Senior Network Engineer (SD-WAN SME) – Contract
Fully Remote (UK) with occasional travel
Contract Length: 6 months
About the Role
We’re supporting a large-scale, multi-site SD-WAN transformation within a complex B2B migration programme. This is a hands-on SD-WAN Subject Matter Expert contract, suited to someone who can lead from the front across design assurance, deployment, migration and stabilisation—ensuring a repeatable rollout approach with zero business disruption.
You’ll work closely with network engineering, security, architecture, carriers/service providers and programme delivery teams, taking ownership of cutover planning, pre-change validation, rollback readiness and hypercare.
Key Responsibilities
* Act as the SD-WAN technical authority for the programme, providing design assurance and practical delivery leadership
* Translate high-level network/security architecture into implementable High-Level and Low-Level Designs (HLD/LLD), templates and standards
* Define and refine standard deployment patterns, including zero-touch provisioning, configuration templates and cutover playbooks
* Support or lead migrations from MPLS and hybrid WAN environments to SD-WAN, including planning, execution, rollback and hypercare
* Ensure clean integration with security controls and access models (segmentation, encryption, policy enforcement, NGFW and/or SASE/SSE)
* Collaborate with vendors, carriers and delivery partners to resolve design, integration and performance issues across underlay/overlay networks, validating SLA alignment
* Drive operational readiness: produce runbooks and handover artefacts, define support models, and support NOC/service teams with troubleshooting and escalation paths
* Contribute to risk assessments, mitigation planning, governance and continuous improvement throughout rollout
Requirements
Must-have experience:
* Extensive hands-on delivery of enterprise SD-WAN solutions at scale (multi-site rollouts in complex environments)
* Strong WAN underlay expertise: MPLS, DIA, broadband, LTE/5G, plus routing fundamentals (BGP, OSPF), QoS and traffic engineering
* Deep troubleshooting capability across overlay/underlay, using telemetry, performance metrics and logs to drive root-cause analysis and resolve systemic deployment issues
* Experience with at least one major SD-WAN platform, such as Cisco SD-WAN (Viptela/Meraki), Fortinet Secure SD-WAN, VMware SD-WAN (VeloCloud), Versa, Aruba/Silver Peak (or equivalent)
* Comfortable operating in a high-change transformation programme with time-critical cutovers and competing priorities
Desirable:
* SD-WAN integration with cloud platforms (AWS/Azure/GCP) and cloud networking patterns
* Exposure to automation tooling and modern network delivery practices (APIs, Ansible, Terraform)
* Familiarity with ITSM processes (incident/problem/change) and structured governance
* Relevant certifications (CCNP/CCIE or vendor equivalents, cloud networking certifications)
Personal attributes:
* Calm, credible and decisive in complex delivery environments
* Pragmatic problem-solver with strong attention to detail and a clear bias to action
* Confident challenging vendor/partner recommendations constructively and communicating technical decisions to non-technical stakeholders
What’s on Offer
* Fully remote contract (UK-based), with occasional travel as required
* 6-month engagement on a high-impact SD-WAN transformation programme
* Opportunity to shape standardised rollout patterns, cutover playbooks and operational readiness for a large-scale deployment
* Collaborative environment working across network, security, architecture, carriers and programme teams
* Day rate: TBC (aligned to experience and scope)
To apply, share your CV and a brief summary of your SD-WAN rollout experience (platforms used, scale/number of sites, and migration approach).