Senior Network Engineer (Contract)

Contract Duration: initial 12 months, extensions likely
Location: Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria - Full-time onsite

Eligibility Requirements

• Active SC Clearance is mandatory
• Sole UK Nationality required (UK passport only)
• Additional vetting applies; onboarding may take longer than standard processes

Role Overview

We are seeking an experienced Senior Network Engineer to lead the design and delivery of enterprise network infrastructure for a major secure programme. This is a hands-on, on-site role focused on physical network environments, structured cabling, comms rooms, and Cisco-based network implementations.

You will take ownership of technical design, documentation, and on-site delivery, working closely with engineers, project managers, and suppliers to build resilient, secure IT environments.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead technical design, planning, and on-site implementation of network infrastructure projects
• Design and oversee comms rooms, rack layouts, patching schemes, structured cabling and containment (copper and fibre)
• Produce and maintain High-Level and Low-Level Designs (HLD/LLD) and technical documentation
• Provide technical assurance on containment design, pathways, labelling, and installation standards
• Support configuration, deployment, and troubleshooting of Cisco network equipment (switching, routing, wireless, firewalls)
• Integrate storage platforms (SAN/NAS) and associated networking
• Plan UPS and power resilience solutions for comms rooms and infrastructure environments
• Conduct site surveys, hardware audits, and implementation assessments
• Ensure solutions meet security, operational, and compliance requirements
• Work with suppliers and third parties on quotes, delivery, and technical coordination

Essential Skills & Experience

• Strong background in enterprise network infrastructure and on-site delivery
• Deep knowledge of structured cabling (Cat5e/6/6a), fibre types, termination standards, and containment
• Hands-on experience with Cisco switching and routing (IOS / NX-OS)
• Understanding of VLANs, routing protocols, DHCP, DNS, wireless and segmentation
• Experience with SAN/NAS connectivity and storage networking
• Knowledge of UPS, power distribution, and environmental requirements for comms rooms
• Ability to interpret and produce technical drawings, schematics, rack elevations and wiring diagrams
• Excellent stakeholder communication and leadership skills
• Active SC Clearance (mandatory)

Desirable Experience

• Experience in secure or regulated environments (defence, government, critical national infrastructure)
• ITSM knowledge (ServiceNow or similar)
• Datacentre best practices (cooling, redundancy, monitoring)
• Certifications such as CCNA / CCNP / CompTIA Network+ / Server+ or vendor cabling accreditations

Working Requirements

• Full-time onsite presence in Barrow-in-Furness
• Sole UK nationality (security constraint)

Behaviours & Culture Fit

We’re looking for someone who:

• Is approachable and collaborative
• Shares challenges openly and helps solve them
• Has the courage to challenge and innovate
• Asks questions and seeks continuous improvement
• Demonstrates a strong “can-do” delivery mindset