Network & Security Engineer

Academia Ltd t/a Smartdesc; City Of London; Hybrid; GBP 100,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading technology company in the UK is seeking a Network & Security Engineer to deliver optimal solutions for clients. This hands-on role involves technical support, network implementation projects, and customer interactions, requiring strong experience with networking technologies and vendor certifications. Join a rapidly expanding firm focused on transforming IT services in the public and private sectors.

Benefits

Gym membership contribution

Health Cash Plan

Flexible working hours

Free annual leave on your birthday

Qualifications

• Proven track record in delivering complex technical solutions.
• Experience working with industry-leading network and security products.
• Ability to articulate technical options clearly.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical support at 2nd line level.
• Work with Service Desk team for networking escalations.
• Responsible for network implementation projects.

Skills

Network & Security experience

Cisco Meraki

Juniper

Technical troubleshooting (TCP/IP)

Critical thinking

Education

CCNP / JNCIS certifications

Tools

Enterprise networking products

WLAN products (Meraki, Aruba)

Job description

Overview

Network & Security Engineer
Based: Home-based, within the London area
Type: Full-time
Salary: In the region of £50k
Eligibility: You must be eligible to work in the UK

About the role

The purpose of the Network & Security Engineer role is to create and deliver optimum solutions to meet business and client needs through the whole project lifecycle from understanding the project and requirements to transition into BAU support. Hence, this is a pivotal role in the delivery of technological solutions for the business and our customers.

Network & Security Engineer roles are expected to take on challenging projects, often spanning more than one application and/or technology and as such, this role is very delivery goal focused.

The further element of the role will be assisting the Technical Management Team in day-to-day network operations and will require emergency availability in the event of service faults.

The successful candidate will play a large role in operations on a metro London service provider network. A part of this role will also be customer facing; supporting customer networks and infrastructure.

This is a hands-on, practical role that will require visits to customer sites, DCs and similar, therefore the person recruited into this position will need to be flexible and willing to travel to client sites and other work related locations including DCs, as and when required.

The ideal candidate will have a wealth of networking experience, preferably with vendor certifications.

The successful candidate may be required to complete a satisfactory DBS cert.

Responsibilities

• Provide Technical support at 2nd line level to Academia Customers
• Work closely with Academia Service Desk Team for networking related escalations
• Technical resource, responsible for network implementation projects of varying scales
• Provide innovative solutions to meet business needs
• Assist with policy, procedure and standards documents based on industry best practices and personal research and experience
• Provide support for critical system changes outside of business hours
• Assist with data centre management as required

Key Skills

• The successful candidate will have excellent experience working with enterprise level network & security / telecom services with Juniper and Cisco Meraki.
• Proven track record of successfully delivering complex technical solutions.
• Experience of successfully working with outsourced partners.
• Experience with industry leading network and security products including, Juniper, Cisco, HPE
• Conceptual knowledge of the following technologies & services: OSPF, BGP, VRF / VRF lite, L2VPN & L3VPNs, Cloud-based delivery, unified communications.
• Technical design and documentation skillset
• Experience with WLAN products from Meraki, MIST, Aruba and Ubiquiti
• Experience installing network firewalls, routers and switches
• Ability to troubleshoot network issues (TCP/IP) and identifying points of failure, configuring and troubleshooting IPsec VPNs using multiple routers & creating VLANs, configuring managed switches and firewalls.
• Ability to troubleshoot third party software and liaise vendor support
• Ability to articulate technical options/issues/designs such that management can make informed decisions.
• Able to explain technical issues and solutions clearly to any audience
• Strong critical thinking and analytical skills to assess complex issues and recommend effective solutions.

Nice to have

• CCNP / JNCIS - Professional level certifications
• Experience working in a Data Centre environment

Why Academia?

Academia is an innovative and rapidly expanding technology company on a mission to transform IT services for large public and private sector customers. We\'re not just a supplier; we\'re a trusted partner for thousands of clients.

Our ethos is simple, if we can provide great technology and make it work, we will empower our customers to optimise their investment in technology. Our customers IT success is our business. Building a strong reputation over 20 years as a top-tier provider of IT solutions and services, the company has sustained double-digit growth, with revenues exceeding £150 million in FY24. We have picked up prestigious industry awards along the way, including the highly prized CRN reseller of the year award.

Backed by Strive Capital, which has provided strong financial and strategic support since 2020, Academia is well-equipped to continue expanding into new areas. Our dedicated lifecycle division, launched to meet the growing demand for sustainable IT solutions, reinforces our commitment to reducing environmental impact while supporting the full lifecycle of our technology.

Our culture is built on teamwork, innovation, integrity, ambition, and a commitment to delivering excellent customer service. With ambitious growth plans and a supportive, collaborative environment, Academia is a fantastic place for professionals eager to make an impact. Join us and become part of one of the UK\'s most exciting tech success stories.

Benefits

• Gym membership contribution
• Health Cash Plan
• Increased annual leave with length of service
• Free annual leave on your birthday
• Length of service bonus
• Flexible working hours
• Hybrid working
• Free Will Writing service
• Life Insurance
• And much more!