Network Design Architect

ZipRecruiter; London; Hybrid; GBP 200,000 +; Full time

Job summary

A leading company in cloud and telecom is looking for a Senior Telecoms Network Design Architect to design and implement complex telecom infrastructure solutions. You will leverage your deep expertise in networking, automation, and cloud technologies to support scalable and secure designs. This hybrid role requires advanced technical skills and a strategic mindset in a high-complexity environment.

Qualifications

• Proven experience designing and managing data centre and telecom networks at scale.
• Expert-level knowledge of routing protocols (BGP) and service provider architectures.
• Strong scripting and automation skills in Python, Terraform, Ansible.

Responsibilities

• Design and implement data centre fabric architectures including multi-domain routing.
• Develop and support SDN solutions and architect network solutions for VNF and CNF applications.
• Ensure end-to-end service provider core and data centre network design.

Skills

Telecoms infrastructure

Data centre networking

Cloud technologies

Kubernetes

Ansible

Terraform

Python

Routing protocols

Network security

Automation

Education

CCIE, JNCIE, or equivalent certifications

SDN certifications

Security certifications (e.g., CISSP, ISC2)

Job description

Job Description

Job Title: Senior Telecoms Network Design Architect

Location: Hybrid working London or Reading | Type: Contract (6 months initially) | Rate: £600 per day Outside

Role Overview:

We are seeking a highly experienced Telecoms Network Infrastructure Architect with deep expertise in, Telecoms infrastructure, data centre networking, and cloud- technologies. The successful candidate will design, implement, and support complex, scalable, and secure telecoms infrastructure solutions across data centre and cloud environments, with a strong focus on automation, virtualisation, and software-defined networking.

Key Responsibilities:

• Design and implement data centre fabric architectures (Clos, VXLAN, EVPN, multi-domain routing, DCI, anycast, micro-segmentation).
• Develop and support SDN solutions including distributed switching, routing, and security policy enforcement.
• Architect network solutions for VNF and CNF applications, considering performance, scalability, and resilience.
• Support container-based environments with Kubernetes, including CNI plugins, ingress/egress, and network policies.
• Design and maintain services in virtualised and cloud- platforms (OpenStack, OpenShift, WindRiver).
• Drive infrastructure automation using Ansible, Terraform, Python, and Infrastructure-as-Code practices.
• Ensure end-to-end service provider core and data centre network design, including expert-level BGP, inter-AS, and policy/routing configurations.
• Apply Linux expertise across PaaS, IaaS, SaaS, and CaaS environments.
• Work with supporting services such as DNS, ADC, AAA, firewalls, SIEM, protocol inspection, and network visibility tools.
• Align architecture with 3GPP mobile standards (Rel. 15+), IMS, RAN, and CUPS/WWC models.
• Contribute to security and compliance requirements, including alignment with the Telecom Security Act.
• Liaise with vendors and standards bodies; contribute to white papers and industry groups (desirable).

#Required Skills & Experience:

• Proven experience designing and managing data centre and telecom networks at scale.
• Network and security requirements and approaches for:
• 3GPP mobile architectures, particularly 3GPP Release 15 and onwards.
• IMS
• RAN architectures (eg C-RAN functional split models)
• Expert-level knowledge of routing protocols (BGP), network resilience, and service provider architectures.
• Strong experience in Kubernetes, Linux networking, and container networking interfaces (CNIs).
• Hands-on skills in SDN overlays (VXLAN/Geneve), network virtualisation, and service chaining.
• Familiarity with eBPF, telemetry, firewalling, and protocol-aware services (eg, ALGs).
• Strong Scripting and automation skills: Python, Terraform, Ansible.

Desirable but not essential

• Experience with Cisco/Arista platforms, CloudVision, NDFC, NDO (desirable).
• Familiarity with intent-based networking concepts (desirable).
• Experience in RedHat OpenStack/OpenShift and WindRiver environments (desirable).

Certifications ():

• CCIE, JNCIE, or equivalent expert-level routing certifications.
• SDN certifications (eg, ONF).
• Security certifications (eg, CISSP, ISC2).
• Relevant telecom/vendor-specific certifications.

Ideal Candidate Profile:

You are a strategic thinker with hands-on technical depth across networking, cloud, and telecom domains. You have extensive experience in designing secure, resilient infrastructure, and thrive in high-complexity environments where automation, performance, and innovation are critical.