IT engineer job description.
Hiring an IT engineer or moving into a technical infrastructure role? This IT engineer job description outlines tasks like hardware setup, software maintenance, and troubleshooting for business systems. It covers the tools you’ll use, skills required to grow, common next steps in IT careers, and expected UK salary ranges.
What does an IT engineer do?
An IT engineer is responsible for maintaining and supporting the technology infrastructure that keeps a business running. They handle system configurations, troubleshoot hardware and software issues, and support users across the organisation.
Key tasks include installing equipment, setting up user accounts, managing network access, and resolving technical incidents. They may also assist with patching, backups, or supporting cloud platforms.
In smaller businesses, IT engineers often manage the entire IT estate. In larger companies, the role is more specialised, supporting particular systems or working within a wider IT operations team.
Key responsibilities of an IT engineer.
IT engineers are responsible for maintaining and supporting an organisation’s technology infrastructure. Their core responsibilities typically include:
-
Installing, configuring, and maintaining computer systems and networks
-
Responding to technical support requests from users
-
Troubleshooting hardware, software, and connectivity issues
-
Supporting user onboarding, account setup, and device provisioning
-
Maintaining asset inventories and IT documentation
-
Managing printers, peripherals, and office connectivity tools
-
Performing system updates, patches, and backups
-
Assisting with cyber security policies such as password management and MFA
-
Working with vendors on hardware procurement or repair
-
Supporting remote work and VPN configuration
This role blends hands-on troubleshooting with infrastructure maintenance and user support.
Skills and requirements for an IT engineer.
IT engineers support systems, networks, and user environments. Employers typically look for:
-
2–5 years of experience in IT support or infrastructure roles
-
Knowledge of Windows, macOS, or Linux environments
-
Experience with Active Directory, group policies, and user access
-
Confidence managing hardware, printers, and workstations
-
Understanding of backup systems and antivirus solutions
-
Basic networking knowledge (DNS, DHCP, VPNs)
-
Ability to document changes, incidents, and processes
-
Skilled in troubleshooting hardware and software issues
-
Strong communication and customer support focus
Most IT engineers handle day-to-day tech operations internally.
Average salary for an IT engineer.
In the UK, the average salary for an IT engineer typically ranges from £30,000 to £45,000, influenced by infrastructure scope, support level, and certifications.
-
Mid-level IT engineers tend to earn between £30,000 and £37,000
-
Senior engineers with cloud, networking, or cybersecurity expertise often earn between £38,000 and £45,000
-
Additional certifications like Microsoft, CompTIA, or AWS may boost salary offers
London and in-house IT roles within large enterprises typically pay more.
Career progression for an IT engineer.
An IT engineer maintains, supports, and troubleshoots an organisation’s IT infrastructure. This technical role serves as a strong foundation for specialist or leadership positions. A typical path includes:
IT support technician / 1st line support
Handles basic user support, ticketing, and hardware/software issues.
IT engineer
Manages installations, escalated troubleshooting, and system maintenance across networks and devices.
Senior IT engineer / infrastructure engineer
Leads on system upgrades, integrations, and infrastructure support.
IT manager
Oversees day-to-day IT operations, leads junior staff, and ensures system uptime and security.
IT director / Head of IT
Owns IT strategy, vendor relationships, and service delivery at a senior level.
salary guide
Our UK IT salary guide.
IT engineers maintain infrastructure and support day-to-day business operations. Whether you're hiring or moving into this role, salary should reflect technical responsibility and support scope.
Use our UK IT salary guide to benchmark IT engineer roles, explore 2024 comparisons, access hiring insight, and plan with 2026 salary projections.
FAQS
IT engineer FAQs.
IT engineers are essential across most industries, including professional services, healthcare, education, government, manufacturing, and finance. Any organisation with internal systems, device fleets, or network infrastructure will likely have dedicated IT engineers — especially in businesses scaling their headcount or digital operations.
While both roles involve technical troubleshooting, an IT engineer typically works more proactively on infrastructure setup, user provisioning, and hardware lifecycle. They may handle deployment projects and have broader responsibility across networking, endpoints, and access control, rather than reacting to user-submitted tickets.
Certifications aren’t mandatory, but CompTIA, Microsoft, and Cisco accreditations (e.g. CompTIA A+, Microsoft MTA, or CCNA) are commonly listed in job specs. More important is demonstrable experience with common tools like Active Directory, Office 365, and endpoint management systems.
Many IT engineer roles are still on-site or hybrid due to the hands-on nature of the work. Roles are concentrated around office-heavy cities like London, Birmingham, and Manchester, but demand also exists in industrial clusters where support is needed for manufacturing IT and operational tech.
Look for curiosity, strong diagnostic instincts, and the ability to work calmly under pressure. The best candidates are proactive — suggesting improvements to asset tracking, imaging processes, or remote access security — rather than only reacting to requests.
