Systems Engineer - Public Sector (Defence & National Security)

Perception Point; Greater London; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Fortinet is seeking a Systems Engineer for the UK Public Sector, Defence and National Security. You will lead technical engagements, translate complex requirements into secure architectures, and work with customers, partners and integrators to deliver secure networking solutions across multi-site environments.

The role requires UK-based candidates with security clearance eligibility and a track record in pre-sales, cloud security, SD-WAN and NGFW.

Qualifications

• Experience in pre-sales engineering or customer-facing technical roles.
• Knowledge of UK Defence/National Security environments is advantageous.
• Strong security and networking know-how and architecture design skills.
• Certifications such as Fortinet NSE/FCP, CISSP or CCNP are a plus.

Responsibilities

• Lead technical engagements across the full sales lifecycle, including discovery, design, workshops and PoCs.
• Translate customer requirements into secure, scalable Fortinet architectures for Defence and public sector.
• Collaborate with defence partners, system integrators and customers to develop security solutions.
• Deliver product demonstrations and architecture workshops to technical and executive audiences.
• Support secure network transformation initiatives: SD-WAN, NGFW, segmentation, cloud security, Zero Trust.
• Maintain expertise across Fortinet portfolio and UK Defence/public sector standards.
• Assist RFI/RFP responses and ensure technical documentation in Salesforce.
• Share best practices and mentor colleagues within Systems Engineering.

Skills

Pre-sales

Customer-facing

UK Defence

Security networking

Communication

Certs (NSE/CISSP/CCNP)

Tools

Salesforce

Job description

Systems Engineer – UK Public Sector (Defence & National Security)

IMPORTANT: Candidates must already be based in the UK with full right to work. Candidates must either already hold, or be eligible to obtain, UK security clearance.

Join Fortinet, a global cybersecurity leader with over two decades of innovation, as we continue to support the digital transformation of UK public services. Our mission is to protect people, services and data everywhere, and we are looking for a talented Systems Engineer to help us deliver that mission across the UK's Defence and National Security sectors.

We are expanding our Public Sector team and hiring a Systems Engineer to support our Defence and National Security customers. This role is ideal for engineers who understand the challenges of mission-critical environments, distributed and legacy estates, complex technology programmes, and the security and compliance requirements faced by UK Defence and National Security organisations.

Our work in this sector spans secure network transformation, SD-WAN for multi-site environments, NGFW and segmentation, SOC and monitoring integration, public and private cloud adoption, and end-to-end security architecture across highly regulated and security-conscious environments. You will work closely with account teams, defence partners, systems integrators and public sector stakeholders to design and validate solutions that improve resilience, reduce risk and support critical national missions.

As a Systems Engineer at Fortinet, you'll be a trusted technical advisor to customers, partners and account teams, working throughout the sales cycle to understand complex requirements, develop secure architectures and demonstrate how Fortinet solutions can address the challenges faced by Defence and National Security organisations.

What You'll Do

• Lead technical engagements across the full sales lifecycle, including discovery, solution design, architecture workshops, presentations and proof-of-concepts (PoCs)
• Translate complex customer requirements into secure, scalable Fortinet architectures aligned to operational, security, compliance and commercial constraints
• Work with Defence customers, systems integrators and partners to understand mission requirements and develop appropriate security and networking solutions
• Deliver engaging product demonstrations, whiteboarding sessions, architecture workshops and technical briefings to both technical and executive audiences
• Support secure network transformation initiatives including SD-WAN, NGFW, segmentation, SOC integration, cloud security and Zero Trust architectures
• Work cross-functionally with customers, partners, integrators, account teams and Fortinet specialists to ensure successful solution adoption and long-term customer value
• Maintain deep expertise across Fortinet's portfolio, relevant UK Defence and public sector security standards, industry trends and emerging cybersecurity threats
• Support RFI/RFP responses and ensure accurate technical documentation within Salesforce
• Act as a trusted technical advisor, providing guidance and mentorship to colleagues and partners and sharing best practices across the wider Systems Engineering organisation

What We're Looking For

We're looking for technically skilled, customer-focused professionals who thrive in complex environments and enjoy solving challenging security and networking problems. You may be a great fit if you have:

• Experience in a pre-sales engineering, technical consulting or customer-facing technical role
• Experience supporting UK Defence, National Security, Central Government or other highly secure public sector environments
• Knowledge of cybersecurity technologies including Network Security, NGFW, SD-WAN, segmentation, SASE, Zero Trust, SOC technologies and Cloud Security
• An understanding of security and compliance frameworks relevant to UK Government and Defence environments, such as NCSC guidance, NIST, Defence Standards and JSPs
• Experience working with systems integrators, technology partners or within complex multi-vendor environments
• Strong communication and presentation skills, with the ability to engage confidently with technical, commercial and executive stakeholders
• A collaborative mindset and the ability to build trusted relationships with customers, partners and internal stakeholders
• Industry certifications such as Fortinet NSE/FCP, CISSP, CCNP or equivalent are an advantage

Why Fortinet

At Fortinet, we believe that diverse perspectives drive innovation. We're committed to creating an inclusive environment where everyone can thrive. You'll join a collaborative team with access to continuous learning, career development and a Total Rewards package that supports your health, well-being and financial future.

Let's help secure the future of UK Defence and National Security together.