Network DevOps Engineer

Matchtech Group; Gloucester; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual bonus

Pension

Flexible working hours

Flexi Leave

Free parking

Job summary

Matchtech Group is seeking a Network DevOps Engineer in Gloucester to drive software-defined networking and automation. You will build automated network infrastructure and contribute to tooling, CI/CD pipelines, and collaboration with network specialists.

The role emphasizes Python development, API design (REST/GraphQL), Ansible automation, and Git/GitLab workflows, with hybrid onsite work and potential security screening requirements.

Qualifications

• Strong Python development skills and OOP/design patterns.
• Experience designing and implementing testing strategies.
• API development experience (REST/GraphQL) with FastAPI/Django REST/Pydantic.
• Knowledge of JSON, YAML, Jinja2 and templating.
• Solid DevOps fundamentals and Agile delivery.
• Experience with Git/GitLab and CI/CD pipelines.
• Hands-on Ansible for infra or network automation.
• Solid networking basics (TCP/IP, DNS, Routing, VLANs, Subnetting).
• Ability to collaborate with network engineering specialists.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and maintain production-grade software tools and automation.
• Champion code reviews, unit tests, and maintainable coding standards.
• Define automated testing strategies for network automation platforms.
• Develop and extend Network Source of Truth data models and plugins.
• Build and maintain CI/CD pipelines for infra testing and deployment.
• Enhance Ansible playbooks/roles for reliability and scalability.
• Mentor colleagues in software engineering practices.
• Drive automation and DevOps innovation across networks.

Skills

Advanced Python

API design (REST/GraphQL)

CI/CD pipelines

Ansible automation

Git/GitLab workflows

Software testing

Networking fundamentals

Python tooling & frameworks

Collaboration with network engineers

Tools

Git

GitLab

Ansible

OpenShift

Job description

Network DevOps Engineer

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a driven Network DevOps Engineer to join a multinational Digital Excellence function. This role is ideal for someone passionate about modernising network management, driving automation initiatives, and enabling teams to adopt software engineering best practices. You'll play a key role in building an automated network infrastructure that supports critical systems and evolving business needs.

Location & Working Pattern

• Hybrid working, typically 2-3 days per week on-site depending on business requirements.
• Successful candidates will be required to undergo BPSS screening, with Security Clearance.

What We Offer

• Annual company bonus scheme.
• Competitive pension contribution package.
• Paid overtime opportunities.
• Flexible working arrangements.
• Additional annual leave through Flexi Leave.
• Enhanced parental, adoption, paternity and shared parental leave policies.
• Excellent site facilities, including subsidised meals and free parking.

The Opportunity

Join a highly skilled Digital Networks team and help shape the future of network automation. Whilst the team has extensive expertise in network engineering and automation, we are seeking a software-focused engineer who can strengthen development standards, tooling, and automation capability across the function.

You will help transition network operations toward a software-defined approach by introducing robust software engineering practices including version control, testing frameworks, CI/CD pipelines, and modular application design. Working alongside network specialists, you will develop and maintain the tools, software, and automation platforms that support both physical and virtual infrastructure.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and maintain production-grade software solutions and automation tools, primarily using Python.
• Champion software engineering best practices including code reviews, unit testing, and maintainable coding standards.
• Define and implement automated testing strategies for network automation platforms and APIs.
• Develop and extend the Network Source of Truth through custom data models, plugins, and automation workflows.
• Build and maintain CI/CD pipelines to automate infrastructure testing and deployment.
• Develop and enhance Ansible playbooks and roles to improve network automation reliability and scalability.
• Support and mentor colleagues in software engineering methodologies and development practices.
• Drive innovation across network infrastructure management through automation and DevOps principles.

This is a unique opportunity to work with cutting-edge networking and automation technologies while making a direct impact on how network infrastructure is managed and evolved within a complex, highly secure environment.

We recognise that no candidate will tick every box. If you have a strong software engineering background and meet most of the key requirements below, we'd encourage you to apply.

Essential Skills & Experience

• Advanced Python development skills with strong knowledge of object-oriented programming, design patterns, and maintainable code practices.
• Experience designing and implementing software testing strategies and frameworks.
• Strong API development and integration experience, including REST and GraphQL technologies and frameworks such as FastAPI, Django REST Framework, and Pydantic.
• Knowledge of JSON, YAML, Jinja2, and related data structures and templating technologies.
• Strong understanding of DevOps principles and Agile delivery methodologies.
• Experience with Git and GitLab version control workflows.
• Proven experience designing and maintaining CI/CD pipelines.
• Hands‑on experience using Ansible for infrastructure or network automation.
• Good understanding of networking fundamentals, including TCP/IP, DNS, Routing, Switching, VLANs, and Subnetting.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with network engineering specialists.

Desirable Skills

• Experience with network testing frameworks such as PyATS.
• Exposure to Cisco technologies, including Catalyst Center and/or ACI.
• Experience with Nautobot or similar Network Source of Truth platforms.
• Knowledge of testing and data validation frameworks such as mock or factory_boy.
• Linux administration experience, ideally within Red Hat Enterprise Linux environments.
• Experience or familiarity with containerisation and virtualisation technologies, particularly Red Hat OpenShift.

If you're looking to apply your software engineering expertise within a highly innovative and technically advanced organisation, while helping shape the future of network automation, we'd love to hear from you!