Principal Cloud Network Engineer in Leeds

Flutter Technology is seeking a Principal Cloud Network Engineer to lead the implementation, operation, and strategic engineering direction of our global cloud networking infrastructure. This role is critical in translating network architecture into production reality, ensuring scalability, reliability, security, and optimal performance across our multi-region AWS environment.

As a Principal Cloud Network Engineer, you will be the domain expert responsible for implementing technical solutions for our Global Core Network (GCN), guiding engineering teams, and integrating emerging networking and security technologies into our platform. You will work closely with our network architects to steer design decisions based on operational realities, technical feasibility, and implementation standard processes, ensuring designs can be effectively delivered and operated at scale.

You will engage with senior partners, collaborate with architecture teams to align network technology initiatives with business objectives, and mentor engineering teams, fostering a culture of continuous learning and improvement. This role requires deep expertise in cloud-native networking, network security, and the ability to implement sophisticated solutions that support Flutter's multi-divisional, multi-region infrastructure.

You must be effective at articulating technical implementation requirements, promoting cloud networking standards, and applying methodologies required to reduce risk and achieve desired outcomes. You should be comfortable working with multi-functional global teams in dynamic organisations, as the role will have interdependencies with AWS, our partners, network architects, and our own engineering teams across various functions and brands.

The right candidate will have extensive experience working with enterprise organisations on large-scale network transformation projects, including cloud migrations, network modernisation, and security implementations. This will have involved a customer-focus and collaborative approach, coupled with deep technical networking expertise to provide confidence and answer complex questions, an ability to engage and help crystallise business benefits of network transformations, demonstrate excellent technical understanding of cloud networking solutions, and a passion for transforming infrastructure using cloud-native technologies.

Responsibilities:

• Network Implementation & Engineering: Lead the implementation of scalable, secure, and high-performing cloud network solutions across multiple AWS regions based on approved architectural designs. Build and operate Flutter's global hybrid network infrastructure, using primarily AWS-native services alongside on-premises solutions, implementing advanced routing architectures, IP address management, centralized ingress/egress control, and enterprise-wide network security services. Spearhead network deployment and operations using Infrastructure as Code (IaC) methodologies with tools such as CDK, Typescript, Terraform and CloudFormation.
• Architecture Collaboration & Technical Leadership: Work closely with network architects to steer design decisions, providing critical input on implementation feasibility, operational considerations, and technical constraints. Contribute to network technology roadmaps and strategy based on hands-on implementation experience and operational insights. Set technical implementation standards, enforce networking guidelines, and provide mentorship to engineering teams. Define, document, support, and approve Low-Level Designs (LLDs) for Flutter Group network and cloud implementations. Act as a trusted authority offering advice and knowledge sharing to the broader technology team. Lead and contribute to proof-of-concept initiatives evaluating new technologies and architectural approaches to improve infrastructure performance, scalability, and operational capabilities.
• Network Security & Compliance: Implement network security standard methodologies, including AWS Network Firewall policies, IDS/IPS capabilities (Suricata rules), and perimeter security controls. Deploy secure ingress/egress patterns, east-west traffic inspection, and network segmentation models supporting production and non-production environments. Ensure compliance with security frameworks, regulatory requirements, and industry standards across all network implementations. Be responsible for secure network integration and connectivity with other Flutter divisions and external third parties, implementing appropriate connectivity frameworks and solutions to ensure controlled, compliant inter-divisional and partner access.
• Operational Excellence: Create and drive adoption of standard operating procedures, policies, runbooks, and operational manuals. Assume guardianship of network infrastructure code and artefact repositories, ensuring alignment to best practices. Proactively identify and mitigate network risks, ensure robust disaster recovery strategies, and lead major incident response efforts. Write and review platform code, offering constructive feedback to ensure code quality. Drive continuous improvement in network monitoring, observability, and performance optimisation.
• Collaboration & Knowledge Sharing: Facilitate the development and communication of Flutter Group standards for network design, development, and deployment. Enable and support engineering teams with the adoption of cloud networking services through training initiatives and workshops. Cultivate relationships with other pivotal Flutter group functions, finding opportunities for strategic collaboration. Liaise with third-party vendors, AWS, and partners on networking solutions and integrations. Write and maintain comprehensive user documentation, runbooks, and operational guides.

Competencies:

• Building Support: We establish close relationships with our collaborators, underpinned by trust, integrity, and respect. We can build awareness, understanding, and positive momentum behind the group technology strategy, often without being able to assert authority.
• Objective: We are impartial and candid, ensuring equal treatment for all and that decisions are based on objective criteria.
• Collaborative: We work optimally and in partnership with our partners on shared goals that align towards the achievement of the group strategy. We champion a collaborative environment and assume the role of leader when required.
• Adaptable: We understand and appreciate different and opposing perspectives on an issue and can adapt our approach to achieve a successful outcome.
• Critical Thinking: We think about the big picture and use that perspective to support our divisions to achieve competitive advantage through greater agility, faster time to market and a better customer experience.
• Strategic Communication: We are proactive and considered in our approach to partner communications. We actively listen, provide constructive feedback and help others to consider new perspectives.

Experience:

• Extensive experience in building and operating enterprise-scale network infrastructure within highly available AWS environments.
• Demonstrated ability to lead large-scale cloud network implementation and transformation projects, including multi-region deployments.
• Deep expertise with AWS networking services including but not limited to: Cloud WAN, Transit Gateway, VPC design, AWS Network Firewall, Direct Connect, VPN, Route 53, Outpost, VPC Endpoints, and load balancing services (ALB, NLB, GWLB), VPC Lattice.
• Demonstrable experience with network security implementation including firewall policy development (AWS Network Firewall, Palo Alto), IDS/IPS management (Suricata), network segmentation, and compliance frameworks.
• Mastery with Infrastructure as Code methodologies using CDKTF, Typescript, Terraform, or CloudFormation at scale.
• Expert-level understanding of networking protocols: TCP/IP, BGP, OSPF, VLANs, routing, and switching.
• Extensive experience with IP addressing and IPAM strategies, including RFC1918, RFC6598, and complex allocation schemes.
• Solid experience with source control management (Git, GitHub) and CI/CD pipeline integration for network automation.
• Delivering and operating systems in stringent security-compliant environments.
• Network monitoring, logging, and observability tools.
• Producing comprehensive, clear, and actionable user documentation.
• Passion for mentoring, coaching, and growing engineering talent.
• Working in an agile environment.
• Incident, change, problem, and risk management.
• Bonus points for previous software engineering experience (Python, TypeScript, Go), Wi-Fi infrastructure (Cisco, Aruba), container networking (EKS, ECS), AWS certifications, or experience in highly regulated industries.

What's in it for you:

We are a flexible employer; whether you have personal commitments or a hobby that brings you joy, we want you to bring your best self to work and feel empowered to do so. We also like to share our success; after all you make it happen. We have an excellent benefits package that can be personalised to you:

• Bonus scheme
• Uncapped holiday allowance
• Enhanced pension scheme
• Private healthcare
• Life assurance
• Income protection
• Hybrid working
• £/€1,000 annual self-development learning fund
• Invest via the Flutters Sharesave Scheme
• Paid volunteering days
• Enhanced parental leave
• Wellbeing fund (£/€250 a year)
• Recognition programs
• Gym membership, discounts, vouchers and much more

Equal opportunities:

At Flutter, we are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace. We strongly encourage people from all backgrounds, ways of thinking, and working to apply. We are committed to including everyone regardless of their race, disability, age, gender identity, sexual orientation, and religion. Everyone brings different perspectives and experiences; you don't have to meet all the requirements listed to apply for this role.