Network engineer

Location: Stoke-on-Trent, Permanent onsite

Salary: £60,000- £70,000 (DOE) + benefits

The Network Engineer is responsible for designing, implementing, and maintaining secure, resilient, and high‑performing network infrastructure across the organisation. The role focuses on delivering robust network and security solutions using industry‑leading technologies, with particular emphasis on Cisco networking platforms, Palo Alto and Fortinet security appliances, and Dell infrastructure. The Network Engineer ensures the integrity, availability, and confidentiality of network services by applying best‑practice security principles, proactive monitoring, and continuous improvement of network architecture. Working closely with infrastructure, security, and operations teams, the role supports the delivery of scalable and secure connectivity for business‑critical systems and services.

Role Responsibilities

• Design, implement, and maintain secure enterprise network infrastructure using Cisco switching, routing, and wireless technologies to ensure high availability, performance, and scalability.
• Deploy, configure, and manage advanced network security solutions using Palo Alto and Fortinet firewalls, including policy management, threat prevention, VPN services, and segmentation.
• Install, configure, and support Dell networking appliances, ensuring integration with wider network and security architecture.
• Monitor network performance, availability, and security posture using appropriate monitoring and logging tools, proactively identifying and resolving issues before they impact services.
• Troubleshoot complex network and security incidents across routing, switching, firewall, VPN, and connectivity layers, providing timely resolution and root cause analysis.
• Design and implement secure network architectures including VLAN segmentation, zero‑trust principles, secure remote access, and high‑availability configurations.
• Maintain and optimise site‑to‑site and remote access VPNs, supporting secure connectivity.
• Collaborate with infrastructure, cloud, and cybersecurity teams to support secure system deployments, migrations, and service improvements.
• Produce and maintain accurate network diagrams, configuration documentation, and operational procedures.
• Support patching, firmware upgrades, and lifecycle management for network and security devices across Cisco, Palo Alto, Fortinet, and Dell platforms.
• Participate in change management processes, ensuring network changes are planned, tested, documented, and implemented with minimal service disruption.
• Contribute to capacity planning and network optimisation, ensuring the network can support current and future organisational demands.
• Provide technical guidance and support to internal teams and stakeholders on networking and security‑related matters.
• Support disaster recovery and business continuity planning, ensuring network resilience and recovery capabilities are in place and tested.
• Keep up to date with emerging networking and cybersecurity technologies, threats, and best practices to continuously improve the organisation's network security posture.

Experience

• Proven experience designing, implementing, and supporting enterprise network infrastructure in a complex IT environment.
• Strong hands‑on experience with Cisco networking technologies, including routing, switching, and wireless solutions.
• Experience deploying and managing next‑generation firewalls, particularly Palo Alto and Fortinet platforms, including policy management, VPN configuration, and threat prevention.
• Experience working with Dell networking or infrastructure technologies, including integration within enterprise network environments.
• Demonstrable experience in network security design and implementation, including segmentation, secure remote access, and firewall rule management.
• Experience troubleshooting complex network issues across routing, switching, firewall, and connectivity layers.
• Experience implementing and supporting site‑to‑site and remote access VPN solutions.
• Experience with network monitoring, logging, and performance management tools.
• Experience working within IT service management frameworks (e.g., incident, problem, and change management).
• Experience producing and maintaining technical documentation, including network diagrams and configuration standards.
• Experience supporting high availability and resilient network architectures in business‑critical environments.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Network Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.
• Relevant professional certifications such as:

• Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) or Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP)
• Palo Alto Networks Certified Network Security Engineer (PCNSE) or equivalent
• Fortinet NSE certifications (e.g., NSE 4 or higher)
• Dell networking certifications (desirable)
• ITIL Foundation or experience working within ITIL‑based service management environments