Principal Network Engineer

JR United Kingdom; Reading; Remote; GBP 80,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

A fast-scaling tech-forward company is seeking a Principal Network Engineer to lead its hybrid infrastructure. The role promises significant influence on the enterprise's technical operations and requires deep expertise in cloud technologies and networking. Ideal candidates will have 10+ years in systems engineering and a proactive mindset in complex environments, ready to drive innovation.

Qualifications

• 10+ years experience in enterprise-level systems/network engineering.
• Expertise in cloud infrastructure and hybrid systems.
• Experience in DR planning and infrastructure hardening.

Responsibilities

• Lead network architecture, engineering, and operations across global environments.
• Design and implement secure, highly available infrastructure.
• Collaborate with DevOps and Engineering to enhance systems.

Skills

Collaboration

Troubleshooting

Documentation

Tools

Juniper

AWS

Azure

GCP

Terraform

Ansible

Job description

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? Principal Network Engineer – Cloud & On-Prem | Enterprise-Scale Tech Org

? Location: Remote (UK/Ireland)

? Type: Full-time, Permanent

Ready to help build a future-proof Technical Operations (TechOps) function for a fast-scaling, tech-forward company? We’re looking for a hands-on, senior Network Engineer with deep expertise across cloud, on-prem, and hybrid infrastructure — and the leadership mindset to drive transformation across systems and networks at scale.

Why This Role Stands Out:

• Influence at Scale: You’ll shape the direction of a global enterprise’s technical infrastructure – both greenfield and legacy – as we modernise for scale, security, and resilience.
• Tech-First Culture: We value speed, outcomes, and smart autonomy. No red tape. No silos.
• Modern Stack, Complex Challenges: Hybrid multi-cloud (AWS, Azure, GCP), Palo Alto firewalls, Juniper, VXLAN/EVPN, Terraform, Ansible, and more.

What You’ll Own:

• Lead network architecture, engineering, and operations across global hybrid environments
• Design and implement highly available, secure, and observable infrastructure
• Collaborate with DevOps, InfoSec, and Engineering to evolve systems and standards
• Lead complex change initiatives, ensure uptime (target: 5 9s), and drive tech upgrades
• Define and implement network strategy, capacity planning, DR, and automation
• Mentor and influence across senior technical stakeholders and cross-functional teams

What You’ll Bring:

• 10+ years enterprise-level systems/network engineering experience
• Expert-level hands-on skills with:
• Juniper (Switching/Routing, VXLAN/EVPN)
• Deep understanding of cloud (AWS, Azure, GCP) and hybrid infrastructure
• Strong documentation, collaboration, and troubleshooting mindset
• Experience with DR planning, monitoring tools, and infrastructure hardening

Nice to Have:

• Experience leading cross-team initiatives or as a systems architect
• Background in DevSecOps, SRE, or platform engineering environments

? You’ll thrive here if...

You’re proactive, comfortable with complexity, thrive in fast-paced environments, and want your work to directly impact business outcomes.

Diversity & Belonging

We’re committed to building a culture where everyone feels they belong – regardless of background, experience, or identity. If you’re curious and passionate about doing meaningful work in a collaborative environment, we want to hear from you.

Get in touch for full information - submit your CV, or contact Carol Donnelly on [emailprotected]