Technical Solution Architect; Networks

Technical Solution Architect (Networks)

We are seeking a highly skilled Technical Solution Architect (Networks) to design, implement, and deliver secure, scalable, high-performing network solutions across enterprise environments. This is a Wokingham-based role with five days onsite and travel at short notice, offered as a 6 to 12 month contract at £420 per day inside IR35. The working pattern may include on-call or weekend support as required.

• Lead technical analysis at project feasibility stage and contribute 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.
• Deliver network refresh and upgrade projects in live environments.

• 10+ years experience in network architecture and solution design.
• Strong expertise in Cisco networking, including routing and switching, LAN/WAN, MPLS, BGP, OSPF, QoS, and 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 such as Wireshark and Solar Winds, or equivalent.
• Deep understanding of IPSEC, GRE, DNS, and HTTP/HTTPS protocols.
• Ability to produce HLD and LLD documentation and create architecture diagrams in Visio.
• 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.

• Cisco Firewall
• HTTP Support
• LAN
• MPLS
• Network Security