Location: Lancashire, field-based across the North West
Salary: £26,000 - £29,000 depending on experience
Start Date: August 2026
Application Deadline: 31 July 2026
About Centra Systems
Centra Systems is a growing managed IT services company supporting schools and SMEs across the North West.
We handle everything from day-to-day helpdesk support to on-site technical support, infrastructure, cloud platforms, cybersecurity, device management, and practical IT problem-solving.
Our focus is simple: making technology work properly for the people who rely on it.
We are a small team, and this is our first dedicated technical hire. That means whoever joins us now will have a real say in how the technical side of the business is shaped as we grow, while still working closely with the founding team.
The Role
You will split your week between on-site visits to schools and SME clients across Lancashire and one remote helpdesk day from home.
On-site, you will be the face of Centra. You will support staff, headteachers, business managers, and end users with the day-to-day technology they depend on. This could be anything from resolving classroom display issues and fixing laptop problems to checking network connectivity, reviewing open tickets, or escalating larger infrastructure concerns.
Remotely, you will work through the ticket queue, provide support via remote access tools, update clients, document fixes, and help keep support requests moving.
You will cover around 5-8 school sites and work closely with the founding team, but you will operate with a high degree of independence.
We are not looking for someone who needs to be told what to do next at every stage. We are looking for someone who turns up, communicates clearly, identifies what needs doing, and takes ownership of issues through to resolution.
Working Pattern
- 4 days on-site: 9:00am - 4:00pm
End-of-day report completed the same day - 1 day remote helpdesk: 8:30am - 5:00pm
What You Will Be Doing
On-site Visits
- Check in with the IT lead, headteacher, business manager, or key site contact
- Review open tickets and current issues
- Complete a walkround to catch issues staff may not have logged yet
- Work through the ticket queue
- Troubleshoot common on-site issues with devices, Wi-Fi, printers, classroom AV, interactive displays, and peripherals
- Diagnose basic network, firewall, router, DNS, DHCP, web filtering, and connectivity issues
- Run baseline maintenance checks
- Flag recurring issues, risks, or future work
- Keep clients informed and complete an end-of-day report after each visit
Helpdesk Day
- Manage and resolve remote support tickets
- Provide remote support using tools such as Splashtop, Atera, or TeamViewer
- Communicate clearly with clients and keep ticket notes up to date
- Carry out basic Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, device, account, and access support
- Maintain documentation and contribute to the knowledge base
- Escalate larger issues where required, with clear notes and initial troubleshooting completed
You do not need to be an expert in every platform below, but experience with some of them would be useful.
- RMM and remote support: Atera, Splashtop, TeamViewer
- MDM: Jamf, Lightspeed, Intune, Mosyle
- Cloud platforms: Microsoft 365, Entra, OneDrive, Exchange, SharePoint, Google Workspace
- Security and filtering: Sophos, Netsweeper, Senso, web filtering, endpoint protection, and basic firewall policy awareness
- Networking and infrastructure: UniFi, Aruba, routers, switches, wireless access points, VLANs, DNS, DHCP, patching, and basic connectivity troubleshooting
- Apple ecosystem: Apple School Manager, DEP, Apple Managed Distribution
On-site Equipment You May Support
This is a hands-on field role, so you will also be dealing with the physical equipment clients use every day.
This may include:
- Windows laptops, desktops, and shared PCs
- iPads, Apple devices, and managed mobile devices
- Interactive displays and classroom AV, including CTouch, SMART, Promethean, Newline, and projectors
- Printers, scanners, and peripherals
- Windows Servers, Hyper-V hosts, virtual machines, and on-prem Active Directory environments
- Switches, wireless access points, patch panels, cabling, and basic network infrastructure
- Routers, firewalls, web filters, and internet connectivity equipment
What We Are Looking For
Essential
- At least 2 years’ experience in a field IT support, helpdesk, MSP, school IT, or similar technical support role
- Solid working knowledge of Windows 10/11, Microsoft 365, and Active Directory
- Good understanding of networking fundamentals, including DNS, DHCP, Wi-Fi, switches, routers, firewalls, web filtering, and basic connectivity troubleshooting
- Confidence troubleshooting common on-site hardware, classroom technology, printers, AV, and end-user device issues
- Strong communication skills, as you will be speaking with headteachers, business managers, office staff, teachers, and end users as much as you will be fixing technical issues
- Self-motivated and organised, with the ability to manage your own day and own issues through to resolution
- Full UK driving licence and access to your own vehicle (Mileage is reimbursed)
Preferred
- Previous MSP or school IT experience
- Experience with RMM tools, ideally Atera or similar
- Experience with MDM platforms such as Intune, Jamf, Lightspeed, or Mosyle
- Familiarity with Apple School Manager and DEP
- Experience supporting Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, or hybrid environments
- Basic experience with Windows Server, Hyper-V, virtual machines, and on-prem Active Directory
- CompTIA A+, Network+, ITIL Foundation, Azure/Microsoft Admin or equivalent certification
What We Offer
- Company pension
- 28 days holiday including bank holidays
- Your birthday off each year
- One scheduled remote helpdesk day per week
- Mileage reimbursed for all site travel
- All essential tools and equipment provided
- Funded certification and exam support
- Investment in your professional development
- A genuine opportunity to shape how the technical side of the business grows
A Note on Salary
We have advertised a salary range because we know candidates come in at different levels.
A candidate who needs some development to get fully up to speed will usually come in toward the lower end of the range.
A candidate who can operate confidently from day one, manage their own sites, flag issues proactively, communicate clearly, and take ownership without needing close supervision is likely to sit toward the top end of the range.
How to Apply
Please send your CV and a short note about the kind of work you have been doing, and what appeals to you about joining a small, growing MSP, to:
careers@centrasystems.co.uk
We recruit on a rolling basis. The vacancy is open until 31 July 2026, with a target start date of August 2026.
We may close the vacancy early if we find the right person.