IT Systems Engineering Manager

Job Description

As a Systems Engineering Manager within the Booker Technology Infrastructure team, you’ll play a key role in shaping and running the platforms that keep our business moving. You’ll be responsible for a range of core IT systems — including servers, storage, security, data, and network connectivity — ensuring they are reliable, secure, and evolving in line with business needs.

This is a people-focused leadership role with a strong technical foundation. You’ll lead and support engineering teams, manage budgets and suppliers, and turn long‑term strategy into practical, deliverable technology plans. From day‑to‑day operations to future‑ready roadmaps, you’ll help create a stable, resilient infrastructure that supports growth across the organisation.

Working closely with fellow Systems Engineering Managers, application teams, and a blend of internal and third‑party engineers, you’ll coordinate delivery of a secure, well‑governed platform. You’ll also own service‑level reporting — including Disaster Recovery and Total Loss Recovery testing — and maintain open, regular engagement with stakeholders to continuously improve reliability and performance.

• Strategic Planning & Leadership
  Contribute to long‑term infrastructure strategy, set technical direction, manage budgets, and ensure technology priorities support business outcomes.

• Infrastructure & System Oversight
  Oversee servers, network connectivity, data storage, and database platforms to ensure they are robust, scalable, and well supported.

• People Leadership
  Lead, coach, and develop internal and external systems engineers, fostering an inclusive, collaborative, and high‑performing team culture.

• Operations & Service Management
  Ensure high levels of performance, availability, security, and resilience, with timely patching and lifecycle management of hardware and software.

• Project Delivery
  Plan and deliver infrastructure projects, including major upgrades, migrations, and new technology implementations.

• Incident, Problem & Change Management
  Lead effective incident response, minimise service disruption, and embed consistent, well‑controlled change processes.

• Security & Compliance
  Champion strong security practices, protect data and systems, and help ensure compliance with relevant standards and policies.

• Solid understanding of enterprise infrastructure technologies (for example: Red Hat Linux, Solaris, network connectivity, SAN, Total Loss Recovery).
• Proven leadership experience, with strong project management and budget ownership skills.
• Clear, confident communicator with the ability to engage stakeholders and manage vendors effectively.
• A strong commitment to stability, security, and high‑quality service.
• Calm, thoughtful, and effective when solving complex problems.
• Comfortable balancing strategic thinking with hands‑on involvement when needed.
• Familiar with prioritisation techniques, dependency management, and outcome‑based measurement.
• Motivated to deliver what matters most, with a pragmatic bias for action and results.

Booker is the UK's leading food & drink wholesaler. We are privileged to serve independent retailers, caterers and small businesses, from locations across the country. We operate over 190 cash and carry branches, eight distribution centres, five Best Food Logistics sites, as well as six support centre locations across the UK.

Diversity, equity and inclusion (DE&I) at Booker means that whoever you are and whatever your background, we always want you to feel represented and that you can be yourself at work. In short, we’re a place where Everyone’s Welcome.

We know life looks a little different for each of us. That’s why at Booker and Best, we always welcome conversations about flexible working. Some people are at the start of their careers, some want the freedom to do the things they love. Others are going through life-changing moments like becoming a carer, nearing retirement, adapting to parenthood, or something else. So, talk to us throughout your application about how we may be able to support you.

We’re proud that Booker is a Disability Confident Committed employer and we’re committed to providing a fully inclusive and accessible recruitment process. For further information on the accessibility support you can expect, please contact recruitment@bookergroup.com

Please note

We can only accept candidates over the age of 18 if the role requires working before 6:15 am or after 9:45 pm or involves working in areas such as the warehouse, beers, wines & spirits, and driving roles.

On the occasions where we have high volumes of applicants, some roles may close earlier than the advertised end date in order for us to manage all of the applicants appropriately. We will only be able to offer individual feedback to those candidates who attend an interview.

*Booker Group is part of Tesco plc, however, is operated separately from the core Tesco business and as such the benefits offered will be different from those offered at Tesco*

For more information about us please visit www.bookergroupjobs.co.uk