IT Infrastructure Network Engineer

South East Water; Snodland; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 50,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension

Holidays

Flexible leave

Volunteer days

Cycle to work

Health cash plan

Life assurance

Wellbeing benefits

Job summary

South East Water is seeking a hands-on Network Engineer to lead field deployments across our regional sites in the South East. In a two-person team, you will install, configure and decommission physical network gear at data centers and remote processing sites as part of a major infrastructure overhaul.

You will work on two critical projects—the NIS Network Security upgrade and a WAN upgrade—to keep services online 24/7.

Qualifications

• CCNA / CompTIA certification or equivalent training.
• Experience with physical network installations, patching, and enclosure mounting.
• Strong routing, switching and security protocol knowledge.
• Willingness to travel and operate in field deployments.

Responsibilities

• Install, maintain, and decommission network hardware at data centers and remote sites.
• Lead two simultaneous projects: NIS and WAN upgrade.
• Provide 2nd/3rd line support on-site and remote as needed.
• Collaborate with site partner and explain solutions to non-technical stakeholders.

Skills

CCNA

CompTIA

Field Experience

Routing & Switching

Network Security

Low-voltage DC

Communication Skills

Tools

Google Workspace

M365

GCP

Azure

AWS

Job description

Summary

Are you a hands-on Network Engineer who thrives on the open road rather than being chained to a desk? Do you love the satisfaction of physical deployments, complex problem-solving, and seeing the direct impact of your work?
We are launching a major, high-priority infrastructure overhaul across our remote sites, and we need a skilled engineer to grab their tools, partner up, and lead the charge from the front lines.

Contract Details

• Duration:12 months fixed term, with potential for extension.
• Hours:37 hours per week, Monday to Friday.

Location & Setup

• This is a field-based role, covering our entire South East geographical area.
• You will be part of dynamic, collaborative teams of two.

The Mission: Dual-Project Deployment

You won’t just be maintaining the network; you will be actively transforming it. Working in a team of two, you will hit our various geographical sites to run two critical projects simultaneously:

• The NIS Project (Network Security):Install and deploy critical "box" network security hardware to safeguard our infrastructure against modern threats.
• The WAN Upgrade:Rip out and upgrade legacy systems to modern Wide Area Network (WAN) infrastructure, preventing critical telephone connectivity drops and ensuring our remote treatment and process sites stay online 24/7.

What A Typical Week Looks Like

This is a highly active, 37-hour-a-week field role where no two days are the same. Your main focus will be out on-site doing the heavy lifting of network engineering:

• On-Site Project Execution: Traveling across our regional estate to install, maintain, and decommission physical equipment at data centers and remote processing sites.
• Hardware & Cabling:Mounting network cabinets, switches, and routers (yes, you’ll be using power tools!), and implementing new structured cabling solutions (Ethernet, Cat5e, Cat6a, and single/multimode fiber).
• Power & Protocol Management:Working hands-on with a mix of 230v AC, as well as 24v and 48v DC power systems used by low-voltage routers, switches, and sensors.
• High-Level Support:Backing up the IT Helpdesk by providing expert 2nd and 3rd line support to troubleshoot complex routing, switching, and security issues while on or off-site.

What You’ll Bring

• The Technical Foundations:CCNA, CompTIA, or equivalent certification/formal training.
• Field Experience:Proven experience with physical network installations, patching, and enclosure mounting.
• Protocol Expertise: Solid knowledge of routing, switching, and network security protocols.
• Versatility:Comfort working with low-voltage DC power systems and a "security-first" mentality.
• Communication Skills:The ability to collaborate closely with your site partner and explain technical solutions clearly to non-technical end-users.
• IT Savvy:Experience with Google Workspace/M365, cloud infrastructure (GCP/Azure/AWS), ITIL frameworks, or a background working within the water/utilities sector.

Note:A full driving license and a willingness to travel across our regional sites are absolute essentials for this role.

We want to the water company people want to be supplied by and want to work for.
We know the communities we serve are diverse. We recognise creativity comes from diversity not similarity. That’s why we are enthusiastic about creating inclusion across age, race, gender, ethnicity, religion and identity. You will experience our dedication to equal opportunities and fair treatment for all: through your recruitment, employment and career progression with South East Water.

Benefits package

• Excellent Stakeholder pension scheme, up to 10% employer contribution.
• 5 weeks holiday plus bank holidays per annum, increasing to 6 weeks with length of service.
• Flexible annual leave policy to buy or sell holiday leave.
• Paid volunteering days.
• Cycle to work scheme.
• Health cash plan.
• Life assurance.
• Wellbeing related benefits.

What can you expect from your recruitment?

• It is necessary for you to have the legal right to work in the UK when you begin employment with South East Water.
• Additionally, as part of the employment offer, you will need to pass background, identity, and employment referencing checks.

Compensation package

Up to £50,000 + company van plus standby costs