Lead Network Engineer

Big Red Recruitment Midlands Limited; England; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A recruitment agency is seeking a Lead Network Engineer to join a major network transformation project. This role involves leading technical initiatives and supporting the implementation of Cisco Meraki technologies across over 500 sites. Ideal for Senior Network Engineers ready to transition into architecture. Salary ranges from £70,000 to £80,000, with flexible hybrid working in Huddersfield.

Qualifications

• Significant experience in senior-level network engineering or network architecture.
• Strong expertise with Cisco Meraki design, rollout, and troubleshooting.
• Experience producing high-quality network documentation (HLD, LLD, Confluence).

Responsibilities

• Lead technically as the architectural go-to for knowledge transfer.
• Support delivery of a secure and scalable network across multiple sites.
• Play key role in proof of concepts, new initiatives like Zero Trust and SD-WAN.

Skills

Senior-level network engineering

Cisco Meraki design

Network documentation (HLD, LLD)

Zero Trust principles

Experience in large, distributed network environments

Job description

Would you like to lead major network projects, supporting multiple sites as part of a critical infrastructure modernisation?

You’ll join an enterprise scale organisation on a journey to modernise and future-proof its complex network estate. We’re looking for a Lead Network Engineer to come in and help drive it.

You’ll be joining partway through this multi-phase transformation, working hands‑on with Cisco Meraki technologies to support the delivery of a modern, secure, and scalable network across over 500 UK branches and offices.

This is not a people management role, it’s an opportunity to lead technically, acting as the architectural ‘go to’ for a knowledge transfer and serving as the primary technical escalation point for the business‑critical network estate.

You’ll operate alongside the existing Network Architect and play a key role in proof of concepts, pilot programmes, BAU transitions, and new initiatives like Zero Trust, NAC, and SD‑WAN.

If you’re a Senior Network Engineer ready to make the step into architecture or a hands‑on Network Architect looking to stay close to delivery, this could be the ideal role for you.

What we re looking for:

• Significant experience in senior‑level network engineering or network architecture
• Strong expertise with Cisco Meraki design, rollout, and troubleshooting
• Experience producing high‑quality network documentation (HLD, LLD, Confluence)
• Familiarity with Zero Trust, SD‑WAN, or NAC principles
• Experience supporting large, distributed network environments (ideally multi‑site or retail)

Salary: £70,000 £80,000 (depending on experience)

Flexible hybrid working 2 3 days a week in the Huddersfield office

We are an equal opportunity recruitment company. This means we welcome applications from all suitably qualified people regardless of race, sex, disability, religion, sexual orientation or age.

We are particularly invested in Neurodiversity inclusion and offer reasonable adjustments in the interview process. Reasonable adjustments are changes that we can make in the interview process if your disability puts you at a disadvantage compared with others who are not disabled. If you would benefit from a reasonable adjustment in your interview process, please call or email one of our recruiters.