Senior Networks Engineer Infrastructure Operations

FCDO Services; Ovingdean; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A government service organization in the UK is searching for a Senior Network Engineer to design and implement network solutions, manage IT operations, and mentor junior staff. The ideal candidate should have strong expertise in Cisco ASA, Palo Alto Firewalls, and virtualization technologies like VMWare and Azure. This role offers competitive salary, generous benefits, and opportunities for professional growth in a secure working environment.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Generous holiday entitlement

Civil Service Pension

On-site gym

On-site nursery

Café and restaurant

Interest-free loans on season tickets and bikes

Qualifications

• Good working knowledge of network technologies including firewalls and Cisco systems.
• Ability to mentor junior engineers and contribute to team performance.
• Experience working in secure, complex environments.

Responsibilities

• Design, configure, and implement network solutions.
• Oversee IT operations ensuring incidents are resolved quickly.
• Mentor junior colleagues and support senior engineers.

Skills

Cisco ASA

Palo Alto Firewalls

Big IP (F5)

Network Protocols

Cisco Switching

Routing

Security technologies

VMWare

Azure

Job description

You would be expected to have the ability to design, configure and implement solutions that meet business requirements, able to work effectively under pressure to deadlines, with rapidly changing priorities and workloads.

You’ll work closely with project managers, developers, incident and problem managers, as well as external suppliers, translating technical terminology and building trusted relationships. Whether optimising systems, escalating service issues, or producing high‑ and low‑level documentation, you’ll communicate clearly and with authority – all while maintaining your own professional growth and keeping pace with the latest technologies and best practices.

As a senior network engineer you would be expected to have a good working knowledge of the following network technologies:

• Cisco ASA
• Palo Alto Firewalls
• Big IP (F5)
• Network Protocols
• Cisco Switching, Routing, Security and wireless technologies
• Knowledge of Virtual Environments and virtual network solutions (i.e. VMWare, Azure)

Oversee IT operations that protect millions of people, information and assets worldwide.

A natural‑born leader, you’ll help develop a team of engineers – from setting direction, to coaching individuals, and driving high performance. Balancing people management with hands‑on technical work, you’ll manage and prioritise day‑to‑day tasks while ensuring requirements are met and incidents are resolved quickly. Where issues are complex or unprecedented, you’ll bring your expertise and initiative to find solutions that stick.

Always looking for ways to improve, you’ll spot patterns, address recurring issues, and recommend process enhancements that raise the standard of technical services. You’ll mentor junior colleagues, share your expertise, and support senior engineers when needed – all while maintaining your own professional growth and keeping pace with the latest technologies and best practices.

Bring your technical expertise to support essential public operations. You’re confident working in secure, complex environments and bring a strong background in networking and infrastructure. From firewalls to cloud platforms, you’re comfortable designing, configuring, and supporting solutions that keep systems resilient.

Detail matters to you. Whether you’re managing protocols or troubleshooting across networks, you’ll bring precision and reliability to everything you do. You’re also comfortable producing documentation, reporting on key performance measures, and sharing your knowledge with others. Adaptable, proactive, and always developing your skills, you’ll bring both technical expertise and leadership to everything you do.

Support you need to grow your career

Working with us, you’ll help keep people, information, and assets safe around the world. It’s a role you can feel proud of, and we aim to make every part of your career just as rewarding. That’s why, when you join us, you can expect a competitive salary, generous holiday entitlement and a Civil Service Pension. Along with this, you’ll have access to training and other development opportunities to help grow your career with us. Our offices have an on‑site gym, nursery, café, and restaurant, and we offer interest‑free loans on season tickets and bikes to help you get there. It’s a great set of benefits made to support all you do and all you need.

All our employees must be security‑cleared to the highest level, so you’ll need to undergo a comprehensive vetting process before joining. Some of these roles require SC and some will require DV vetting. You can find out more about vetting on our website or outline your preferences on your application form.

It takes a diverse team to protect a diverse world

The vital work we do takes an incredible community of colleagues, with different skills, backgrounds, cultures, and identities. We support every individual so that you always know you’re welcome and valued. It’s what makes us a Disability Confident employer and why we’re recognised as a ‘Carer Confident’ workplace. And it’s how you know you’re joining an inspiring, inclusive organisation.

Candidates who are judged to be close to meeting the criteria may be considered for other positions in FCDO Services which may be at a lower grade, but have a potential skills match.