A leading UK transport organisation is seeking an accomplished Network Manager to lead its in‑house Network Engineering function and drive a major transformation across its mission‑critical infrastructure.
This is a high‑impact role overseeing a global team of 12 engineers, managing a complex Fortinet SD‑WAN and Cisco network that underpins public sector operations across the Department for Transport estate. You’ll have the autonomy to shape network strategy, modernise architecture, and embed automation and security best practices into every layer of connectivity.
If you’re a technically strong network leader who thrives on designing, building, and improving at scale — and you want your work to have tangible impact across a nationally significant environment — this is the role for you.
Responsibilities
* Lead and mentor a global team of 12 Network Engineers responsible for delivering highly available IP/MPLS infrastructure.
* Drive the transformation from a legacy MPLS network to a modern Fortinet SD‑WAN architecture — improving resilience, performance, and cost efficiency.
* Develop and maintain the organisation’s connectivity technology roadmap, ensuring alignment with business goals and security standards.
* Manage key vendor relationships with Vodafone, BT, and other CSPs to optimise network performance and commercial value.
* Oversee design, configuration, and capacity management across the Fortinet and Cisco network estate.
* Implement NetDevOps methodologies and automation tools to streamline deployment and configuration management.
* Establish a robust observability and monitoring framework to ensure proactive performance management.
* Design and deliver Zero Trust network architecture principles, implementing segmentation and controls to meet regulatory and public sector compliance.
* Manage and secure LAN, WAN, and wireless networks across the business.
* Act as SME for networking in all major projects and transformation programmes.
* Own processes and procedures for network continuity, recovery, and governance.
* Represent the networking function in IT governance forums including CAB and IT Change Panels.
* Support the Head of IT in shaping infrastructure strategy and driving continuous improvement.
Skills / Must Have
* Proven experience managing or leading a network engineering team within an enterprise or public sector environment.
* Deep technical understanding of Fortinet SD‑WAN, Cisco routing/switching, and IPSec VPNs.
* Experience migrating from legacy MPLS to SD‑WAN architectures.
* Strong grasp of network security, segmentation, and Zero Trust concepts.
* Practical experience with automation tools and NetDevOps practices.
* Excellent vendor management and stakeholder communication skills.
* Strong understanding of network performance, monitoring, and capacity planning.
* Ability to operate strategically while remaining hands‑on when needed.
* Final salary pension scheme
* 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays
* Free rail travel across the organisation’s network
* Hybrid working (3 days onsite at London Bridge Station)
* Opportunity to lead a major network transformation programme
* Involvement in technology strategy at an enterprise and national level
Salary: Up to £75,000 per annum
Location: 3 days a week onsite – London Bridge Station
The organisation is undergoing a multi‑year technology modernization programme, investing heavily in cloud, connectivity, and cybersecurity to enable the future of intelligent transport.
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