Location: Reading (Hybrid Working) Duration: 3 month initial contract Rate: £87ph UMB (Inside IR35) Role details: Our client, a prominent player in the Defence & Security sector, is actively seeking an accomplished Infrastructure Engineer to join their team on a contract basis. This role offers a hybrid working arrangement at their client site in Reading. Key Responsibilities: Act as the technical authority on one or more platform engineering domains (e.g., cloud, virtualisation, automation, networking, or cyber tooling) providing specialist domain expertise to projects and programmes. Lead the design and implementation of secure platforms across on-premise, hybrid, and cloud environments. Capture, analyse, and interpret complex customer requirements to drive system design and architecture. Develop high- and low-level designs, ensuring alignment with secure-by-design principles. Take ownership of technical delivery within work packages, including planning, estimation, and progress reporting. Mentor, coach, and develop junior and senior engineers, raising technical capability across the community. Provide input to technology strategies, feasibility studies, and innovation projects. Engage with internal and external stakeholders, presenting technical solutions and justifying design decisions. Job Requirements: Extensive technical expertise across multiple platform domains, with a track record of delivering secure solutions. The ability to balance hands-on engineering with technical leadership and mentorship. A problem-solving mindset, able to innovate and recommend the best approach for complex challenges. Windows and Linux operating systems Virtualisation platforms (VMware, Hyper-V) and containerisation (Kubernetes, Docker) Networking concepts (TCP/IP, DNS, DHCP, firewalls) Automation and scripting (e.g., PowerShell, Bash, Python, Ansible, Terraform) Desirable skills: Expertise with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure) and Infrastructure as Code (CloudFormation, Terraform) Experience integrating enterprise services (Active Directory, PKI, monitoring, SIEM) Hands-on use of DevSecOps tools and CI/CD pipelines Industry certifications (VMware VCP, AWS Solutions Architect, Microsoft, Kubernetes, or equivalent) Experience presenting at technical forums or contributing to technical standards Apply now to join our client's innovative team in Reading.