Job Title: Solution Architect (Network) Location: Coventry (Hybrid; 3 days in office) Job Type: Contract (Inside IR35) Duration: 6 Months Job Summary: Join Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) as a Network Solution Architect and play a pivotal role in leading the design, documentation, and delivery of enterprise-level network architectures for major UK clients. As part of a purpose-led transformation company, you'll work on projects that demand ambitious innovation, thought leadership, and make a meaningful difference to communities and businesses. Key Responsibilities: Design and document enterprise network architectures (LAN, WAN, WLAN, cloud networking) ensuring scalability, reliability, performance, and security. Develop and maintain network roadmaps and standards aligned with business and IT strategy. Lead network design for data centres, cloud integrations, and hybrid environments. Oversee projects through delivery, engaging with architectural governance (HLDs) for approvals. Evaluate and recommend new technologies, tools, and vendors. Provide architectural oversight for implementation projects and troubleshooting escalations. Collaborate with cybersecurity, infrastructure, and application teams to ensure end-to-end solution integrity. Prepare network capacity and resilience plans. Document network topology, standards, and procedures. Skills, Experience, and Abilities Required: Technical Requirements: Expert knowledge of IP networking (IPv4/IPv6, routing, switching, subnetting, VLANs, NAT, QoS). Deep understanding of protocols (BGP, OSPF, EIGRP, MPLS, STP, VXLAN, DNS/DHCP). Familiarity with SDN and SD-WAN architectures (Cisco Viptela, Meraki, VMware NSX, Fortinet). Design and implementation experience with VPNs, remote access, load balancing, firewalls, proxies (F5, Palo Alto, Forcepoint, Cisco ASA). Strong knowledge of wireless networking design and optimisation. Security integration: Zero Trust, segmentation, NAC; familiarity with ISO 27001, NIST, PCI-DSS, GDPR. Cloud & Virtualisation: AWS, Azure, or GCP networking services; understanding of hybrid/multi-cloud; automation tools (Terraform, Ansible, Python). Monitoring & Management: Network management systems (SolarWinds, Cisco DNA Center); performance monitoring, logging, incident response. Experience Requirements: 7 10 years in network engineering, with 3 5 years in architecture/design roles. Proven experience in large-scale or complex enterprise environments. Architectural artefact production (HLDs, LLDs, diagrams, standards). Leading technical design workshops and influencing senior stakeholders. Vendor selection and cost optimisation experience. Educational & Certification Requirements: Bachelor's degree (or higher) in Computer Science, Information Technology, or related field. Preferred certifications: Cisco CCNP/CCIE, Juniper JNCIP/JNCIE, AWS/Azure network certifications, TOGAF, ITIL, CISSP, CCSP. Soft Skills & Attributes: Strategic and analytical thinker. Outstanding communicator able to translate technical designs for non-technical stakeholders. Strong leadership, mentoring, and documentation abilities. Vendor and stakeholder management skills. Continuous learning mindset. Deliverables: Network Architecture Blueprint / Roadmap High-Level & Low-Level Design Documents Network Standards and Configuration Templates Capacity and Resilience Plans Risk Assessments and Security Architecture Inputs Technical Design Authority artefacts and governance reports