Senior Network Architect

Thales; Cheadle; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Private medical insurance

Cycle to work scheme

Annual bonus

Employee discounts

Stock options

Paid volunteering day

Job summary

Thales UK is seeking a Senior Network Communications Architect within the Under Water Systems (UWS) group to design, deliver and maintain secure, resilient network solutions across Thales projects and products. You will own the network communications lifecycle from requirements gathering to formal testing, while driving innovation and cost efficiency in line with Thales’ strategic goals.

This role requires UK security clearance (SC) and UK national status; prior defence/navy exposure is

Qualifications

• Proven experience designing secure, resilient network systems.
• Experience with IP/Ethernet, RF/satellite, and underwater acoustic bearers.
• Experience with security testing (PEN tests) and SyOps.

Responsibilities

• Design and implement secure network communication systems.
• Develop high-level and low-level designs, ensuring compliance with requirements and security standards.
• Conduct formal testing to validate network performance, security and resilience.
• Produce detailed documented estimates for bids, ensuring feasibility and cost-effectiveness.
• Serve as the primary technical contact for customers and suppliers, presenting designs at review gates.

Skills

Network design

Network security

VPN configuration

Crypto devices

VMware ESXi

Private cloud

Bash scripting

TCL scripting

PowerShell

Tools

VMware vSphere/ESXi

Job description

Thales is a global technology leader with more than 83,000 employees on five continents. With over 7,500 people in the UK, operating across defence, space, aerospace, and digital security, we help build a future we can all trust. Thales supports the security and stability of our nation by providing extraordinary technology to our customers, as well as delivering social value to the UK with our products and services.

Under Water Systems (UWS)

Our purpose is to be the leading provider of underwater sensors and decision superiority, helping navies across the world keep our friends, families and all of us safe. We cover four sectors: Mine Counter Measures, Anti-Submarine warfare, Services and Future Capabilities.

The Senior Network Communications Architect is responsible for designing, delivering, and maintaining secure, resilient network communication solutions across Thales projects and products.

This role ensures end-to-end ownership of the network communications lifecycle, from requirements gathering to formal testing, while driving innovation, cost efficiency, and alignment with Thales’ strategic goals.

Key focus areas include:

• Technical Leadership: Serving as the recognised "go-to" expert in network communications and security, both internally and externally.
• Bid and Project Support: Developing detailed, costed, and achievable estimates for bids, ensuring solutions meet budgetary and technical constraints.
• Stakeholder Collaboration: Acting as the direct customer and supplier interface, presenting designs at review gates, and resolving critical network issues that threaten project delivery.
• Knowledge Sharing: Driving best practices, common approaches, and continuous improvement within the UWS UK Network team, including recruitment, training, and tooling specifications.

Key Responsibilities:

Network Solution Delivery:

• Design and implement secure and resilient network communication systems using IP/Ethernet, RF radio/satellite, and underwater acoustic bearers.
• Develop high-level and low-level designs, ensuring compliance with project requirements and security standards.
• Conduct formal testing to validate network performance, security, and resilience.

Bid and Estimation Support:

• Produce detailed documented estimates for bids, ensuring they are technically feasible, cost-effective, and aligned with budget constraints.
• Collaborate with engineering teams, procurement, and suppliers to create innovative bid solutions, even when requirements or materials are incomplete.

Customer and Supplier Interface:

• Serve as the primary technical contact for customers, presenting designs at review gates and agreeing on interface boundaries.
• Work with network and communication equipment suppliers to select appropriate hardware, troubleshoot issues, and ensure timely resolutions.
• Provide integration and testing support to ensure seamless project execution.

Critical Problem Solving:

• Take ownership of critical network/communication problems that threaten project timelines or budgets.
• Drive root‑cause analysis and implement corrective actions to prevent recurrence.

Technical Leadership (UWS UK Network Capabilities):

• Ensure common approaches, knowledge sharing, and best practices are adopted across the networking team.
• Conduct recruitment, selection, and interviews for networking roles.
• Specify tooling and workplace facility needs to support team productivity.
• Identify and support individual training and development to close skill gaps.

Security and Compliance:

• Secure networks against internal and external attacks, ensuring they pass PEN test evaluations.
• Author Security Operating Procedures (SyOps) tailored to the required security level.
• Ensure compliance with CE/UKCA marking, EMC, and other regulatory standards.

Cloud and Infrastructure Design:

• Design and deliver private cloud systems with demanding CPU/GPU processing, network, power, racking, and storage requirements.

Key Skills / Experience

Network Design & Security

• IP/Ethernet, RF/satellite, underwater acoustic communication bearers.
• Network security (PEN testing, SyOps authoring).
• VPN and military crypto device configuration.

Cloud and Virtualization

• VMware vSphere/ESXi network and security management.
• Private cloud architecture (CPU/GPU, storage, power).

Protocols and Tools

• Bash, TCL, PowerShell scripting.

UK Eyes Only:

Due to the nature of the work that we do at Thales, many of our roles are subject to security restrictions. This role requires you to be a UK National and achieve Security Clearance (SC) without any caveats. It would be advantageous if currently held, however, if not currently held, it is a requirement that the successful applicant undergo, achieve, and maintain SC Clearance prior to commencing employment. If approved by the MOD, a dual national from a non-ITAR country may be considered.

To be eligible for full SC, you generally need to have resided in the UK for the last 5 years. In some circumstances, a minimum of 3 years’ residence in the UK over the last 5 years may be accepted, with additional overseas checks.

Please visit the UKSV website for further guidance: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/united-kingdom-security-vetting-clearance-levels/national-security-vetting-clearance-levels.

At Thales, we ensure equal opportunities, pay and working conditions for all. The benefits we offer include private medical insurance, buying or selling annual leave, cycle to work schemes, employee discounts, paid volunteering day, stocks and shares, annual bonus and much more depending on the role.

We are committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels valued for who they are and the unique strengths they bring. Discover more about our programmes, employee networks, wellbeing policies, and inclusive features here.

Join Thales in the UK – Innovate with us and shape the future!