Senior Network Engineer

The University Of Manchester; Greater Manchester; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous pension

29 days annual leave + bank holidays

Ride to work and EV car scheme

Job summary

The University of Manchester operates a large campus network and is refreshing LAN, data centre and DDI infrastructure. The Network team is bringing services in-house to deliver rapid, tailored support that aligns with the University’s needs.

This role offers SME-level responsibility across Cisco, Aruba and Arista stack, exposure to modern SDN and policy-driven networking, and collaboration with a primary network architect and external partners.

Qualifications

• Experience designing and operating enterprise LAN/WAN networks.
• Proven service support experience with customer-facing roles.
• Experience with 3rd party suppliers in delivering solutions.
• Strong knowledge of LAN/WLAN protocols and routing (BGP/OSPF).
• Experience with data centre networking and security tooling.

Responsibilities

• Design, deliver and operate enterprise class networks across LAN/WAN/Wireless and Data Centre.
• Provide SME guidance across technology stack (HPE, Cisco, Arista) to ensure designs meet architecture principles.
• Develop and migrate to agile, identity-driven network services and policy controls.
• Collaborate with network architect and strategic partners to ensure fit-for-purpose deployments.

Skills

LAN design

Wireless design

Networking troubleshooting

Cisco certification

Aruba certification

3rd party coordination

Network security

Analytical thinking

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or equivalent

Tools

F5 Load Balancers

Data Centre Networking Tools

Job description

The University of Manchester

The University of Manchester is a truly global institution with a reputation for education and innovation that resonates across the world, offering a wide range of courses and boasting outstanding facilities in the centre of Manchester.

About IT Services

IT Services at the University of Manchester is a vibrant and fast-moving department, we focus on delivering excellent customer service and quality services for our staff, students and researchers.

Find out more about our organisation and values:

• IT Services: About us and ITS Practice Charter

• Benefits of working at The University of Manchester

The team

The Network team sits within the core area of CTS in IT Services, providing underpinning network services and support to our customers. Our network team work closely with all parts of IT Services and throughout the University to ensure our services are consistently meeting and adapting to the changing needs of the University.

The University of Manchester is large and steeped in history and heritage, as such our IT landscape is broad and complex. From cultural institutions such as Jodrell Bank, to state-of-the‑art teaching and research facilities such as the new Engineering Buildings and the National Graphene Institute, the scope of the services we provide are wide-ranging.

The role

The University of Manchester operates one of the largest single site campus networks in the UK and is currently undergoing a major refresh of all its LAN, Data Centre and DDI infrastructure.

After a period of working with a managed service partner, ITS have made the decision to bring services and in‑house. A strategic decision that puts our network infrastructure directly in our hands, enabling delivery of rapid, tailored support that aligns perfectly with our unique business requirements.

This role provides an exciting opportunity for a skilled and experienced network engineer to join the University and work as a subject matter expert within the team.

The role will suit an experienced engineer with a breadth of networking knowledge and experience covering LAN/WAN/Wireless and Data Centre network design and operation.

The role will also include developing our network policy and DDI environment to help us migrate to a more agile, automated, identity driven network service.

Working within an expanding and evolving team, you will provide Subject Matter Expertise (SME) across our technology stack (HPE, Cisco & Arista) to assure that any designs and deployments are agreed with our network architect prior to implementation and that they are fit‑for‑purpose and adhere to our strategic principles.

Specific Role Requirements

It is important that candidates have experience of both design, delivery and operations of enterprise class networking and backend services and can think innovatively to identify opportunities and to add value.

In return, you will receive exposure and experience in the latest HPE Aruba and Arista technologies and have an opportunity to work alongside both an experienced University network team and our strategic Network partner to contribute towards the development and ongoing level 3 support of one the UK's largest, single campus, software defined network rollouts.

The person

The successful candidate will possess some of the following experience:

• Network (LAN and wireless) design, operation and troubleshooting experience either with Cisco or Aruba technology, preferably demonstrated by professional level certifications in either Cisco or Aruba networking.

• Experience of working in a service support function, dealing with customers to resolve issues and answer their questions.

• Experience of working with 3rd party suppliers to define, design, deliver and operate successful solutions.

• Ability to quickly assess network issues, identify the likely root cause and see technical issues through to a successful conclusion.

• Strong experience in LAN and wireless networking with an excellent knowledge of network protocols, routing (BGP and OSPF) and switching.

• Strong experience in data centre network technologies and their application. Experience of HPE and Arista networking and F5 load balancers is desirable.

• Good experience in network security tooling, firewalls, IPS, remote access solutions to support our Cyber Security team with their operations.

• Analytical with strong attention to detail - able to identify and articulate issues to both technical and non‑technical audiences

• Ability to work to tight timescales without sacrificing quality

When addressing the person specification criteria in your application for this role, please ensure you make reference to the specific role requirements above.

(Grades 6-9)

Our benefits include:

• Generous employer contribution pension
• 29 days annual leave plus bank holidays, along with Christmas closure
• Ride to work and EV car scheme available

For more information, please see University of Manchester Benefits. You can also find information on our Flexible and Hybrid working here.

We are an open place of enquiry and challenge. We embrace and celebrate difference, diversity and debate, and we pride ourselves on being a place of education, learning and community where we are able, within the law, to question and test received wisdom, express new ideas and explore controversial or unpopular topics and opinions. Find out more from our Freedom of Speech Policy.

Enquiries about the role, shortlisting and interviews

Name: Warren Mittoo

Email: [e-mail]

General enquiries and administrative support

[e-mail]

Technical and job portal support

https://jobseekersupport.jobtrain.co.uk/support/home

Applications close at midnight on the closing date.

Further particulars (with person specification) linked below.