Senior Network Architect

Ocean Infinity; Southampton; Hybrid; GBP 90,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Ocean Infinity seeks a Senior Network Architect to design, build and secure networking, communications, and data pathways for USV and AUV systems. This hybrid role blends systems engineering with network and security expertise to deliver reliable, high‑performance connectivity.

You will work with mechanical, electrical, software and autonomy engineers to ensure secure, scalable communications across radios, satellites, cellular, mesh, Wi‑Fi, and onboard sensors in challenging marine environments.

Qualifications

• Degree in Networking, Telecommunications, Electrical/Systems Engineering, Computer Engineering, or similar.
• Strong experience with IP networking (routing, switching, VLANs, firewalls, QoS, VPNs).
• Familiarity with radio and wireless communications (RF fundamentals, antennas, propagation).
• Hands-on experience configuring network hardware (Cisco, MikroTik, Ubiquiti, Peplink, etc.).
• Understanding of satellite, 4G/5G, Wi‑Fi, or RF mesh communications.
• Experience building / managing cloud hosted services
• Comfortable building, testing, and troubleshooting real hardware.
• Experience with Linux networking tools.
• Experience of secure network architecture and implementation, including cybersecurity principles (secure comms, certificate management, hardening).

Responsibilities

• Act as Subject Matter Expert for network architecture.
• Architect, design and document end-to-end communications architecture for USVs/AUVs (radio, satcom, cellular, mesh, Wi‑Fi, acoustic).
• Define and maintain IP architectures, VLANs, firewall rules, QoS, bandwidth allocation, and encryption schemes.
• Produce communications system requirements, ICDs, test plans, and verification documentation.
• Conduct trade studies for new comms technologies (satcom, mesh, acoustic modems).
• Collaborate with mechanical, electrical, software, and autonomy engineers for seamless integration.
• Provide technical expertise to operations and project teams.
• Help design tailored communication solutions for customer missions/environments.
• Ensure network architectures meet security requirements for customer missions/environments.

Skills

IP networking

Routing & Switching

VLANs

Firewalls

VPNs

Wireless communications

RF communications

Cloud hosted services

Linux networking

Network security

Education

Degree in Networking/Telecommunications/Engineering

Tools

Cisco

MikroTik

Ubiquiti

Peplink

Job description

We are using and creating technology to transform operations at sea to enable people and the planet to thrive.

Employee

We are using and creating technology to transform operations at sea to enable people and the planet to thrive. We are open-minded and fearless in our approach to innovation and don't believe in boundaries. We challenge everything and have massive ambitions to drag aging industries into the tech era. We take safety, equality and education very seriously, and our responsibilities don't stop at our front door. Our business is built on the belief that there's definitely a more environmentally responsible way to operate at sea. We employ people who share our core values. We expect our people to be courageous, trustworthy, and conscientious, driven by a desire to do the right thing. We strive for excellence, work collaboratively, and are genuinely excited by our work. We offer opportunities for our people to develop beyond their role and span a multitude of disciplines. These are open to all, regardless of background and experience level. Working with us means being part of a team that is harnessing technology and creativity to disrupt a traditional industry. We are not your average workplace.

We are seeking a Senior Network Architect to design, build and secure the networking, communications, and data pathways that underpin our USV and AUV systems. This is a hybrid role combining:

• Systems engineering (requirements, architecture, integration)
• Network & comms engineering (routing, radios, RF, protocols, data links)
• Network security considerations

You will ensure reliable, secure, high‑performance data communication between autonomous platforms, motherships, remote operators, cloud infrastructure, and onboard sensors.

This role is ideal for someone keen to deliver secure, reliable complex networks in challenging marine environments.

What You Will Be Doing

• Act as Subject Matter Expert for network architecture.
• Architect, design and document the end-to-end communications architecture for USVs and AUVs (radio, satellite, cellular, mesh, Wi‑Fi, acoustic systems).
• Define andmaintainIP architectures, VLANs,firewallrules, QoS, bandwidth allocation, and encryption schemes.
• Produce communications system requirements, ICDs, test plans, and verification documentation (lean and pragmatic).
• Conduct trade studies for new comms technologies (e.g., new satcom services, mesh systems, acoustic modems).
• Work closely with mechanical, electrical, software, and autonomy engineers to ensure seamless integration.
• Provide technical expertise to operations and project teams.
• Help design tailored communication solutions for specific customer missions or environments.
• Ensure network architectures can meet security requirements for specific customer missions and environments.

Who You Are

• Degree in Networking, Telecommunications, Electrical/Systems Engineering, Computer Engineering, or similar.
• Strong experience with IP networking (routing, switching, VLANs, firewalls, QoS, VPNs).
• Familiarity with radio and wireless communications (RF fundamentals, antennas, propagation).
• Hands‑on experience configuring network hardware (Cisco,MikroTik, Ubiquiti,Peplink, etc.).
• Understanding of satellite, 4G/5G, Wi‑Fi, or RF mesh communications.
• Experience building / managing cloud hosted services
• Comfortable building, testing, and troubleshooting real hardware.
• Experience with Linux networking tools.
• Experience of secure network architecture and implementation, including cybersecurity principles (secure comms, certificate management, hardening).

Desirable

• Experience with Ansible,AWS,OpenWRT,WireGuardandRouterOS.
• Marine communication systems experience (maritime radios, AIS, acoustic communications).
• Experience with networking for autonomous systems (UAVs, robots, mobile platforms).
• Familiarity with ROS/ROS2 networking, DDS, or middleware.
• Experience with field deployments and remoteoperations.

Given the nature of the work, this role requires you to obtain and maintain the appropriate level of UK national security clearance. You must be willing and able to undergo the necessary security vetting process, and continued employment in the role may be subject to maintaining the required clearance. Security vetting will be conducted in accordance with the requirements and standards set by United Kingdom Security Vetting (UKSV). Further information on UK security clearance levels, eligibility, and the vetting process can be found on the UK Government website: United Kingdom Security Vetting: Applicant

Salary

The salary varies for this position as we are recruiting in multiple regional locations and job grades. The salary process is based on skills, abilities, and experience required.

What You Can Expect

At Ocean Infinity, we believe in creating equal opportunities for all, celebrating each and everyone’s differences. We are driven by transforming the industry, through our technology, thoughts, behaviours and actions. Being inclusive and respectful to all is fundamental to who we are. It is the right thing to do and enables innovation and creativity to thrive. There is more work to be done, and we know that we aren’t perfect, but our commitment to these values is unwavering. They are central to our mission and the impact we have on the industry, meaning, we cannot live without them.