Networks Lead Technical Designer

NATS is the UK’s leading air navigation service provider, handling over 2.4 million flights each year. We provide air traffic control services from two control centres and at airports around the UK. We also provide a wide range of commercial products and solutions internationally. Our people are at the heart of our purpose to advance aviation and keep the skies safe.

Closing Date: 29/6/2026

Please include a Cover Letter with your application

Responsible for the Technical Design associated with the Operational Networks - [“the Network”]. Leading the management of Technical Solution Design elements as part of the overall Service Design, ensuring that the Solution Design supports the stated operational SLAs and is aligned with the strategic direction of the business. Acting as technical point of contact for other technical stakeholders for issues relating to the Network.

• Ensuring that the Network remains architecturally coherent and aligned to the operational needs of the business as articulated by the other Service groups (Voice, Surveillance etc.).
• Provide technical leadership to the Network team to drive positive change.
• Provide consultancy to potential Service consumers, helping them to understand how to optimally consume Services as well as sourcing ideas for enhancements to Network Services.
• Maintain oversight of all proposed changes to the Network to ensure the implementation of the agreed changes do not impair Network service levels.
• For all project delivered Network change, proactively engage with project teams to help draft, review and approve Technical Designs changes on behalf of the Cross Functional Service Designer.
• Ensure all Network change is in accordance with the BMS processes.
• Act as the principal technical PoC for our network service suppliers, ensuring that delivered network services are in accordance with the contracted Supplier Agreements and Service Levels.
• Ensure technical viewpoint incorporated into key Network decisions (Programme, Assurance, Supply Chain etc.).
• Continually seek to optimise delivery of Network Services.
• Provide Service Design representation within the Cross Functional service domain and to the wider stakeholder community across the business. Provide input into the Enterprise Architecture service Roadmaps.

• Works unsupervised.
• Has freedom and responsibility to allocate and commit resources to achieve Service Design and Project goals.
• Provides technical direction to network service suppliers without recourse to higher authority.
• Responsible for the performance management of all direct reporting staff and provides feedback to respective managers for indirect staff.
• The ability to identify Design issues and challenges before they impact project or service delivery as well as any corrective change actions required.
• Be able to coordinate large disparate teams to tight timescales with little or no additional support.
• Expected to apply own judgement and expertise to determine the course of action required to resolve complex Technical (Technology) Design decisions within the Design Governance processes.
• Determines when issues should be escalated to a higher level.

• The Networks Lead Technical Designer leads, directs, integrates and validates the work of multi-skilled teams to achieve Service Delivery and Project objectives.
• The Networks Lead Technical Designer role aligns to the ITIL function for Service Design Management reporting to the Service Designer).
• Specific roles are technical design, architecture and design authority for the technologies used in the service.
• Tactical Planning Able to identify short term Design decisions that can resolve programmatic and service delivery challenges in a way that does not undermine the Safety assurance or undermine the Roadmap for the Network Service.
• Review Change Requests and associated plans as raised by the Service Operations team to identify whether the proposed change is within the Design envelope.

• Negotiate on a national and international scale with such organisations as ICAO, European Union and Eurocontrol to further NATS business interests for Technical Design.
• Li…