Key Tasks
The post holder will be required to do the following:
* monitor components such as web servers, applications servers, log files, disk space and MS-SQL databases
* A point of escalation for all Application related issues
* Working as part of a second line support function following incident management through to incident resolution. Natural problem solving with ability to apply previous experience to new problems working towards root cause analysis
* Working with third party suppliers, stakeholders and departmental ICT teams to assist in delivering patch/release of applications while coordinating vendor support
* Maintaining middleware such as; IIS, MS-SQL Server, Active Directory, ASP and. NET, including troubleshooting, performance tuning, basic querying and resolving bottlenecks
* Working on cloud and container technologies and Kubernetes
* Design, development, testing and deployment of Tableau Dashboards
* Report writing with tools such as PowerShell, JavaScript, HTML and SQL
* Daily support of COTS and WEB based software applications with an emphasis on the ability to problem solve
* Strong customer focus - understanding the needs of the internal and external customer and keeping them in mind when taking actions or making decisions

Key Skills
The post holder must have:
* Understanding of ITIL process, incident management, change management and problem management including working to strict SLAs.
* Ability to understand business logic, technical tools and be an analytic thinker
* Understanding of application design & development, including agile methodologies, application and database design, infrastructure technologies
* An understanding of application backup, restores and the Application Disaster Recovery (DR) process

Experience
* Knowledge of web services, distributed systems, and web application development
* Previous experience of Incident and Service Request resolution using Service Management Tools
* An appreciation of Application languages and technologies including SQL, HTML, .Net, C# and IIS hosting
* Experience with Elasticsearch or a NoSQL document store
* Experience administering multiple monitoring systems such as Kubernetes, Grafana and Elastic Cloud
* Strong background in all aspects of database technology
* Strong experience in writing and executing complex SQL queries and Familiarity with stored procedures, views, functions, SQL jobs for Microsoft SQL databases
* Experience in utilising appropriate ITIL based Incident, Problem and Change Management processes and procedures to support and maintain applications

Desirables
* Previous experience of working in a 2nd Line Application Support role
* ITIL v3/4 - Foundation
* Certification in Tableau is desirable



Due to the nature and urgency of this post, candidates holding or who have held high level security clearance in the past are most welcome to apply. Please note successful applicants will be required to be security cleared prior to appointment which can take up to a minimum 18 weeks. LA International is a HMG approved ICT Recruitment and Project Solutions Consultancy, operating globally from the largest single site in the UK as an IT Consultancy or as an Employment Business & Agency depending upon the precise nature of the work, for security cleared jobs or non-clearance vacancies, LA International welcome applications from all sections of the community and from people with diverse experience and backgrounds.

Award Winning LA International, winner of the Recruiter Awards for Excellence, Best IT Recruitment Company, Best Public Sector Recruitment Company and overall Gold Award winner, has now secured the most prestigious business award that any business can receive, The Queens Award for Enterprise: International Trade, for the second consecutive period.