(SC cleared) Senior Network Architect - Cisco

b Overview /b p In this role you will assess and document enterprise network architecture for a secure defence environment, driving actionable improvements with minimal risk. You will collaborate with Architecture and Network support teams to map current state and craft high/low level designs that align with the Gap programme goals. You’ll evaluate Cisco ACI, routing, firewall and load-balancing setups to enable robust, active/active connectivity between two data centres. The position combines hands-on assessment with formal design documentation, risk reporting and sign-off through secure channels. This is a technically rigorous role with a clear impact on operational resilience and secure connectivity. /p b Pay / Benefits /b ul li Autonomy to develop and grow skills /li li Exciting project work affecting society /li li LinkedIn Learning and development programs /li li Wellness and confidential employee assistance /li li 25 days leave plus option to buy more /li li Private Medical Insurance /li /ul b Responsibilities /b ul li Review live network configurations and legacy designs across two data centres to identify gaps vs. documented operation. /li li Create current-state High Level Designs and Low Level Designs with topology diagrams and dependencies. /li li Assess Cisco ACI, routing, firewall and load-balancing arrangements with Architecture and Network support teams. /li li Produce a Network Review and Recommendation Report prioritising practical, low-risk improvements. /li li Explore application-centric capabilities in Cisco ACI, including relationships, segmentation and policy design. /li li Present a prioritised roadmap with sequencing, dependencies, and service impact for improvements. /li li Develop a Network Disaster Recovery Capability Report for true active/active data centre connectivity. /li li Explain connectivity limitations, proposed approaches, risks, and any hardware/software/licensing requirements. /li li Lead technical reviews, resolve design comments, and secure sign-off from Architecture and Network teams. /li li Maintain controlled documentation and contribute to risk/issue reporting through secure channels. /li /ul b Key requirements /b ul li Strong enterprise network architecture experience with producing High/Low Level Designs. /li li Hands-on Cisco ACI experience (fabric, tenants, VRFs, bridge domains, endpoint groups, contracts) and application-centric policy design. /li li Solid Cisco routing knowledge; IP addressing, routing protocols, segmentation, and DC interconnectivity. /li li Experience reviewing Cisco ASA firewall configurations, traffic flows, policies, NAT and HA. /li li Experience with F5 load balancers, traffic management, health monitoring and service dependencies. /li li Experience assessing disaster recovery and active/active designs, including failover and stateful dependencies. /li li Ability to investigate live configs safely, identify constraints, and propose proportionate changes with clear impact. /li li Strong technical writing, diagramming and stakeholder communication; experience guiding designs through formal approval. /li /ul ul li clear communication /li li stakeholder management /li li analytical thinking /li li Cisco ACI /li li Cisco routing /li li Cisco ASA /li /ul