Systems Administrator (Microsoft & Cloud)

Are you an experienced systems administrator with strong Microsoft 365, Azure and endpoint management expertise? Do you have experience managing on-premises and cloud infrastructure, including hybrid environments and migrations? Would you enjoy managing and improving the IT services that support a world-leading research organisation?

EMBL’s European Bioinformatics Institute (EMBL-EBI) is hiring for two Systems Administrators to help deliver, maintain and develop our Microsoft and cloud services. Our Systems Administrator will primarily work across Microsoft 365, Azure, Intune and hybrid infrastructure but also assist in supporting our Linux desktop environment, combining hands-on technical administration with project delivery, service improvement and user support.

This is an opportunity to take ownership of key systems, contribute to technical design and implementation, and help ensure our IT environment remains secure, reliable and responsive to the needs of our scientific community.

About the Team

You will join the IT Services (ITS) Service Desk team at EMBL-EBI in Hinxton, working alongside colleagues who provide technical services and support across the organisation.

The team supports EMBL-EBI staff, visitors and guests, maintaining the systems and services that enable our research and operations. You will play a key role in managing our Microsoft environment, working collaboratively with colleagues across IT to deliver projects, improve services and provide effective technical support.

What you will do

You will manage and develop Microsoft on-premises and cloud services, ensuring they are secure, reliable and fit for purpose. With a primary focus on Microsoft 365, Azure and endpoint management, you will take ownership of Windows infrastructure, contribute to technical projects and migrations, and support the wider desktop environment where needed. In particular, you will lead a project on our 2027 roadmap to review and potentially retire or greatly reduce the existing Linux desktop service offering. This will involve consulting with users, assessing alternative desktop solutions and helping to implement an appropriate replacement, potentially supported by Linux server-based infrastructure.

Your key responsibilities will include: 

• Manage Microsoft and cloud services: Design, install, administer and maintain Microsoft 365, Azure and associated enterprise services.
• Lead endpoint management: Administer Microsoft Endpoint Manager / Intune, including device enrolment, configuration, application deployment and compliance policies.
• Maintain hybrid infrastructure: Administer and support on-premises Active Directory and its integration with Microsoft cloud services, alongside Windows servers and infrastructure running on physical and VMware platforms.
• Deliver technical projects and migrations: Plan and implement Windows infrastructure projects, including migrations to Microsoft 365, Azure and hybrid or cloud environments.
• Monitor and improve services: Take the lead in managing Windows infrastructure, monitoring service performance and making informed decisions about system maintenance and improvement.
• Maintain security and documentation: Ensure systems comply with IT security requirements and policies, maintaining clear documentation of the environment and application configurations.
• Provide technical support and expertise: Troubleshoot and resolve technical issues for staff, visitors and guests, and provide systems training to helpdesk technicians and users where required.
• Support the wider desktop environment: Provide assistance and cover across systems administration functions, including Linux desktop installation, administration and automation where required.

You will have:

• A bachelor's degree, or equivalent in Information Technology, Engineering or a related field, or equivalent experience.
• Extensive experience in user support and Microsoft Windows systems administration, including Active Directory, DNS, DHCP, file and print services, and Windows deployment tools.
• Strong practical experience administering and managing Microsoft 365 enterprise services, including tenant configuration and the services required to support users and devices.
• Experience administering Microsoft Azure services and identity management, with an understanding of cloud infrastructure and services.
• Strong experience with Microsoft Endpoint Manager / Intune, including device enrolment, configuration, application deployment, compliance and endpoint policies.
• Experience designing, building and managing Microsoft 365 / Azure tenants, managing hybrid Microsoft environments and supporting migrations from on-premises services to cloud or hybrid environments. Candidates should have experience supporting migrations or building and preparing a tenant for migration.
• Knowledge of IT service management processes, including incident, change and problem management, and the use of service management or ticketing systems.
• Strong troubleshooting and problem-solving skills, excellent written and spoken English, good customer service skills, and the ability to manage technical projects and work both independently and collaboratively.

It would be advantageous to have:

• Microsoft or other relevant IT professional certifications.
• Knowledge of other desktop operating systems, particularly Linux and macOS.
• Experience administering and troubleshooting Linux systems, including configuration management tools such as Puppet or Ansible, and scripting using Python and Bash.
• Experience or skills in technical project management.

Working pattern: This role offers a hybrid working arrangement, with 1-2 days per week on site, including one designated team day to support collaboration and connection.

Contract length: 3-year fixed-term Staff Member contract, renewable to 9 years. Our target start date is December 2026 – January 2027.

Salary: Grade 5 or Grade 6, depending on experience. Monthly salary from £3,452.05 (grade 5) or £3,861.91 (grade 6) after tax, plus generous benefits and financial allowances based on individual circumstances. Excluding 12.99% personal pension and insurance contributions.

Next Steps / How to Apply

Please submit an up- to-date CV and supporting cover letter outlining your transferable skills and experience and motivation for applying. 

*** We plan to advertise the role for up to four weeks, with a scheduled closing date of Wednesday, 18th November. However, if we receive a strong field of applications within the first two weeks, we may close the vacancy earlier. The advert will remain open for a minimum of two weeks, making Tuesday, 3rd November the earliest possible closing date. We therefore encourage you to apply as soon as possible. ***

Why join us

Do something meaningful
At EMBL-EBI you can apply your talent and passion to accelerate science and tackle some of humankind's greatest challenges. EMBL-EBI, part of the European Molecular Biology Laboratory, is a worldwide leader in the storage, analysis and dissemination of large biological datasets. We provide the global research community with access to publicly available databases and tools which are crucial for the advancement of healthcare, food security, and biodiversity.
 

Join a culture of innovation
We are located on the Wellcome Genome Campus, alongside other prominent research and biotech organisations, and surrounded by beautiful Cambridgeshire countryside. This is a highly collaborative and inclusive community where our employees enjoy a relaxed atmosphere. We are committed to ensuring our employees feel valued, supported and empowered to reach their professional potential.  Watch this video to see how EMBL-EBI makes an impact.

Enjoy lots of benefits:

• Financial incentives: Monthly family, child and non-resident allowances, annual salary review, pension scheme, death benefit, long-term care, accident-at-work and unemployment insurances
• Flexible working arrangements - including hybrid working patterns 
• Private medical insurance for you and your immediate family (including all prescriptions and generous dental & optical cover)
• Generous time off: 30 days annual leave per year, in addition public holidays
• Relocation package including installation grant (conditions apply)
• Campus life: Free shuttle bus to and from work, on-site library, subsidised on-site gym and cafeteria, casual dress code, extensive sports and social club activities (on campus and remotely)
• Family benefits: On-site nursery, 10 days of child sick leave, generous parental leave, holiday clubs on campus and monthly family and child allowances
• Benefits for non-UK residents: Visa exemption, education grant for private schooling, financial support to travel back to your home country every second year and a monthly non-resident allowance.

For detailed information please visit our employee benefits page here. 

What else you need to know

• International applicants: We recruit internationally and successful candidates are offered visa exemptions. Please take a look at our International Applicants page for further information.  
• EMBL is a signatory of DORA. Find out how we apply DORA principles to our recruitment and performance assessment processes here.
• Diversity and inclusion: At EMBL, we believe that diverse teams drive innovation and scientific excellence. We encourage applications from candidates of all genders, identities, nationalities and/or any other diverse backgrounds.
• How to apply: To apply please submit a cover letter and a CV through our online system. Applications will close at 23:59 CET on the date shown below. We aim to provide a response within two weeks after the closing date.

Closing Date