Network Operations Engineer, Sovereign Operations, Hampshire

Google Inc.; United Kingdom; Remote; GBP 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Google is hiring a Network Operations Engineer for Sovereign Operations in Hampshire. The role focuses on deploying and operating private cloud networks for critical UK customers, bridging cloud-native infrastructure with platform networking and software-defined networking within a Kubernetes architecture.

Based on-site, you will automate changes, monitor networks, maintain cross-cluster communications with Cilium/Istio, and participate in on-call rotations to ensure service reliability and

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent practical experience.
• 3 years of Linux systems administration experience.
• Experience with scripting languages (Python, Bash, PowerShell).
• Experience designing and implementing secure, resilient networks using diverse technologies.
• Active UK DV or DV eligibility security clearance.

Responsibilities

• Develop and operate private cloud networks for critical UK customers.
• Automate changes and implement monitoring across core network components.
• Maintain cross-cluster communications using Kubernetes-based networking (Cilium, Istio).
• Scale systems via automation and IaC; improve reliability, security and performance.
• Provide technical support in customer environments and drive GitOps pipelines.

Skills

Linux Systems Administration

Kernel level networking

Cloud native networking

Python

Bash

PowerShell

Scripting

Security/compliance

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science/Networking/Info Security or equivalent practical experience

Tools

Kubernetes

Ansible

Terraform

Puppet

Istio

Cilium

Job description

Network Operations Engineer, Sovereign Operations, Hampshire

Share Network Operations Engineer, Sovereign Operations, Hampshire

Google London, UK

Mid

Experience driving progress, solving problems, and mentoring more junior team members; deeper expertise and applied knowledge within relevant area.

X Must be a British citizen to meet compliance and security clearance requirements. The office location will be a satellite site in Hampshire, with occasional travel to London. This is an on-site position, requiring a standard five day per week schedule in the office.

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Computer Networking, Information Security, or a related technical field, or equivalent practical experience.
• 3 years of experience with Linux Systems Administration and kernel level/data plane cloud native networking.
• Experience with one or more scripting languages e.g. Python, Bash, Poweshell.
• Experience with designing and implementing resilient, secure networks using a wide range of technologies.
• Active, or the ability to obtain, a Developed Vetting (DV) UK security clearance.

Preferred qualifications:

• Experience deploying and operating production workloads in Kubernetes.
• Experience designing and implementing configuration management solutions to enable network and cloud platform operations (e.g., Ansible, Terraform, or Puppet).
• Understanding of the Kubernetes networking model, along with experience debugging CNI plugin (e.g., Cilium) configurations and Service Mesh (e.g., Istio) architectures.
• Excellent partner management, follow-through, resourcefulness, attention to detail, and verbal and written communication skills.
• Current and active UK Security Check (SC) or UK Developed Vetting (DV) security clearance.

About the job

The United Kingdom Sovereign Operations team in Google Public Sector delivers, operates and secures private cloud services. We aim to provide the flexibility, reliability, and scalability of public cloud for customers with high security requirements that can only be met in a private cloud environment. We deliver and operate these private cloud deployments for the most critical customers, helping scale, secure and maintain the deployment and working closely with Google product teams to continually improve our technology.

As a Network Operations Engineer, you will be part of a team of engineers that deploys and operates our private cloud services and underlying networks for critical customers in the UK. You will design and operate reliable and resilient networks, automate changes, implement monitoring, and manage core network components. Your work will bridge cloud native infrastructure engineering and platform networking, focusing on software defined networking within a Kubernetes architecture. You will be the glue that keeps containerized, and cloud-hosted services up and running, responsible for configuring and maintaining cloud platform infrastructure, virtual networking resources, and automation workflows from inception to optimization and will participate in an on-call rotation to ensure incidents can be swiftly resolved.

Responsibilities

• Engage and improve the whole life cycle of secure cloud platform network systems.
• Assist Engineering and Operations teams in building an ecosystem of integration, empowering software automation to scale within private/secure networks.
• Maintain, secure, and debug cross-cluster communications in an air-gapped kubernetes infrastructure using Cilium for eBPF-based container networking and Istio for microservice communication.
• Scale systems sustainably through mechanisms like automation, and evolve systems by implementing changes that improve network reliability, security and performance.
• Work cross-functionally to drive Infrastructure as Code and GitOps pipelines, ensuring network configurations are deployed programmatically. Provide highly technical implementation and operational support in customer environments, including guidance on implementation feasibility of cross-product integrations.

Google is proud to be an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. We are committed to building a workforce that is representative of the users we serve, creating a culture of belonging, and providing an equal employment opportunity regardless of race, creed, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, national origin, disability, age, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, pregnancy or related condition (including breastfeeding), expecting or parents-to-be, criminal histories consistent with legal requirements, or any other basis protected by law. See also Google's EEO Policy , Know your rights: workplace discrimination is illegal , Belonging at Google , and How we hire .

Google is a global company and, in order to facilitate efficient collaboration and communication globally, English proficiency is a requirement for all roles unless stated otherwise in the job posting.

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