Network Architect

Network Architect - Basingstoke

All applicants must hold active SC clearance and be eligible for DV clearance (which requires sole British nationality).

Join a highly regarded digital, defence, and technology consultancy consistently recognised for excellence in secure, large-scale delivery across Defence and Government environments. The client is widely recognised for its commitment to engineering excellence, inclusive culture, and long-term investment in its people, holding multiple industry awards for equality, social mobility, and responsible employment.

• Salary: up to £70,000 GBP
• Up to 15% bonus
• Onsite working
• Location:
  
  Basingstoke, Bristol, South West – United Kingdom
• Type:
  Permanent

The client has built a strong reputation for delivering mission‑critical, secure network and cyber solutions that operate at national scale. With a people‑first culture and a strong focus on collaboration, innovation, and technical leadership, the client is trusted to support some of the most sensitive and complex programmes in the UK public sector.

As a Network Architect, you will join an organisation where deep technical expertise, engineering rigour, and security‑first thinking combine to deliver real‑world impact. The Network Architect role offers the opportunity to technically lead complex cyber monitoring and remote access solutions within a major Defence and Government programme.

• Lead complex cyber monitoring and remote access projects within secure Defence and Government environments
• Own requirements analysis and translate customer needs into robust, scalable network architectures
• Design, propose, and validate solution changes, including proof‑of‑concept activities
• Produce and govern high‑level and low‑level network design documentation
• Provide technical leadership across the full project solution lifecycle
• Collaborate with architects, engineers, and stakeholders across multiple delivery teams
• Influence technical direction, standards, and architectural best practice
• Support service readiness and transition into live operations

• Act as the technical authority for BPS/CAS solutions within the programme
• Design and review high‑level and low‑level network architectures
• Lead requirements gathering and solution definition activities
• Evaluate customer strategies, operations, and processes, proposing technical solutions to improve outcomes
• Ensure solutions meet performance, scalability, security, and resilience requirements
• Provide technical leadership and coordination across architects and engineering teams
• Support project planning, risk management, and delivery governance
• Troubleshoot complex technical issues and provide recommendations to senior stakeholders
• Support live service teams with technical guidance and operational readiness

• Proven experience working as a Network Architect, Lead Network Engineer, or similar role
• Strong background in network architecture and design across large‑scale programmes
• Demonstrable experience providing technical leadership through all phases of the project lifecycle
• Broad networking expertise including protocols and cyber monitoring tools
• Strong experience with Juniper switching and configuration
• MPLS and BGP routing expertise
• Experience with network gateways, VPNs, and remote access solutions (e.g. Any Connect)
• Knowledge of network encryption, tunnelling technologies, PKI, and cryptography
• Experience with Cisco Firepower, F5 TLS Intercept, packet brokers, tap aggregators, and Gigamon
• Solid understanding of TCP, TLS, HTTP, SNMP, sockets, and related technologies
• Experience with performance testing, capacity planning, and performance troubleshooting
• Strong stakeholder communication skills and the ability to make clear, confident technical decisions

• Familiarity with Endace technologies and HSMs
• Experience with virtualisation and scripting
• Knowledge of security event data collection, analysis, and storage
• Experience automating and orchestrating incident response workflows
• Strong commercial awareness and understanding of delivery risks and dependencies

• Join a consultancy recognised for engineering excellence and inclusive culture
• Work on nationally significant Defence and Government programmes
• Take on a high‑impact Network Architect role within a major secure programme
• Access strong career development, mentoring, and leadership opportunities
• Be part of a people‑centric organisation that values diversity, collaboration, and innovation