Lead Network Engineer DV Cleared

Sanderson Government and Defence; Kingswood; On-site; GBP 111,000 - 166,000; Full time

Job summary

Sanderson Government and Defence in Salisbury is seeking an experienced Lead Network Engineer to secure and operate a critical network capability in a high‑assurance environment.

You will maintain routers, switches, firewalls, and cryptographic systems, deliver architectural enhancements, monitor performance, and provide guidance to delivery teams and stakeholders in a national security setting. DV clearance is essential; onsite work is required 3–4 days per week.

Qualifications

• Active DV Clearance
• Extensive network engineering experience in enterprise, defence, service provider, or data centre environments
• Strong Cisco networking expertise, ideally CCNP certified
• Firewall and network security experience, ideally with Palo Alto technologies and PCNSE certification
• Experience with network design, implementation, and project delivery
• Knowledge of routing, switching, firewalls, and secure network architectures
• Strong stakeholder engagement and communication skills

Responsibilities

• Maintain and support network infrastructure, including routers, switches, firewalls, and cryptographic systems
• Deliver network design changes and architectural enhancements
• Monitor network performance and proactively resolve issues
• Manage network security and perimeter defence controls
• Produce and maintain technical documentation
• Provide technical guidance to delivery teams and stakeholders

Skills

DV Clearance

Cisco Networking

CCNP

Firewall Security

Palo Alto

PCNSE

Network Design

Project Delivery

Routing & Switching

Stakeholder Engagement

Communication Skills

Job description

Lead Network Engineer

Salisbury | 3-4 Days Per Week Onsite

Inside IR35 | Open Rate
Active DV Clearance Required

Are you an experienced Lead Network Engineer with a strong background in secure, complex network environments?

We are seeking a skilled professional to support the operation, maintenance, and development of a critical network capability. You will be responsible for ensuring network availability, security, and performance while delivering architectural improvements and supporting key network initiatives.

Essential Experience:

• Active DV Clearance
• Extensive network engineering experience in enterprise, defence, service provider, or data centre environments
• Strong Cisco networking expertise, ideally CCNP certified
• Firewall and network security experience, ideally with Palo Alto technologies and PCNSE certification
• Experience with network design, implementation, and project delivery
• Knowledge of routing, switching, firewalls, and secure network architectures
• Strong stakeholder engagement and communication skills

Key Responsibilities:

• Maintain and support network infrastructure, including routers, switches, firewalls, and cryptographic systems
• Deliver network design changes and architectural enhancements
• Monitor network performance and proactively resolve issues
• Manage network security and perimeter defence controls
• Produce and maintain technical documentation
• Provide technical guidance to delivery teams and stakeholders

This is an opportunity to work within a highly secure, mission-critical environment, supporting the delivery and evolution of a nationally significant network capability.

Reasonable Adjustments:

Respect and equality are core values to us. We are proud of the diverse and inclusive community we have built, and we welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and perspectives. Our success is driven by our people, united by the spirit of partnership to deliver the best resourcing solutions for our clients.