- Pay
- £42–55k
- Where
- Belfast, Northern Ireland, GB · GB
- Level
- Mid
Join a startup Defence & Government company as a Cleared IT Systems Engineer in Belfast.
Defence and government work doesn't forgive sloppy infrastructure.
Systems need to stay up, stay secure, and stay compliant, often under scrutiny that most commercial IT teams never face.
This particular business is a small, fast-moving player in the Defence & Government space, the kind of place where one engineer's decisions actually shape how secure systems get built and maintained, not just maintained from a playbook written by someone else.
Here's what you'll be doing: Build, configure and maintain secure IT systems across on-premise and cloud environments to meet defence-grade compliance standards Troubleshoot infrastructure issues across networks, servers and endpoints, often with limited precedent to draw on Apply security patches and manage accreditation documentation in line with government assurance frameworks Work directly with programme leads to scope technical requirements for new government contracts Support audits and accreditation processes, keeping evidence and records in order throughout Document systems and processes clearly enough that someone else could pick up where you left off Here are the skills you'll need: Active SC clearance or eligibility to obtain it quickly (essential for this Cleared IT Systems Engineer role) Solid hands-on experience with Windows Server, networking fundamentals and systems hardening Familiarity with government security frameworks such as JSP 440 or Cyber Essentials Plus Comfortable working with ambiguity.
Startups don't always have a manual for this Clear written communication, particularly for compliance documentation A genuine interest in defence technology, not just IT in general Key perks and benefits: £42,000 to £54,500, depending on experience Hybrid working, based from the Belfast office with flexibility around it Equity in the business.
You're building something, so you own a piece of it Learning and development budget to keep your clearance-adjacent skills current Flexible hours and a genuinely flat structure where you're heard, not filtered through five layers of management Why pursue a career in Defence & Government?
Defence budgets in the UK keep rising, and so does demand for cleared engineers who can actually deliver.
Belfast has quietly become a serious hub for this kind of work, with government and defence contracts expanding faster than the local talent pool.
Few sectors reward reliability and discretion the way this one does, and fewer still offer the job security that comes with it.
This Cleared IT Systems Engineer opportunity is brought to you by The Opportunity Hub UK.