Junior IT Operations Engineer (12-Month Fixed Term Contract)

About UniHomes

UniHomes is transforming the student rental experience throughout the UK by offering a leading platform for student accommodation advertising and utility management services. The company operates in over 60 cities, partnering with more than 1,000 agents and operators, and continuously develops innovative technology to streamline the student rental journey. Based in the heart of Sheffield City Centre, the team focuses on collaboration, creativity, and growth.

Job Summary

This 12-month fixed-term contract role, based onsite in Sheffield City Centre, offers 37 weekly work hours and a pro-rated annual salary of £25,878. The Junior IT Operations Engineer will support the internal IT & Security lead by implementing pre-defined controls, policies, and automation, monitoring the Microsoft 365 environment, and addressing a backlog of remediation and automation tasks.

Primary Responsibilities

• Administer and apply configurations across Microsoft 365 and Entra ID to resolve remediation tasks.
• Manage and maintain Conditional Access policies.
• Audit and oversee devices through Microsoft Intune.
• Handle user, group, and email administration in Entra ID.
• Provision, patch, and strengthen endpoints running Windows and macOS.
• Monitor security alerts and dashboards from tools including SentinelOne EDR, M365 sign-in and audit logs, DNSFilter, and email security systems.
• Identify and escalate anomalies to the IT & Security lead.
• Develop and maintain automation scripts using PowerShell, Microsoft Graph, and Bash.
• Create Power Automate flows for reporting, reminders, and evidence gathering.
• Collect and manage evidence for Cyber Essentials compliance.
• Maintain accurate inventories of endpoint devices, SaaS applications, and conduct access reviews.
• Participate in weekly meetings with management and contribute to monthly cyber security reports for senior leadership.

Essential Skills and Qualifications

• Currently pursuing or recently completed an undergraduate degree in Cyber Security, Computer Science, Software Engineering, IT, or a related discipline; placement or sandwich year students are preferred.
• A keen interest in cybersecurity and IT operations.
• Fundamental understanding of computer systems, networks, and cloud technologies.
• Motivation to learn scripting; experience with PowerShell, Python, or Bash is advantageous.
• Detail-oriented, well-organized, and committed to thorough documentation.
• Reliable and trustworthy due to access to sensitive IT systems.

Desirable Skills

• Experience with Microsoft 365, Entra, Azure, or Intune platforms.
• Familiarity with security concepts such as Multi-factor Authentication (MFA), Conditional Access, Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR), and Security Information and Event Management (SIEM).
• Evidence of initiative through personal projects, home labs, Capture The Flag (CTF) competitions, or foundational certifications.
• Experience using Git or similar automation tools.

Additional Information and Benefits

UniHomes is certified as a Great Place to Work® and an accredited Living Wage employer, providing fair remuneration above the government minimum. Benefits include complimentary breakfast, snacks, drinks, recreational facilities like a pool table, holidays, enhanced pension schemes, healthcare, employee assistance programs, sick pay, improved maternity and paternity leave, ongoing professional development, employee awards, referral incentives, staff discounts, and mental health support. The company champions inclusivity and diversity, encouraging candidates from all backgrounds to apply.

Terms and Conditions

• Location: Fully office-based in Sheffield City Centre.
• Working Hours: 37 hours per week.
• Contract Length: 12-month fixed term starting September 2026.
• Salary: £25,878 per annum pro-rata.
• Applicants must have the permanent and unrestricted legal right to work in the UK. Visa sponsorship is not available.
• Applications through recruitment agencies will not be accepted.
• Reasonable adjustments are available to facilitate an accessible recruitment process.