Systems Engineer in Birmingham

What is a Systems Engineer?

A Systems Engineer is a key technology professional responsible for designing, deploying and maintaining high-availability IT systems. They ensure robust, secure and high-performing enterprise infrastructure that supports business-critical operations. As technical architects, they bridge the gap between complex technical requirements and organisational IT needs, leveraging expertise in cloud computing, networking, security and automation to create resilient and adaptive IT ecosystems.

Systems Engineer role and responsibilities

System design and deployment

Develop and implement high-availability systems across Linux and Windows platforms, ensuring:

Security compliance (ISO 27001, NIST, GDPR, Cyber Essentials Plus)

Performance optimisation for enterprise workloads

Reliability and stability of IT infrastructure

Infrastructure automation

Streamline IT operations through intelligent automation strategies:

Utilise infrastructure-as-code(IaC) tools like Terraform, Ansible and Puppet

Reduce manual workloads and improve system consistency

Automation scripting in Python, Bash, or PowerShell

Network and virtualisation management

Manage complex technological environments by:

Troubleshooting networking challenges (TCP/IP, DNS, VPNs, Load Balancing)

Managing virtualisation platforms (VMware, Hyper-V, Citrix)

Ensuring seamless cloud and on-prem integration

Continuous integration and monitoring

Implement proactive system management through:

CI/CD pipelines (Jenkins/GitLab)

Advanced monitoring tools (Prometheus, Grafana, Splunk, ELK Stack)

Rapid incident response and fault resolution

Security and resilience

Develop robust security strategies focusing on:

Disaster recovery planning and business continuity planning

Zero-trust security models and system hardening

Vulnerability assessments and penetration testing

Systems Engineer key qualifications, skills and experience

Essential skills and experience

Cloud and virtualisation:

Multi-cloud expertise (AWS, Azure, GCP)

Strong VMware and Kubernetes knowledge

Automation and scripting:

Infrastructure automation using Terraform, Ansible

Proficiency in Python, Bash, or PowerShell

Operating systems and networking:

Expert-level Linux and Windows Server administration

Active Directory, Group Policy, DNS, VPN, Load Balancing

Security and compliance:

Experience with SIEM tools (Splunk, ELK)

Understanding of ISO 27001, GDPR, Cyber Essentials Plus

Technical problem-solving:

Ability to resolve server failures, cloud disruptions, security threats

Desirable certifications

AWS Solutions Architect

Certified Kubernetes Administrator (CKA)

Microsoft Certified: Azure Solutions Architect

CISSP (Certified Information Systems Security Professional)

Soft skills

Strong collaboration with cross-functional teams

Ability to translate technical concepts for business stakeholders

Technical documentation experience (Confluence, JIRA, Markdown)

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Salary for Systems Engineer in Birmingham

45000 - 66000

25th percentile

45000

The candidate has little or no prior experience in the position and is still developing relevant skills.

50th percentile

56500

The candidate has an average level of experience and has most of the necessary skills.

75th percentile

66000

The candidate has above-average experience, has most or all the necessary skills, and may have specialised qualifications.

Projected salaries for related positions

Position title

25th percentile

50th percentile

75th percentile

DevOps Manager

98500

117000

135500

Head of Infrastructure

80750

102000

119000

Infrastructure Manager

66500

77000

88250

Network Manager

70750

77750

85500

DevOps Engineer

70000

85000

100000

Cloud Engineer

66000

79500

92750

Network Engineer

63000

72250

84000

Service Delivery Manager

50750

60000

70750

Infrastructure Engineer

55250

65750

76250

IT Support Manager

41000

50500

58750

Network Administrator

41000

46000

53000

Second Line Support

32500

35000

38000

First Line Support

27500

29500

31750

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Your guide to negotiating salaries and offers

Our starting salary projections come from a detailed, multistep process that ensures our numbers accurately reflect the marketplace. They’re based on real compensation data for job seekers our recruiters have matched with companies across the country, in addition to 350,000 third-party vacancies data from Textkernel for independent validation.

The Salary Guide From Robert Half is the original. We’ve been publishing salary forecasts since 1950, and our guide has served as a trusted source for employers, job seekers, industry associations, government and educational institutions, and national and local media.