Network Design Architect

idpp; London; Hybrid; GBP 95,755 - 125,644; Full time

Job summary

A leading telecommunications company is seeking a Senior Telecoms Network Design Architect to optimize their network infrastructure. This role requires extensive expertise in designing secure and resilient telecom solutions, with a focus on data centers and cloud technologies. The ideal candidate will possess strong automation skills and be comfortable with cutting-edge network architectures. This is a contract position offering competitive daily rates in a hybrid work environment.

Qualifications

• Experience designing and managing telecom networks.
• Proficient in SDN, Kubernetes, and Linux networking.
• Security compliance knowledge, especially with Telecom Security Act.

Responsibilities

• Design and implement telecom infrastructure solutions.
• Support container environments with Kubernetes.
• Automate infrastructure processes using Ansible and Terraform.

Skills

Telecoms infrastructure

data centre networking

cloud-native technologies

automation

virtualisation

software-defined networking

SDN solutions

Kubernetes

Linux expertise

network resilience

Education

Expert-level certifications (CCIE, JNCIE)

SDN, security certifications (CISSP, ISC2)

Tools

Ansible

Terraform

Python

OpenStack

OpenShift

WindRiver

Job description

2 days ago Be among the first 25 applicants

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-native 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-native 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 (Preferred):

• 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.

Seniority level

• Seniority level

  Director

Employment type

• Employment type

  Contract

Job function

• Job function

  Information Technology

• Industries

  Telecommunications

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