Digital Preservation Systems Technician - Deadline: Midnight on Monday, 13 April 2026
Main job purpose: Support the implementation, configuration and day-to-day operation of Serpentine’s new digital preservation solution, ensuring long-term integrity, accessibility and sustainability of archival and organisational digital assets.
Department: Arts Technologies
Reports To: Digital Archivist
Direct Reports: None
Location: Hybrid – onsite three days a week, two days remotely
Duration of appointment: 12 months
Contract type: Fixed-term contract (FTC)
Salary: £35,000 - £38,000
ABOUT THE ROLE
Serpentine is embarking on a major digital transformation project to preserve and provide access to its historically significant archive, documenting pioneering contemporary art, architecture and live events since 1970.
We are seeking a Digital Preservation Systems Technician to lead the technical implementation of a new digital preservation/digital asset management system and embed sustainable, organisation-wide preservation workflows.
This is a rare opportunity to shape the long-term stewardship of a major contemporary art cultural archive from the ground up.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
System selection & Implementation
Support requirements gathering and technical evaluation of digital preservation and digital asset management systems
Configure, implement, test and administer the selected system
Work with internal IT and external vendors to ensure secure, scalable deployment
Lead user acceptance testing and organisation-wide rollout
Digital Preservation Workflows
Establish workflows aligned with the Open Archival Information System (OAIS)
Manage ingest, including file validation, fixity checking and quality assurance
Oversee storage strategies, including redundancy and access provision
Monitor preservation risks, storage capacity and system performance
Metadata & Interoperability
Implement and maintain metadata standards including descriptive, technical and administrative
Support metadata mapping, transformation and migration activities between systems
Ensure metadata integrity across the asset lifestyle
Systems Integration & Support
Manage integrations with existing systems and APIs
Coordinate upgrades, patches, backups and system maintenance
Produce clear technical documentation and workflows
Deliver training and guidance to staff across the organisation
Governance & Risk Management
Support compliance with digital preservation standards and policies
Contribute to audits, risk assessments and disaster recovery planning
Ensure alignment with data governance, security and access controls
General duties:
Act as a champion for Arts Council England’s Inclusivity and Relevance Investment Principle to ensure best practice through a proactive approach to equality, diversity and inclusion.
Follow and assist in the implementation of all Serpentine’s policies including Dignity at Work and Health and Safety policies.
Any other activities deemed necessary for the operation of the Arts Technologies Team and its strategic objectives.
PERSON SPECIFICATION
Qualifications and Experience:
Essential:
Experience implementing or administering digital preservation or digital asset management systems
Strong understanding of digital preservation principles (OAIS, fixity, checksums, format sustainability)
Experience working with born-digital and digitised collections
Knowledge of metadata standards (e.g. Dublin Core)
Understanding of storage infrastructure (cloud and/or on-premises)
Desirable:
Experience of working within archives or cultural institution collections
Experience with APIs, data migrations, or system integrations
Experience implementing or rolling out digital preservation/digital asset management systems within an organisation
Experience of collaborating with vendors, digitisation partners or technical third parties.
Skills:
Proficient technical literacy, including the ability to read architecture diagrams
Strong project management skills to ensure system implementation and rollout within 12-month period
Methodical, analytical and insightful problem-solving skills to understand technical testing procedures and solutions
Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to explain technical concepts to non-technical audiences and collaborate across teams
Why Join Serpentine
Play a key role in a high-profile digital transformation project
Shape the future of access to a globally significant contemporary art archive
Work at the intersection of art, technology, and preservation
Engage with professional archive, preservation and technical communities