Senior Network Engineer - Belfast - Contract

I.T. Alliance N.I. Ltd; United Kingdom; Hybrid; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading technology consultancy is seeking a skilled Network Engineer to join their team in Belfast. The role requires expertise in Cisco and Fortinet technologies, with a focus on delivering customer service and technical support. Candidates must have CCNA certification and a minimum of 3 years' experience in IT environments. This position offers a hybrid work model with a competitive day rate and professional development opportunities.

Benefits

Professional development support

Flexible working arrangement

Qualifications

• Minimum 3 years' experience in enterprise or government IT environments.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills with stakeholders.
• Demonstrated ability to work both independently and in a team.

Responsibilities

• Design and support complex network infrastructures.
• Provide 3rd level technical support to clients.
• Maintain documentation and adhere to security processes.

Skills

Cisco networking

Fortinet technologies

Customer service

Network troubleshooting

Documentation

Education

Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA)

Tools

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft PowerPoint

Microsoft Visio

Job description

Job Title: Network Engineer
Location: Belfast/Hybrid

Hybrid - 3 days onsite per week - Mon, Wendnesday & Thurs, remainder remote.
Department: IT Infrastructure & Network Services
Reports to: Operations Manager
Type: 6 Month contract (scope to extend subject to business requirements)

Day Rate: £450 - £500 (inside IR35)

Candidates must possess full working rights as sponsorship is not offered for this position.

Overview:

Our client is seeking a highly skilled and customer-focused Network Engineer to join their dynamic team. This is a critical role responsible for both project delivery and 3rd level incident support across a range of enterprise clients. The ideal candidate will bring deep technical expertise in Cisco networking (LAN, WLAN, SDA, ACI) and Fortinet technologies, with a strong focus on delivering outstanding customer service.

The Network Engineer will play a key role in the design, implementation, and support of advanced network solutions, working closely with clients, vendors, and internal teams to ensure high performance, security, and scalability.

Key Responsibilities:

• Contribute to the design, deployment, and support of complex network infrastructures based on customer-specific requirements.
• Provide advanced (3rd level) technical support to clients and collaborate on the resolution of escalated network issues.
• Participate in the on-call rota to support 24x7 service availability.
• Create and maintain comprehensive documentation including Statements of Work, High- and Low-Level Designs, implementation plans, and test cases.
• Adhere to and support change control and security processes in customer environments.
• Act as a trusted technical advisor, presenting proposed solutions and technical updates to customers (both verbal and written).
• Liaise with internal teams, vendors, and partners to assess and implement emerging technologies.
• Transfer knowledge to the Service Operations Centre and other internal teams to support ongoing service delivery.
• Participate in relevant vendor certification programs and maintain awareness of industry trends and best practices.

Essential Skills & Qualifications:

• Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) certification (minimum requirement).
• Proven experience with Fortinet solutions (configuration, deployment, troubleshooting).
• Minimum 3 years' experience working in complex enterprise or government IT environments, ideally within a professional services setting.
• In-depth understanding of enterprise-class IP Networking and security standards.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills with the ability to communicate technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and collaboratively in a virtual or distributed team environment.
• Excellent interpersonal and stakeholder management skills.

Desirable Skills & Certifications:

• Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP) certification or equivalent experience.
• Cisco Wireless accreditations (ENWLSD, ENWLSI).
• Fortinet Professional certifications.
• Experience with cybersecurity technologies including Firewalls, IPS, UTM, UTP, and SASE.
• Familiarity with MPLS technologies, Cisco wireless, and Aruba solutions.
• Experience with network Scripting and automation.
• Exposure to carrier-class network management tools and enterprise support platforms.

Key Competencies:

Technical & Business Competencies:

• Strong technical acumen and ability to troubleshoot complex networking issues.
• Exceptional time management and organisational abilities.
• High standard of customer service and satisfaction (internal & external).
• Consistent adherence to IT policies, security practices, and quality standards.

Soft Skills & Team Competencies:

• Teamwork and collaboration
• Influence and relationship building
• Problem solving and innovation
• Clear oral and written communication

Tools & Technologies:

• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, and Visio (essential)
• Scripting skills (desirable)

This role offers the opportunity to work with cutting-edge technologies in a fast-paced and customer-focused environment, with strong support for professional development and certification.