We are looking for a Principal Network Engineer to join a high-profile Government Digital function. In this role, you will act as the Technical Design Authority (TDA) for a national-scale digital infrastructure, providing strategic leadership for one of the most complex network estates in the UK.
As a Principal Engineer, you won't just be managing technology; you will be managing the technical roadmap. You will bridge the gap between high-level policy requirements and low-level engineering execution, ensuring a secure-by-design, resilient, and automated network environment.
Key Responsibilities
Technical Design Authority: Lead the architectural direction and serve as the final escalation point for complex network routing, switching, and security issues.
Strategic Transformation: Drive the migration from legacy infrastructure to a modern, automated SD-WAN and Multi-Cloud ecosystem (AWS/Azure).
Leadership & Governance: Manage technical relationships with Tier 1 Implementation Partners and internal delivery teams to ensure alignment with departmental standards.
Automation Strategy: Champion 'Network as Code' initiatives, overseeing the deployment of CI/CD pipelines for network configuration and monitoring.
Stakeholder Influence: Provide authoritative advice to Senior Civil Service (SCS) leaders on risk, budget, and technological investment.
Technical Stack & Requirements
Routing & Switching: Expert-level knowledge of Juniper (Mist/SSR) and/or Cisco enterprise solutions.
SD-WAN: Proven experience designing and implementing tunnel-less or session-smart routing architectures.
Public Cloud: High proficiency in AWS Cloud WAN, Azure ExpressRoute, and secure transit gateway connectivity.
Security: Deep understanding of Palo Alto or Fortinet firewalls within a Zero Trust framework.
Infrastructure as Code: Hands-on experience with Terraform, Ansible, and Python for network automation.
Standards: Strong familiarity with NCSC security principles and GDS service standards.
Essential Criteria
Current SC Clearance: You must hold active SC clearance to be considered.
Principal Level Experience: Demonstrable experience leading large-scale network departments at senior level
Communication: Exceptional ability to translate complex technical jargon into strategic business value for non-technical leaders.
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