Length of employment: Job Summary: Please note this role requires you to pass Security Check clearance. For further information, please see 'Selection process details'. DWP have been carrying out a large technology transition over the past few years and there is still a long way to go. We are looking for a Network Engineer to join the DWP Network Operations team as a first line of defence within our Network Operations Centre (NOC). You will be responsible for monitoring, maintaining, and optimising a complex, multi-vendor network infrastructure that underpins critical public services for millions of UK citizens. As part of a dynamic team, you will play a key role in ensuring network stability and security, responding to incidents, and supporting ongoing network transformation projects across Wi-Fi, on-premises data centres, and cloud solutions. Job Description: Key Responsibilities: Proactive Network Monitoring: Utilise a variety of network monitoring tools to detect and address potential issues before they impact services. Incident Management: Investigate and troubleshoot network incidents, escalating where necessary to ensure minimal disruption to services. Network Optimisation: Analyse network performance and implement improvements to enhance reliability, security, and efficiency. Infrastructure Support: Maintain and support legacy network infrastructure while assisting in its modernisation through cloud and data centre projects. Collaboration & Communication: Work closely with cross-functional teams, including Security, Infrastructure, and Cloud teams, to ensure seamless network operations. Documentation & Reporting: Maintain accurate records of incidents, troubleshooting steps, and network performance metrics. Adherence to Best Practices: Implement and advocate for industry best practices in network security, performance, and operational excellence. Strong communication skills, with the ability to explain technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders. There will be a contractual requirement to join an "on-call" rota providing night cover 18:00-08:00 with occasional shifts 08:00-18:00 Saturday or Sunday. The cover is shared around the team and would normally equate to one shift per week. We also have a broad benefits package built around your work-life balance which includes: Working patterns to support work/life balance such as job sharing, term-time working, flexi-time and compressed hours. Generous annual leave - at least 23 days on entry, increasing up to 30 days over time (pro-rata for part time employees), plus 9 days public and privilege leave. Support for financial wellbeing, including interest-free season ticket loans for travel, a cycle to work scheme and an employee discount scheme. Health and wellbeing support including our Employee Assistance Programme for specialist advice and counselling and the opportunity to join HASSRA a first-class programme of competitions, activities and benefits for its members (subscription payable monthly). Family friendly policies including enhanced maternity and shared parental leave pay after 1 year's continuous service. Funded learning and development to support progress in your role and career. This includes industry recognised qualifications and accreditations, coaching, mentoring and talent development programmes. An inclusive and diverse environment with opportunities to join professional and interpersonal networks including Women's Network, National Race Network, National Disability Network (THRIVE) and many more. This job role may be suitable for hybrid working, which is where an employee works part of the week in their DWP office and part of the week from home. This is a voluntary, non-contractual arrangement and your office will be your contractual place of work. The number of days that anyone will be able to work at home will be determined primarily by business need but personal circumstances and other relevant circumstances will also be taken into account. If you are successful, any opportunities for hybrid working, including whether a hybrid working arrangement is suitable for you, will be discussed with you prior to you taking up your post. Salary Information New entrants to the Civil Service will join on band minimum. Existing Civil Servants who secure a new role on lateral transfer should maintain their current salary. Existing Civil Servants who gain promotion may move to the bottom of the grade pay scale or 10% increase in salary whichever would be the greater. When giving details in your employment history and personal statement you should highlight your experience in line withessential criteriabelow: Strong knowledge of networking fundamentals (TCP/IP, VLANs, Routing, Switching, Firewalls, Loadbalancers). Familiarity with enterprise Wi-Fi solutions, (Meraki/Aruba) on-premises data centres (Cisco/Arista), and cloud networking (AWS, Azure, or Oracle Cloud). Experience with network monitoring tools (e.g., SolarWinds/Entuity, Splunk, or similar). Proven troubleshooting skills with the ability to diagnose and resolve network issues. Basic understanding of network security principles, including firewalls, VPNs, and access controls. Experience working in a NOC or Network Support environment handling incidents and escalations. If you would like to learn more about the role, please contact Akhtar.Ali1@dwp.gov.uk. Your application will consist of three parts: 1. A Personal Details application form. 2. Employment history - this should contain your work experience and any skills, qualifications and accomplishments relevant to the jobs you have completed based on the essential criteria. 3. Personal statement - up to 1000 words. This statement should be used to provide examples of how you meet the essential criteria listed in the Person specification. Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form. The sift panel will use the information in your employment history and personal statement to assess your experience, skills and knowledge against the essential criteria. You will be provided with one combined overall assessment score for both your CV and Personal Statement. For Hints and Tips on completing your application visit Applying for jobs at DWP Digital. Applications will be sifted at regular intervals from the date the posts are advertised. Please apply as soon as you can, do not wait until the end of the campaign. Important Information You will be asked to complete your employment history any information that you would customarily share on a CV should therefore be entered onto the application form. Personal details that could be used to identify you including your name, contact details and address must be removed for your application to be considered. If your employment history/personal statement contains any personal details your application will be withdrawn. We recognise that AI may be helpful when applying for this role, but it is important to use it in the right way. Read the DWP AI Candidate Guide to understand how you can make the best use of GenAI while ensuring your application remains authentic and effective. Stage 2: Interview 1 If you're successful at sift stage, you will be invited to an initial short video interview via Microsoft Teams. This will last for about 30 minutes and you will be asked technical questions to assess your networking experience. Stage 3: Interview 2 If you're successful at the initial interview stage you will be invited to another video interview via Microsoft Teams. There, you will be assessed against the experiences listed in the essential criteria. Interviews will take place from mid June 2025. Sift and Interview dates to be confirmed. Further information Find out more about Working for DWP If high application volumes are received, the benchmark for candidates to proceed to the next stage may be raised. In line with our commitment to the Disability Confident Scheme (DCS), we aim to advance all candidates applying under the DCS who meet the minimum standard. However, we may only progress those candidates who best meet the required standards. A reserve list may be held for a period of 6 months from which further appointments can be made. All successful candidates and those placed on reserve will be posted in merit list order by location. The Civil Service values honesty and integrity and expects all candidates to abide by these principles. Please ensure that all examples provided in your application are taken directly from your own experience and that you describe the examples in your own words. Applications will be screened and if evidence of plagiarism or copying examples/answers from other sources is found, your application will be withdrawn. Internal DWP candidates may also face disciplinary action. Security Clearance Requirement You must meet the security requirements before you can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check. For meaningful checks to be carried out, you will need to have lived in the UK for a sufficient period of time, to enable appropriate checks to be carried out and produce a result which provides the required level of assurance. Whilst a lack of UK residency in itself is not necessarily a bar to a security clearance, and expectation of UK residency may range from 3 to 5 years. Failure to meet the residency requirements needed for the role may result in the withdrawal of provisional jobs offers. For further information on National Security Vetting please visit the Demystifying Vetting website. Reasonable Adjustment At DWP we value diversity and inclusion and actively encourage and welcome applications from everyone, including those that are underrepresented in our workforce. We consider visible and non-visible disabilities, neurodiversity or learning differences, chronic medical conditions, or mental ill health. Examples include dyslexia, epilepsy, autism, chronic fatigue, or schizophrenia. If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should: Contact Government Recruitment Service via as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs. Complete the "Reasonable Adjustments" section in the "Additional requirements" page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you're deaf, a Language Service Professional. For further information on reasonable adjustments, terms and conditions and how we recruit visit the How we recruit page. Feedback