involves designing, writing and iterating code and scripts from prototype to production. |
Working Coding and scripting (infrastructure engineer) You can: interact with and read code write HTML and carry out baseline repair activities |
|
Information security Information security involves maintaining the security, confidentiality and integrity of information. |
Practitioner Information security You can:
|
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IT infrastructure IT infrastructure involves ensuring systems and processes are available, adaptable, reliable and secure. |
Expert IT infrastructure You can:
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Modern development standards Modern development standards involves using the latest technologies and best practices to improve the quality of the software development process. |
Expert Modern development standards You can:
|
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Ownership and initiative |
Practitioner Ownership and initiative You can: take accountability for issues that occur and be proactive in searching for potential problems achieve excellent user outcomes |
|
Problem management Problem management involves anticipating and identifying problems in systems, processes or services, and ensuring appropriate solutions are implemented. |
Working Problem management You can:
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Service focus Security technology involves understanding security architectures and identifying vulnerabilities to prevent and respond to cyber breaches. |
Working Service focus You can: take inputs and establish coherent frameworks that work |
|
Systems design IT systems analysis involves assessing current systems and implementing new ones, to improve the performance and efficiency of an organisation's applications. |
Practitioner Systems design You can: design systems characterised by medium levels of risk, impact, and business or technical complexity select appropriate design standards, methods and tools, and ensure they are applied effectively review the systems designs of others to ensure the selection of appropriate technology, efficient use of resources and integration of multiple systems and technology |
|
Systems integration Systems integration involves identifying points of connection between different systems and processes, or opportunities to combine them, and designing how the components communicate. |
Expert Systems integration You can:
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Technical understanding |
Expert Technical understanding You can: anticipate and advise on future technology changes that present opportunities for the product or programme |
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Testing Testing involves ensuring that requirements have been fully met by using appropriate tools and techniques to verify that a product or service works. |
Practitioner Testing You can: manage the planning of system and acceptance tests, co-ordinating both functional and non-functional specifications provide authoritative advice and guidance on test planning identify process improvements and contribute to the definition of best practice |
|
Troubleshooting and problem resolution |
Expert Troubleshooting and problem resolution You can: use lateral thinking to break a problem down into its component parts to identify and diagnose root causes troubleshoot and identify problems across different technology capabilities including computing, storage, networking, physical infrastructure, software, commercial-off-the-shelf software (COTS) and open source software |
The Professional Body Responsible for this job family is BCS. This job role profile was created in collaboration with BCS, using Role Model Plus.