Technical Solution Architect; Networks

Technical Solution Architect (Networks)

Location:

Wokingham – 5 days onsite with travel at short notice

Start Date:

ASAP

Contract Rate: £420 per day inside IR35

Working Pattern:
Potential on-call/weekend support as required

Duration: 6 to 12 months initially

Clearance:
Must be SC Cleared

Role Overview

Our client is seeking a highly skilled Technical Solution Architect (Networks) to design, implement, and deliver secure, scalable, and high-performing network solutions across enterprise environments. This role requires close collaboration with stakeholders, delivery teams, and third-party vendors to translate business requirements into robust technical architectures while ensuring compliance with best practices and security standards.

Key Responsibilities

* Lead technical analysis at project feasibility stage, contributing to business cases and technical documentation

* Design and produce high-level and low-level network architectures covering infrastructure, integration, data, and security requirements

* Troubleshoot complex network environments and recommend improvements and optimisations

* Develop and contribute to IT roadmaps, standards, patterns, and reference architectures

* Ensure solutions align with security policies, compliance requirements, and industry best practices

* Represent architecture designs to governance bodies and stakeholders, addressing risks, assumptions, and constraints

* Support pre-sales activities including solution design and estimation

* Lead technical workshops with internal teams, stakeholders, and external vendors

* Work with third-party suppliers to ensure alignment with architectural standards

* Oversee network modelling, planning, installations, and upgrades

* Provide leadership and guidance to technical teams and collaborate with offshore delivery teams

Skills & Experience

* 10+ years’ experience in network architecture and solution design

* Strong expertise in Cisco networking (Routing & Switching, LAN/WAN, MPLS, BGP, OSPF, QoS, Traffic Engineering)

* Proven experience designing and configuring MPLS and MPLS VPNs (L2/L3)

* Strong troubleshooting skills across Cisco environments

* Knowledge of Firewall technologies (particularly Fortinet)

* Experience with network monitoring and logging tools (Wireshark, Solar Winds, or equivalent)

* Deep understanding of IPSEC, GRE, DNS, HTTP/HTTPS protocols

* Ability to produce HLD and LLD documentation and create architecture diagrams (Visio required)

* Strong understanding of cybersecurity principles and secure network design

* Experience delivering network refresh and upgrade projects in live environments

* Strong stakeholder management skills with the ability to explain technical concepts in clear business terms

* Experience working in Agile and/or Waterfall environments

* Proven ability to lead teams, manage competing priorities, and deliver under tight deadlines

* Excellent collaboration skills across cross-functional and distributed teams

If you have the relevant skills and experience, please do apply promptly to be considered