Platform Specialist

Platform Specialist

Location: London
Contract: Initial 3-6 month contract, with potential extension
Rate: £500 per day inside IR35

We are looking for an experienced Microsoft 365 Platform Specialist to support and manage a Microsoft cloud environment.

The key focus of this role is Microsoft 365 administration, Exchange and Microsoft security. You will need strong hands-on experience across the Microsoft 365 platform, particularly within an E5 environment, with a solid understanding of how the different Microsoft security and identity services work together.

This is not a standard Microsoft 365 support role. Strong experience with Microsoft 365 E5, Defender and Sentinel is essential.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage and support Microsoft 365, with a particular focus on Exchange Online and Hybrid Exchange.
• Administer mailboxes, groups, mail flow, SMTP relay, certificates, security configurations and Exchange services.
• Manage Active Directory, including Group Policy, DNS, DHCP, security groups, certificates and troubleshooting.
• Manage Microsoft Entra ID, including identity synchronisation, Conditional Access, MFA, RBAC, PIM and hybrid identity.
• Administer and support Microsoft 365 E5 security products, including:
• Microsoft Defender for Endpoint
• Microsoft Defender for Identity
• Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps
• Microsoft Defender for Office 365
• Manage and support Microsoft Sentinel, including security monitoring, alert investigation, threat hunting, incident response, analytics rules, data connectors and automation.
• Support Microsoft 365 compliance and email security, including phishing/spam protection, eDiscovery, retention and compliance investigations.
• Use PowerShell to automate administration, reporting and operational processes across Microsoft 365, Entra ID and Active Directory.
• Support Intune for device management across Windows, iOS and Android.
• Assist with application packaging and configuration of device, security and compliance policies.
• Support VPN and secure remote access technologies, with Fortinet experience desirable.
• Work within ITIL processes covering incident, problem and change management.

Essential Experience

• Strong hands-on experience administering Microsoft 365, particularly within an E5 environment.
• Strong Exchange Online and Hybrid Exchange experience, including Exchange Server.
• In-depth knowledge of Active Directory and Microsoft Entra ID.
• Proven experience with Microsoft 365 E5 security products.
• Strong hands-on experience with Microsoft Defender, including Defender for Endpoint, Identity, Cloud Apps and Office 365.
• Strong hands-on experience with Microsoft Sentinel and SIEM/SOAR operations.
• Experience with security monitoring, threat hunting, alert investigation and incident response.
• Advanced PowerShell Scripting and automation experience.
• Understanding of hybrid identity and Microsoft cloud environments.
• Experience working with ITIL processes and service management tools.

Desirable Experience

• Microsoft Intune/Endpoint Management.
• Azure DevOps tools.
• Fortinet technologies.
• VPN and secure remote access.
• Layer 3 networking and Firewall fundamentals.
• Microsoft certifications.

Important

Microsoft 365 E5 experience is essential. Candidates whose experience is limited to general Microsoft 365 administration or standard E3 environments are unlikely to be suitable.

The ideal candidate will have a combination of Exchange + Microsoft 365 E5 + Defender + Sentinel + Entra ID experience and be comfortable working across these technologies as part of a wider Microsoft security and cloud environment.