Principal Network Delivery Engineer

Unilabs; Porto; On-site; EUR 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work model

Competitive compensation and benefits

Long-term product ownership

Job summary

Unilabs in Porto is seeking a Principal Network Delivery Engineer to lead end-to-end network design, delivery, and lifecycle management for enterprise-scale solutions. You will act as the technical authority across programs, ensuring secure, scalable, and compliant networks.

The role combines hands-on engineering with governance, working closely with architecture, security, operations, and vendors in a hybrid Porto/remote setup. Swiss-market healthcare platforms offer real clinical impact.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in network engineering roles.
• 3+ years operating at a senior/lead/principal level.
• Relevant certifications (desirable) like CCNP/CCIE and Azure Network Engineer Associate.

Responsibilities

• Lead the end-to-end delivery of complex network solutions (LAN, WAN, SD-WAN, cloud connectivity, security).
• Own low-level design (LLD) creation, validation, and sign-off.
• Provide technical assurance and governance across projects and vendors.
• Deliver executive-level updates on technical status, risks, and decisions.

Skills

Troubleshooting

Communication with stakeholders

Documentation

Leadership without direct reports

Decision making under pressure

Education

CCNP/CCIE or Azure Network Engineer Associate (desirable)

Tools

Cisco

Fortinet

Aruba

Job description

Role Overview

The Principal Network Delivery Engineer is a senior technical leadership role responsible for the design, delivery, and lifecycle management of complex enterprise network solutions. This role acts as the technical authority for network delivery across multiple programs, ensuring solutions are secure, scalable, resilient, and aligned with business and architectural standards.

The role combines deep hands-on expertise, technical governance, and delivery leadership, working closely with architecture, security, operations, vendors, and project teams.

Key Responsibilities

Network Design & Delivery

• Lead the end-to-end delivery of complex network solutions (LAN, WAN, SD-WAN, cloud connectivity, security).
• Translate high-level architecture and business requirements into detailed, implementable network designs.
• Own low-level design (LLD) creation, validation, and sign-off.
• Ensure network solutions meet availability, performance, security, and compliance requirements.

Technical Leadership & Governance

• Act as the principal technical authority for network delivery decisions.
• Define and enforce network standards, patterns, and best practices.
• Provide technical assurance to projects, ensuring alignment with enterprise architecture and security policies.
• Review and approve designs produced by internal teams and third-party suppliers.

Delivery & Stakeholder Management

• Work closely with project managers, architects, and service owners to plan and execute deliveries.
• Lead technical workshops, design reviews, and risk assessments.
• Manage technical dependencies, risks, and mitigations across concurrent initiatives.
• Provide clear, executive-level updates on technical status, risks, and decisions.

Vendor & Partner Management

• Provide technical leadership across external vendors and system integrators.
• Validate vendor designs, build quality, and implementation plans.
• Ensure contractual deliverables and SLAs are met from a technical perspective.

Operations & Lifecycle

• Ensure smooth handover to operations, including documentation and support models.
• Support major incidents and root cause analysis for complex network issues.
• Contribute to continuous improvement of network platforms and delivery processes.

Required Technical Experience

• Extensive experience delivering enterprise-scale networks, including:
  • LAN/WLAN (campus, datacenter)
  • WAN / MPLS / Internet
  • SD-WAN solutions
  • Cloud connectivity (Azure ExpressRoute)
• Strong knowledge of network security concepts:
  • Firewalls, segmentation, VPNs, Zero Trust principles
• Proven experience with:
  • Cisco / Fortinet / Aruba
  • Enterprise routing and switching
  • Network monitoring and troubleshooting
• Strong understanding of:
  • High availability and resilience design
  • Network performance and capacity planning

Required Skills & Competencies

• Expert-level troubleshooting and problem-solving skills
• Strong ability to explain complex technical topics to non-technical stakeholders
• Excellent documentation skills (HLDs, LLDs, diagrams, runbooks)
• Ability to balance hands-on engineering with strategic oversight
• Confident decision-maker under pressure
• Strong collaboration and leadership skills without direct line management

Experience & Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in network engineering roles
• 3+ years operating at a senior / lead / principal level
• Relevant certifications (desirable, not mandatory):
  • CCNP / CCIE
  • Azure Network Engineer Associate
  • Equivalent vendor certifications

What Success Looks Like

• Network solutions are delivered on time, on standard, and with minimal operational issues
• Projects benefit from clear technical direction and reduced delivery risk
• Network platforms are stable, secure, and scalable
• Architecture, security, and operations teams trust the quality of delivered solutions

Hybrid working model (Porto office & remote flexibility)

Opportunity to work on Swiss-market healthcare and laboratory platforms with real clinical impact

International, collaborative, and regulated product environment

Competitive compensation and benefits

Long-term ownership of a strategic healthcare product