Lead Network Engineer - Secure Infrastructure

Sopra Steria Ltd; Salisbury; On-site; GBP 59,000 - 72,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Car allowance

Private medical

Pension

25 days annual leave

Flexible benefits

Job summary

Sopra Steria Ltd in Salisbury seeks a Lead Network Engineer to design, deploy and support enterprise network platforms, driving automation to modernise infrastructure within a secure environment.

You'll work three days per week onsite, mentor colleagues, and collaborate with customers to ensure reliability, security and continuous improvement, leveraging Cisco routing, virtualization and scripting with Ansible and Terraform.

Qualifications

• CCNA/CCNP certification (in progress or achieved).
• Experience with Cisco networking: routing, switching, firewalls and wireless.
• Strong fundamentals: TCP/IP, VLANs, DHCP, DNS and ACLs.
• Automation or scripting experience with Ansible, Python, Bash or PowerShell.

Responsibilities

• Design, build, deploy and support enterprise network platforms.
• Drive automation adoption using Ansible and Terraform.
• Support operations in a fast-paced, secure environment.
• Investigate issues, perform root cause analyses and implement fixes.
• Monitor production systems and manage escalations.
• Mentor colleagues and contribute to service improvement.

Education

CCNA/CCNP certification

Tools

Ansible

Terraform

Python

Bash

PowerShell

Job description

Are you a Network Engineer who enjoys solving complex problems and wants to play a key role in modernising enterprise networks through automation?

You’ll be joining a dedicated network team based in Salisbury, working as part of a wider platform engineering function within a highly secure environment.

ThisLead Network Engineerrole offers the opportunity to work on cutting-edge network platforms that support critical defence activities, while developing your skills as the organisation moves towards a more automated and software-driven approach.

You’ll collaborate closely with colleagues and customers, contributing to meaningful work where reliability, security and continuous improvement are key.

This is an ideal opportunity for someone who is curious, motivated to learn, and keen to build on their existing technical expertise.

You’ll be based near Salisbury, with an expectation to work onsite three days per week.

What you'll be doing:

• Assisting with the design, build, deployment and support of enterprise network platforms.
• Driving the adoption of automation using tools such as Ansible and Terraform.
• Supporting operational requirements within a fast-paced, secure environment.
• Investigating complex issues, producing root cause analysis, and implementing solutions.
• Proactively monitoring and maintaining production systems while managing escalations.
• Mentoring colleagues and contributing to service improvement and innovation.

What you’ll bring:

• Experience with Cisco networking technologies including routing, switching, firewalls and wireless.
• Strong understanding of networking fundamentals including TCP/IP, VLANs, DHCP, DNS and ACLs.
• Experience with automation or scripting using tools such as Ansible, Python, Bash or PowerShell.
• Knowledge of routing protocols such as BGP and network segmentation using VRFs.
• CCNA certification with CCNP achieved or in progress.
• Ability to produce technical documentation including designs and root cause analysis reports.

It would be great if you had:

• Exposure to cloud networking principles in Azure or AWS.
• Experience working within an ITIL environment.
• Knowledge of software-defined networking technologies such as Cisco ACI or VMware NSX.

Location: Salisbury – with an expectation of 3 days per week onsite.
Security Clearance Level: Developed Vetting (DV)or eligible for DV clearance.
Salary: Up to £65,000, depending on experience.
Benefits: £5,400 car allowance, 25 days annual leave with the option to buy additional days, private medical, life assurance, pension, and generous flexible benefits fund.