Q & A with Luke Hawkins, Lead IT Engineer

Q & A with Luke Hawkins, Lead IT Engineer

We sat down with Luke, Lead IT Engineer, to find out what his day-to-day life looks like, what significant milestones he has had at Vortexa, and what he really thinks of our company culture…

04 August, 2023
Jessica Irvin
Jessica Irvin, Head of Operations & People

Luke has worked in IT for over 10 years, for a variety of companies but always with a soft spot for start-ups. He has had many incredible opportunities and experiences in his career that have allowed him to be where he is today; leading a core function within a thriving business. 

Fun fact: Luke studied for a BTEC in music production & performance before dropping out to co-found a successful start-up hosting video game servers. 

We wanted to find out what inspired Luke to join Vortexa, what some of his biggest milestones have been to date and what day-to-day life really looks like for the Lead IT Engineer… 

What inspired you to join Vortexa? 

Vortexa provided a unique opportunity that allowed me to create a completely new hybrid working IT architecture. This was something completely new and a rare opportunity in my career, and allowed me to introduce a completely new approach to how I would usually manage IT.

What would you say is the most interesting aspect of your role? 

Problem solving.

What have been some significant milestone moments for you at Vortexa? 
  • Creating the first IT function for the business
  • Introducing progressive; effective and sensible security awareness
  • Rolling out zero touch deployment for company devices
Everyone is extremely talented and will always share their knowledge and offer their support should you need it.
What does day-to-day life look like for you as the Lead IT Engineer?  

I always start the day with reviewing product updates and releases of our IT core software to plan for any disruptions or plan for improvements. The rest of the day can massively vary depending on the IT requests submitted throughout the day. In between requests I am currently focused on improving the self service and autonomy to provide a better quality of life and relationship between team members and their machines.   

What key qualities make a Lead IT Engineer successful? 
  • Be approachable and empathetic. There are never stupid questions.
  • Keep communication short and straightforward. No one likes dissecting information from a long paragraph.
  • Continuously adapt and learn. IT is always innovating and improving, you must move with it.
  • Transparency. Always provide context and understanding behind your decisions, you can inspire feedback and improvements. 
You will be working with some of the kindest and motivated colleagues in your career.
How would you describe the culture at Vortexa? 

Welcoming. Everyone is extremely talented and will always share their knowledge and offer their support should you need it.

What advice would you give to people hoping to join Vortexa? 

Check Glassdoor, it doesn’t lie. You will be working with some of the kindest and motivated colleagues in your career. 

Describe your working life at Vortexa in three words! 

Challenging and rewarding

Jessica Irvin
Head of Operations & People
Vortexa
Jessica Irvin
Jessica is Head of People & Operations at Vortexa and is responsible for hiring, learning & development, culture, engagement, performance management and leading expansion plans.