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- Tasks: Lead the design and delivery of impactful network projects at HMRC.
- Company: Join HMRC, a leading digital tax authority with a dynamic IT infrastructure.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible working, generous leave, and a strong pension contribution.
- Why this job: Be part of a transformative team impacting millions while growing your career.
- Qualifications: Experience in network architecture and large-scale deployments is essential.
- Other info: SC clearance required; hybrid work options available.
The predicted salary is between 42000 - 56000 £ per year.
About the job
Discover a career in your hands at HMRC. Whether you’re seeking purpose, growth, or a workplace that gives you a true sense of belonging, hear from some of our employees as they share their story about what it’s really like to work at HMRC. Are you an experienced network architect considering a new opportunity? If so, continue reading to find out more about this fantastic opportunity to join HMRC - one of the largest and most dynamic IT infrastructures in Europe, and we are now one of the most digitally advanced tax authorities in the world. This is a great opportunity to join a team where you will be working across one of the largest IT estates in Europe and supporting large scale and radical transformation that will have a profound impact for both the customers and the staff of HMRC.
This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced architect to be responsible for the design and delivery of small, medium and large scale, high impact projects which support HMRC's strategic objectives. The network services architecture function sets the technology direction for HMRC networks and is accountable for delivering the high-level designs and direction for all strategic networking solutions, closely collaborating with other architectural functions. You will report to the Head of Network Architecture.
Day to day you will be:
- Defining the strategy and architecture of the HMRC network.
- Collaborating with other architectural functions, 3rd parties, vendors and other technical teams.
- Owning network services deliverables.
- Gathering requirements.
- Conducting product analysis and solution development.
- Supporting and guiding the wider network services team.
- Producing network architecture documentation and roadmaps.
- Analysing the uses and effectiveness of technologies and how they can positively impact our business area.
- Providing internal consultancy covering network architecture and appropriateness of solutions.
Technical Experience
These are the tools and experience we would like you to have, but don’t worry if you don’t have experience with all of the below. We welcome applicants with a broad and varied range of experience, technical knowledge and willingness to learn new technologies.
- Datacentre network technologies, including but not limited to Cisco NX-OS, Cisco ACI, Arista EOS & Arista Cloudvision.
- Application delivery services including but not limited to F5 and NGINX.
- Network firewall technologies, including conventional and next generation feature sets.
- Multi-user secure LAN and converged Wi-Fi Networks.
- Traditional WAN technologies.
- Foundation network services (DNS, DHCP, IP address management, routing and switching).
- Experience of cloud architectural design networking within Azure and/or AWS.
- Network security & encryption protocols, (TLS, IPSEC, PKI, NAC - 802.1x etc.).
- Network Management and monitoring tools.
- Network Automation relating to deployment and testing with experience of CICD including Ansible and Terraform.
- Software Defined Networking technologies and capabilities (SD-WAN, SDDC, SD-Access, etc).
- AAA services and Network Access Control (Cisco ISE/ Aruba ClearPass).
- Network device management platforms (such as but not limited to - FortiManager, Checkpoint management, Aruba Airwave, F5 BIG-IQ, Forcepoint Security Manager).
- Firewall audit and compliance tools (e.g AlgoSec, Skybox).
- Network performance monitoring (NetScout, Riverbed).
Essential Criteria
You will need to demonstrate within your application the following essential experience:
- A network infrastructure background, where you will have gained experience of large-scale deployments.
- Proven experience of providing consultancy on potential uses and appropriateness of network/cloud infrastructure technologies and driving benefits from these technologies at a strategic level.
- Experience of end-to-end network architecture and associated technologies.
- Ability to work as part of a team, or as an individual, playing a key role in influencing strategic decision making and understand strategic consequences of IT decisions.
- Building and maintaining strong working relationships with stakeholders to achieve successful outcomes for the business.
- Capability to articulate complex solutions to both technical and non-technical audiences.
Desirable Criteria
Professional IT qualifications such as but not limited to; TOGAF, ITIL, CCNP, AWS, Azure, etc. Experience of working in an agile environment and experience with agile methodologies such as TDD, Scrum, Kanban. Programming for Network Automation to support innovation and transformation. AWS and/or Azure. Desirable criteria will only be scored in the event of a tie break situation.
Other Information
Due to the nature of this role you must either hold a valid SC clearance or have a willingness to undertake the process to obtain the relevant SC prior to take up duty.
Benefits
Alongside your salary of £56,344, HM Revenue and Customs contributes £16,322 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. HMRC operates both Flexible and Hybrid Working policies, allowing you to balance your work and personal commitments. We welcome applications from those who need to work a more flexible arrangement and will agree to requests where possible, considering our operational and customer service needs. We offer a generous leave allowance, starting at 25 days and increasing by a day for every year of qualifying service up to a maximum of 30 days. Pension - We make contributions to our colleagues' Alpha pension equal to at least 28.97% of their salary. Family friendly policies. Personal support. Coaching and development.
To find out more about HMRC benefits and find out what it’s really like to work for HMRC hear from our insiders or visit Thinking of joining the Civil Service.
Lead Network Architect - Newcastle Upon Tyne - Benton Park View employer: HMRC
Contact Detail:
HMRC Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Lead Network Architect - Newcastle Upon Tyne - Benton Park View
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with HMRC's strategic objectives and current projects. Understanding their goals will help you articulate how your experience aligns with their needs during the interview.
✨Tip Number 2
Network with current or former HMRC employees on platforms like LinkedIn. They can provide insights into the company culture and the specific challenges faced by the network architecture team.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for the presentation component of the interview by practising how to clearly explain complex network solutions. Use real-world examples from your past experiences to demonstrate your problem-solving skills.
✨Tip Number 4
Stay updated on the latest trends in network architecture, especially regarding cloud technologies like AWS and Azure. Being knowledgeable about current innovations will show your commitment to continuous learning and improvement.
We think you need these skills to ace Lead Network Architect - Newcastle Upon Tyne - Benton Park View
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored specifically for the Lead Network Architect position. Highlight relevant experience in network architecture, large-scale deployments, and any consultancy roles you've held. Use keywords from the job description to ensure your CV aligns with what HMRC is looking for.
Craft a Compelling Statement: Prepare a concise statement (max 250 words) addressing the desirable criteria. Even though it's not mandatory, it can set you apart if there are multiple candidates with similar scores. Focus on your unique experiences and how they relate to the role.
Showcase Technical Skills: In your application, clearly outline your technical skills and experiences with specific technologies mentioned in the job description, such as Cisco NX-OS, AWS, or network automation tools. Provide examples of how you've used these technologies in past projects.
Prepare for the Presentation: If invited for an interview, be ready to present a scenario where you've followed the design process for a large project. Include business benefits and challenges faced. Practising this presentation will help you articulate your thought process clearly during the interview.
How to prepare for a job interview at HMRC
✨Understand the Role
Make sure you thoroughly understand the responsibilities of a Lead Network Architect. Familiarise yourself with HMRC's network architecture and the specific technologies mentioned in the job description, such as Cisco NX-OS and AWS.
✨Prepare Your Presentation
You'll need to deliver a 10-15 minute presentation during the interview. Choose a relevant project where you followed the design process, highlighting the business benefits and challenges faced. Practice articulating this clearly to both technical and non-technical audiences.
✨Showcase Collaboration Skills
Emphasise your experience in collaborating with various teams and stakeholders. Be ready to discuss how you've built strong working relationships and influenced strategic decision-making in previous roles.
✨Demonstrate Problem-Solving Abilities
Be prepared to discuss specific examples of how you've improved network capabilities or services. Focus on the design characteristics like functionality, reliability, and security, and how you addressed any challenges that arose.
