Senior Network Engineer

University of Manchester; Manchester; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous employer contribution pension

29 days annual leave plus bank-holiday

Ride to work and EV car scheme

Job summary

The University of Manchester IT Services is seeking an experienced Network Engineer to join the Network team during a major refresh of LAN, Data Centre and DDI infrastructure. You will act as SME across our enterprise network, ensuring designs and deployments align with architectural guidance and strategic principles.

You will work with Cisco, Aruba/Arista technologies and F5 load balancers, developing policies and supporting agile, identity-driven services while collaborating with our network

Qualifications

• Experience designing, delivering and operating enterprise LAN/WAN networks.
• Professional level certifications in Cisco or Aruba networking.
• Experience in a service support function, dealing with customers.
• Experience with 3rd-party suppliers to define, design, deliver and operate solutions.
• Strong routing (BGP, OSPF) and switching knowledge.
• Data centre networking with HPE/Arista; familiarity with F5 load balancers.
• Knowledge of network security tooling, firewalls, IPS and remote access.
• Analytical with attention to detail; able to explain issues to non-technical audiences.
• Ability to work to tight timescales without compromising quality.

Responsibilities

• Serve as SME across LAN/WAN/Wireless and data centre networking.
• Collaborate with network architect to approve designs before implementation.
• Develop network policy and DDI environment for agile, identity-driven services.
• Support our large campus network rollout and ongoing 3rd line support.
• Work with Cisco, Arista and HPE tech in a UK university context.

Skills

LAN networking

Wireless networking

Network design

Troubleshooting

BGP routing

OSPF routing

HPE Aruba

Arista networking

F5 load balancers

Cyber security tooling

Tools

Cisco

Aruba

Arista

F5

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 3rdparty 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.