IT Systems Engineer Lead

Job Description

IT Systems Engineering Lead - Major Energy/Petrochemical Project\n\nLocation: Reading, UK (On‑Site)\nHours: 37.5 per week\nContract Length: 12 Months, start date ASAP\n\nPay Rate Banding: PAYE - £43-17ph - £58.46ph / Umbrella - £56.91ph - £75.31ph\nIR35:Inside of IR35\n\nAbout the Opportunity\n\nOur Client is delivering a large‑scale petrochemical and refinery upgrade programme aimed at modernising existing assets, integrating new world‑scale facilities, and significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions. \n\nAs part of this major long‑term project, they are seeking an experienced IT Systems Engineering Lead to join their Project Management Team based in Reading.\n\nThis is a senior technical leadership role, supporting the pre‑FEED and FEED phases of a complex integrated refinery and petrochemicals development. You will represent Our Client in guiding contractors, shaping engineering standards, driving IT/OT system integration, and ensuring robust, secure, and cost‑effective digital infrastructure across all project scopes.\n\nKey Responsibilities\n\nAs IT Systems Engineering Lead, you will:\n\nTechnical Leadership & Governance\n\nProvide IT and digital systems expertise to align with project objectives and technical strategies.\nLead development and optimisation of engineering philosophies, standards, procedures, and specifications relating to IT systems.\nEnsure technical maturity meets expectations across pre‑FEED and FEED stages.Contractor & Vendor Oversight\n\nOversee contractor design deliverables, ensuring alignment with Our Client's IT standards, cybersecurity requirements, and regulatory obligations.IT/OT Integration & System Architecture\n\nDefine and steward requirements for enterprise IT, industrial networks, OT interfaces, cloud/on‑premise architectures, and data management frameworks.\nEnsure secure, reliable interaction between operational technology systems, control networks, historian platforms, and digital applications.\nReview proposals for network architecture, server/storage design, virtualisation, cloud strategy, and disaster recovery.Risk, Compliance & Surveillance\n\nEnsure adherence to cybersecurity standards, regional data protection regulations, and internal engineering governance.\nDevelop and execute an engineering surveillance programme to ensure design integrity and compliance.

\n\nExperience & Background\n\nThe ideal candidate will demonstrate:\n\n15+ years' relevant experience in IT systems engineering within large‑scale industrial, petrochemical, or refining environments.\nStrong technical expertise across networks, cybersecurity, enterprise/OT architecture, applications, and digital system integration.\nProven ability to work across owner/operator and contractor environments.\nExperience with major energy, refining or chemicals projects-knowledge of Middle Eastern project environments beneficial.\nUnderstanding of heavy oil upgrading, hydroprocessing, ethylene cracking, offsites/utilities, or similar downstream operations (an advantage). \n\nIf you think this could be a new and exciting career opportunity for you and you would like to learn more or just for an initial, no-obligation conversation please contact me on (phone number removed) or you can apply directly by following the Easy Apply link and I will contact you as soon as I receive your contact details.\n\nThis vacancy is being advertised by Belcan