Summary
A principal infrastructure engineer is an accomplished technical leader.
At this role level, you will:
• develop strategic and tactical engineering roadmaps for technologies and services in your area of responsibility, ensuring they’re future-proofed and that the organisation derives maximum value from investment in technologies
• potentially own the operational relationships with suppliers, ensuring services and products are delivered and aligned to industry best practice and regulatory and contractual requirements
• 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 strategic 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 6) | Provides advice and guidance to, business management, analysts, designers, and less experienced colleagues on all aspects of network design and technology. Interfaces with designers and planners from external suppliers and network service providers, to ensure that network requirements (particularly network response times, volumetric information and security requirements) are reflected in the overall specification. |
| Assessment/selection(NTDS) (Level 6) | Produces network requirements, and tender and proposal documents, and conducts reviews and evaluations of responses for the selection of appropriate suppliers, services and contracts. |
| Function/service management (NTDS) (Level 6) | Manages and coordinates a network design team, teams, or centre of expertise, taking responsibility for the design and development of complex network systems, including investigation, analysis, specification, design, building, testing, operation, maintenance, upgrade, migration and obsolescence. |
| Option evaluation (NTDS) (Level 6) | Reviews network costs against budget, public tariffs and new developments, approving proposals to change network design when appropriate. Obtains and evaluates proposals from network suppliers of equipment, software and services. |
| Physical design and operational requirements (NTDS) (Level 6) | Is aware of operational requirements especially in terms of service levels, network availability, response times, security and repair times. Proposes design enhancements, capacity changes, contingency and recovery arrangements as required, to ensure that all network design targets are met and that the networks provided meet their service level targets within the organisation's planned budget. |
| Communities of practice (Level 5) | Promotes the establishment and ongoing development of one or more community of practice (CoP). Encourages participation and ensures alignment with organisational needs. |
| Development needs (Level 5) | Determines development needs for a professional practice area. Aligns development activities with organisational priorities, learning and development strategies and career pathways. |
| Strategy, policy and standards (SUPP)(Level 5) | Maintains a broad understanding of the commercial IT environment, how the organisation sources, deploys and manages external partners and when it is appropriate to use in-house resource. Advises on policy and procedures covering the selection of suppliers, tendering and procurement. |
| Communication and liaison (SUPP)(Level 6) | Defines the approach and acts as the high-level point of contact between the customer and internal or external supplier organisations, ensuring that users in own organisation deal with supplier within the terms and conditions of the contract, and that all communications between suppliers and users within own organisation take place effectively, efficiently and in a timely manner. Is the final point of escalation for most significant issues or problems raised by the suppliers, users or own staff, and arbitrates in situations where the team members feel unable to deal with the issue themselves without more senior management support or advice |
| Incidents, problems and disputes (SUPP)(Level 6) | Assures that the quality of the services delivered by suppliers meet contractual commitments and business needs. |
| Risk management and governance (SUPP)(Level 6) | Manages risks and assures the quality of the services delivered by suppliers |
| Service improvements and collaboration (SUPP)(Level 6) | Creates an environment in which the organisation and its suppliers collaborate to their mutual benefit, ensuring positive and effective working relationships are developed and maintained across the supply chain. |
| Supplier performance (SUPP)(Level 6) | Ensures that resources and tools are in place to conduct benchmarking across the supply chain. |
| Automation tools (ITOP)(Level Five) | Investigates and manages the adoption of tools, techniques and processes (including automation) for the management of systems and services. |
| Incident management (ITOP)(Level Five) | Reviews incidents and breaches of service level agreements. Reports on findings and initiates improvement actions. |
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. |
| Leadership | Clearly articulating goals and objectives, and motivating and leading others towards their achievement. |
| Strategic Perspective | Keeping organisational objectives and strategies in mind, and ensuring courses of action are aligned with the strategic context. |
Technical Skills
| Title | Details | Depth |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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. | Expert in |
| Corporate, Industry and Professional Standards | Applying relevant standards, practices, codes, and assessment and certification programmes to the specific organisation or business domain. | 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. | Expert in |
| Networking and Communications | The planning and management of the interaction between two or more networking systems, computers or other intelligent devices. | Expert 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. | Proficient in |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| Cloud/Virtualisation | The principles and application of cloud/ virtualisation (including ownership, responsibilities and security implications). Use of tools and systems to manage virtualised environments. | Expert 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). | Proficient in |
| 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 |
| 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. | Expert 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. | Proficient in |
| Project Planning and Control Techniques | Methods and techniques associated with planning and monitoring progress of projects. | Proficient in |
| 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. | Proficient in |
| 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. | Proficient in |
| Contract Management | Methods and techniques for managing contracts to ensure that suppliers adhere to agreed contract requirements. | Proficient in |
| 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 |
|---|---|
| Environment and Sustainability | Awareness of environmental issues, with due regard to any sustainability/energy efficiency practices and standards. |
| Financial Planning and Budgeting | Principles, regulations, procedures and tools for the financial management of both ongoing activities (business as usual) and time-bounded (project) activities. |
| Latest Cyber Security Threats for Senior Execs | Short, high-level, up-to-date and to-the-point briefing on the latest threats and vulnerabilities in cyber security. |
| Local Area Networks | Features and characteristics of local area networks relevant to installation and support of hardware and software components. |
| Software Configuration | Installation, configuration and tuning of applications or systems software. |
| 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. |
| Outsourcing Theory | Principles of outsourcing, including techniques for identifying services that could be procured from external suppliers, strategies for supplier selection, contract formats and management of the supplier relationship. |
Professional Development Activity (PDA)
| Title | Details | PDA Group |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Knowledge of Standards and Legislation | Gaining and maintaining knowledge of relevant national and international standards and legislation. | 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 |
| Management Development | Undertaking learning and best practice of the skills appropriate to managing all or part of an organisation, including business and financial management, benefits management, people management, management of change and strategic planning. This will require both on and off the job learning and may include participation in an appropriate development programme such as MBA or DMS (Diploma in Management Studies). | Developing Professional Skills |
| 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 |
| 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 |
Qualification Components
| Title | Awarding Bodies |
|---|---|
| Chartered IT Professional (CITP) | BCS The Chartered Institute for IT |
| FEDIP Leading 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:
|
|
IT infrastructure IT infrastructure involves ensuring systems and processes are available, adaptable, reliable and secure. |
Practitioner IT infrastructure You can:
|
|
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:
|
|
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. |
Practitioner Problem management You can:
|
|
Service focus Security technology involves understanding security architectures and identifying vulnerabilities to prevent and respond to cyber breaches. |
Practitioner Service focus You can: see the bigger picture by taking groups of services and investigating how to get the best of underlying services |
|
Systems design IT systems analysis involves assessing current systems and implementing new ones, to improve the performance and efficiency of an organisation's applications. |
Expert Systems design You can: design systems characterised by high levels of risk, impact, and business or technical complexity control system design practice within an enterprise or industry architecture influence industry-based models for the development of new technology applications develop effective implementation and procurement strategies, consistent with business needs ensure adherence to relevant technical strategies, policies, standards and practices |
|
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:
|
|
Technical understanding |
Practitioner Technical understanding You can: show a thorough understanding of the technical concepts required for the role, and can explain how these fit into the wider technical landscape |
|
Testing Testing involves ensuring that requirements have been fully met by using appropriate tools and techniques to verify that a product or service works. |
Expert Testing You can: manage testing activities within development or integration activities manage risks and take preventative action when risks become unacceptable manage customer relations |
|
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.