Company: Dawn Meats

Location: Grannagh Co. Waterford / Dungannon Co. Tyrone / Preston, UK; occasional travel to other Group sites may be required

Reporting to: Infrastructure Manager / nominated IT manager

Contract type: Full-Time/Permanent 

About our Brighter Futures Programme: 

Experience is the best teacher, which is why at Dawn Meats we like to give real responsibility from the start. Combined with formal training you will work with passionate, talented people who will provide invaluable training on the job plus: 

• Dedicated mentors; 
• First class coaching; 
• Direct access to senior leaders; 
• Opportunities to undertake assignments, secondments and innovative project work across the business; 
• Investment in blue chip residential offsite training. 

With no pre-conceived ideas and no limit on your career path, your skills and experiences can be uniquely tailored to the multitude of career opportunities within Dawn Meats. We recognise the importance of continuous development and work closely with recognised Management Development Institutes in Ireland and the UK to develop our Graduates as managers of the future. 

Role Summary:  

This is an entry-level opportunity for a graduate, college leaver or apprenticeship candidate who wants to build a career in enterprise IT infrastructure. Working alongside experienced engineers, you will gain hands-on exposure to the systems, networks and security controls that support a multi-site manufacturing business.

The role is designed around supervised learning and increasing responsibility. You will begin with defined operational tasks and support activities, then progress into troubleshooting, site deployments, automation and project work as your capability develops.

Key responsibilities:

• Monitor infrastructure and security dashboards, respond to assigned alerts and escalate issues in line with documented procedures.
• Provide first and second-line support for servers, networks, Wi-Fi, identity, Microsoft 365 and endpoint services under the guidance of experienced engineers.
• Assist with the installation, configuration and testing of switches, wireless access points, firewalls, servers and related equipment.
• Support user and device administration, patching, software deployment, access reviews and routine security checks.
• Carry out structured troubleshooting using logs, monitoring tools, diagnostic commands and knowledge articles.
• Assist with site surveys, equipment roll-outs, network cabinet checks, asset updates, cabling coordination and technical handovers.
• Maintain accurate documentation, diagrams, inventory records, standard operating procedures and support notes.
• Participate in infrastructure and cyber security improvement projects, completing agreed tasks and reporting progress clearly.
• Learn and apply change control, information security, data protection, health and safety, and business continuity requirements.
• Build technical knowledge through coaching, self-study, formal training and relevant industry certification.
• Contribute ideas for automation, better monitoring and more efficient support processes.
• Take increasing ownership of incidents and small changes as experience and competence grow.

What we are looking for

• A genuine interest in infrastructure, networking and cyber security, demonstrated through study, work experience, a home lab, projects, certifications or practical problem solving.
• A relevant degree, diploma, certificate or apprenticeship pathway in computing, IT, networking, cyber security or a related discipline. Equivalent practical learning will be considered.
• Basic understanding of IP networking, operating systems, hardware and cloud or Microsoft 365 concepts.
• A logical approach to troubleshooting and the patience to work through technical problems methodically.
• Good written and verbal communication, including the ability to record actions and explain issues clearly.
• A reliable, organised approach and willingness to ask questions, accept feedback and follow controlled processes.
• Ability to work both independently on defined tasks and cooperatively as part of a distributed team.

Useful, but not essential

• Exposure to Windows Server, Active Directory, Microsoft Entra ID, Microsoft 365, Linux, virtualisation or endpoint management.
• Familiarity with VLANs, routing, switching, Wi-Fi, DNS, DHCP, firewalls or VPNs.
• Experience from a placement, internship, service desk, technical support role, volunteering, college project or personal lab.
• An entry-level certification such as CompTIA A+/Network+/Security+, Cisco CCST/CCNA, Microsoft Fundamentals or equivalent.
• Experience in manufacturing, logistics, food production or another operational environment.
• A full driving licence or progress towards one, as travel between sites may be required.

Learning and progression

• A named technical mentor and regular development check-ins.
• Planned exposure to network operations, Microsoft infrastructure, cloud services, cyber security, monitoring, backup and recovery, and site technology.
• Hands-on involvement in live operational work with appropriate supervision and clear escalation routes.
• Support for agreed training and role-relevant certification.
• A development plan with increasing ownership of incidents, changes and small projects as competence grows.

Personal attributes

• Curious, dependable and willing to learn.
• Comfortable working in a practical, site-based and fast-moving environment.
• Security conscious and respectful of confidential information.
• Able to stay calm, follow procedures and escalate when unsure.
• Positive, collaborative and committed to delivering a good service.

What success looks like in the first year

• Core operational procedures are understood and followed consistently.
• Routine support tasks and assigned alerts are handled accurately with decreasing supervision.
• Documentation is clear, current and useful to colleagues.
• Technical confidence grows across networking, Microsoft infrastructure and security fundamentals.
• The engineer becomes a trusted contributor to site activities and small infrastructure projects.

Equality and inclusion

Dawn Meats is committed to providing equal opportunities in employment. Applications are considered on merit, potential and suitability for the role, with reasonable accommodation available during the recruitment process where required.

INDLP