Junior Network & IT Security Operations Specialist

Role overview We are seeking a junior-level networking and IT security operations professional to join our supporting Lightstone’s IT Security and Networking division. This is a genuine opportunity to build practical, hands-on expertise in a supportive environment where your questions and ideas shape how the team solves problems. This role is designed for someone who is genuinely curious about how networks and security work together, who thinks creatively when something breaks, and who wants to be part of a collaborative team that learns from each other, rather than someone looking to follow a rigid technical checklist. You will work closely with every member of the team, under the direct mentorship of one of the senior team members who will work with you daily, and you will collaborate with the wider team across networking, security, and systems management. Over time you will take on increasingly complex work, contributing to network operations, security incident response, and documentation, and growing into ownership of your own areas of the infrastructure. What We’re Looking For Above all, attitude and approach matter most. We’re looking for someone who stays comfortable with ambiguity, enjoys working through problems methodically, communicates openly, and thrives as part of a close-knit, collaborative team. The specific technical and interpersonal qualities we look for are set out in detail below. Key Responsibilities Day-to-day network operations: monitoring, troubleshooting, and maintaining our network infrastructure (firewalls, routers, WiFi, DNS) Security operations: contributing to security monitoring, incident triage, and threat response, and learning how security fits into every network decision Documentation and knowledge building: documenting configurations, troubleshooting procedures, and lessons learned, and building up the team’s institutional knowledge Problem-solving alongside the team: working with the broader team to diagnose issues, test solutions, and implement improvements Learning and growing: taking on increasingly complex work under mentorship, with exposure to both network operations and security work Qualifications / Requirements No formal qualifications or years of experience required What matters is a genuine interest in IT security and a foundation to build from, rather than years of experience. See Technical skills below for what we look for instead. Additional Requirements (desired, not required) Fortigate firewalls: we manage significant Fortigate infrastructure and this is core to our environment Mikrotik devices: widely used in our network architecture Unifi WiFi networking: part of our wireless strategy ESET PROTECT: our endpoint security platform; familiarity with its operations is a plus ThreatDown: our threat intelligence and endpoint response tool; experience is a plus If you have hands-on time with any of these, mention it. If not, we’ll teach you, since what matters more is that you can learn new platforms quickly and are curious about how they work. Technical skills Basic networking concepts: TCP/IP, routing, firewalls, VLANs, DNS Hands-on experience with at least one operating system (Windows, Linux, or similar) Day-to-day network operations exposure: monitoring, troubleshooting, and maintaining network infrastructure (firewalls, routers, WiFi, DNS) Interest in security operations: security monitoring, incident triage, and threat response Willingness to read documentation, follow procedures, and apply what you learn immediately Non-technical skills Creative troubleshooting: comfortable with ambiguity, asks why something failed, and explores multiple paths to a solution rather than just following a runbook Asking good questions: knows when to ask for help and how to ask in a way that moves the work forward Documentation mindset: values clear, practical documentation that future teammates can actually use Equal interest in networking and security: sees the two as inseparable and is excited about both Collaborative problem-solving: bounces ideas around, challenges assumptions respectfully, listens to feedback, and works through disagreements constructively Team & Mentorship You’ll be part of a team led by the Head of IT Security and Head of Networking. One of the senior team members will be your direct mentor and will work closely with you daily. The wider team includes expertise across networking, security, and systems management, and we’re looking for someone who can fit into a tight-knit team where ideas flow freely and everyone contributes to solving problems. Growth Trajectory This is a junior position with clear growth potential. Over time, you’ll move from supporting operations to owning aspects of our infrastructure, potentially specialising in either networking or security (or both). After several years, you could progress to a more senior operations or specialist role, depending on your interests and performance. Company overview Lightstone is an intelligent solutions company with strong, industry-specific expertise and core capabilities in data management, GIS, analytics, and software development. We specialize in delivering integrated, online knowledge solutions, batch and real-time data quality solutions. We hire exceptional people and provide them with the environment where they can excel. Our non-corporate culture encourages flexibility, collaboration, and innovation. We pride ourselves in our core values to Encourage Participation, Respond to Changing Needs and Win Together, which are reflected in each development, project, product, or service we undertake to deliver.