Senior Network Engineer

National Physical Laboratory; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 65,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working

Benefits package

Job summary

The National Physical Laboratory seeks a Senior Network Engineer to lead on‑prem network design, deployment, and security within a hybrid infrastructure. You will manage Alcatel‑Lucent switches, Fortinet firewalls, and associated services, while coordinating with cybersecurity for secure, reliable connectivity across the UK site footprint.

You’ll work with virtualization, storage, and backup systems (e.g., VMware, Hitachi Storage Array, Rubrik, Nimble) and contribute to documentation and network

Qualifications

• Design, implement, and manage on‑premises network infrastructure (ALU switches/WAP)
• Configure and maintain Fortinet firewalls for security
• Monitor, manage, and troubleshoot network performance
• Implement network/infrastructure improvements with minimal downtime
• Support Endpoint IPAM/DHCP/DNS services
• Undertake projects on on‑prem infra including virtualization, storage, backups
• Ensure patching and security of network systems in collaboration with cybersecurity
• Report on network utilization and performance to meet business needs
• Create and maintain network/telephone system diagrams and docs

Responsibilities

• Design, implement, and manage on‑premises network infrastructure and security
• Monitor, troubleshoot, and optimize network performance across wired and wireless
• Lead changes and improvements with minimal user downtime
• Provide support for Endpoint IPAM/DHCP/DNS services
• Maintain documentation for all network and telephone systems
• Collaborate on virtualization, storage, and backup platform maintenance and upgrades
• Ensure security posture with NAC/segmentation and patch management
• Create and maintain network diagrams for ongoing operations

Skills

OSPF/BGP/VRFs

Alcatel-Lucent switching

OmniVista management

Stellar Wi‑Fi

Fortinet Firewalls/IPSec VPN

NAC/802.1x/segmentation

VRRP/LACP/Virtual‑Chassis

SolarWinds

SD‑WAN/MPLS

Zero trust / micro‑segmentation

IPv6

WPA3 / 802.1X

Tools

OmniVista

SolarWinds

VMware

Hitachi Storage Array

Rubrik

Nimble

Active Directory

DNS/DHCP

Microsoft 365 E5/Azure/Entra ID

Azure Networking

Job description

About the Role

The National Physical Laboratory is the UK's leading centre for measurement science, engineering, and technology. We develop national measurement standards, support scientific and commercial innovation, and collaborate with industries to ensure precision in products and processes. Through our important scientific and research work we address key challenges in health, energy, security, telecommunications and sustainability, driving economic growth and enhancing quality of life.

We’re seeking a talented and experienced Senior Network Engineer to join our growing Technical Operations team. The primary focus of the role is network engineering, with a secondary requirement to provide on‑premises infrastructure support. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in managing and supporting complex network environments and ideally have some experience of working in a hybrid network/infrastructure role.

The role offers exposure to a wide range of technologies across networks, physical infrastructure and cloud computing and will be instrumental in ensuring that the critical technical systems supporting the essential work our scientists do, is maintained to a high standard.

The ideal candidate will live within commuting distance to our Teddington site as we support a physical network, but we will consider a degree of remote working for an exceptional candidate, and we welcome applications from experienced candidates, who have a wide range of technology experience even if that experience does not include some of the technologies listed below.

About You

• Design, implement, and manage on-premises network infrastructure which is primarily based on Alcatel‑Lucent network switches and Wireless Access Points
• Configure and maintain Fortinet firewalls to ensure network security
• Monitor, manage and maintain network performance and troubleshoot issues to ensure optimal operation
• Implement network and infrastructure improvements and manage changes to support all users with minimal downtime
• Provide support to other Infrastructure team members responsible for Endpoint IPAM/DHCP/DNS services
• Undertake project work, maintenance and remediation on NPL’s on‑prem infrastructure including virtualisation, storage and backup systems (e.g. VMWare, Hitachi Storage Array, Rubrik, Nimble)
• Ensure that all network systems and equipment are appropriately patched and secured. Collaborate with cybersecurity to ensure internal and external networks are fully secured using network access control and segmentation technologies
• Manage and report on network utilisation and performance of wired and wireless infrastructure to ensure that business requirements are met, and solutions are developed that are fit for purpose
• Create and maintain operational documentation and diagrams relating to all of NPL’s network and telephone systems

Key required experience, knowledge and skills

• Network protocols and topologies including OSPF, BGP, VRFs
• Experience with Alcatel‑Lucent Enterprise switching and OmniVista management is ideal but experience with other equivalent enterprise networking technologies is also acceptable
• Experience of Alcatel‑Lucent Enterprise Stellar Wi‑Fi or similar Wi‑Fi networks
• Stateful and Next Gen Firewalls (NPL uses Fortinet) and IPSec VPN
• Network security concepts such as NAC, 802.1x and segmentation systems and any experience with Forescout is beneficial
• Protocols used in resilient systems e.g. VRRP, LACP, Virtual‑Chassis
• Proficiency in using network management tools (e.g., SolarWinds)
• Experience of implementing SD‑WAN, MPLS technologies
• Experience with network segmentation, zero trust principles and micro‑segmentation
• Knowledge of IPv6 implementation and transition strategies
• Familiarity with wireless security protocols (e.g., WPA3, 802.1X)

Key required experience, knowledge and skills

• Network protocols and topologies including OSPF, BGP, VRFs
• Experience with Alcatel‑Lucent Enterprise switching and OmniVista management is ideal but experience with other equivalent enterprise networking technologies is also acceptable
• Experience of Alcatel‑Lucent Enterprise Stellar Wi‑Fi or similar Wi‑Fi networks
• Stateful and Next Gen Firewalls (NPL uses Fortinet) and IPSec VPN
• Network security concepts such as NAC, 802.1x and segmentation systems and any experience with Forescout is beneficial
• Protocols used in resilient systems e.g. VRRP, LACP, Virtual‑Chassis
• Proficiency in using network management tools (e.g., SolarWinds)
• Experience of implementing SD‑WAN, MPLS technologies
• Experience with network segmentation, zero trust principles and micro‑segmentation
• Knowledge of IPv6 implementation and transition strategies
• Familiarity with wireless security protocols (e.g., WPA3, 802.1X)

Additional experience beneficial to the role

• Any experience with Allied Telesis EPSR Ring topologies and network management tools
• Experience with Quality of Service (QoS) configuration and management
• VMWare VCenter virtualisation platform
• On Prem storage arrays (NPL uses Hitachi)
• Managed backup solutions (NPL uses Rubrik)
• Active Directory, DNS, DHCP
• Microsoft 365 E5, Azure, Entra ID
• Experience of Cloud Virtual Networking (Azure)

Soft Skills

The role requires excellent problem‑solving and analytical skills coupled with strong communication and interpersonal skills and the ability to manage multiple tasks and projects simultaneously.

We actively recruit citizens of all backgrounds, but the nature of our work in specific departments means that nationality, residency and security requirements can be more tightly defined. You will be asked about this throughout the recruitment process. To work at NPL, you will need to obtain BPSS security clearance.

Please note: Applications will be reviewed, and interviews conducted throughout the duration of this advert therefore we may at any time bring the closing date forward. We encourage all interested applicants to apply as soon as practical.

About Us

The National Physical Laboratory (NPL) is a world‑leading centre of excellence that provides cutting‑edge measurement science, engineering and technology to underpin prosperity and quality of life in the UK.

NPL and DSIT have strong commitments to diversity and equality of opportunity, and welcome applications from candidates irrespective of their background, gender, race, sexual orientation, religion, or age, providing they meet the required criteria. Applications from women, disabled, black, Asian and minority ethnic candidates in particular are encouraged. All disabled candidates (as defined by the Equality Act 2010) who satisfy the minimum criteria for the role will be guaranteed an interview under the Disability Confident Scheme.

At NPL, we believe our success is a result of the diversity and talent of our people. We strive to nurture and respect individuals to ensure everyone feels valued by treating everyone on the basis of their own individual merits and abilities regardless of their own or perceived identity, as part of our commitment to diversity & inclusion, we hold memberships and accreditations to ensure we’re creating an environment where all our colleagues feel supported and welcome, please see our Diversity & Inclusion page.

We are committed to the health and well‑being of our employees. Flexible working and social activities are embedded in our culture to create a positive work‑life balance, along with a broad range of benefits. Our values are at the heart of what we do, and they shape the way we interact, develop our people and celebrate success.

To ensure everyone has an equal chance, we’re always willing to make reasonable adjustments to the recruitment process. If you would like to discuss, please contact us.