Operational Network Engineer - CASU - CTP London

Vacancy Reference Number: 20887

Number of Vacancies: 1

Agency: SO15 - Counter Terrorism Command

Location: West Brompton

Band: N

Part/Full Time: Full Time – 36 hours per week

Type of Contract: Permanent

Salary: £61,410.25 (including £3,009 allowances and 12.5% shift allowance)

Salary breakdown: £52,653 basic, progresses to £57,417, plus 12.5% shift allowance, £2,009 location allowance, and £1,000 non‑pensionable allowance.

Job Summary

Within Counter Terrorism Policing London (CTP London), the Covert Asset Support Unit (CASU) provides surveillance support to counter terrorism operations and deploys covert technical surveillance assets. As an Operational Network Engineer you will oversee and run the CASU network in support of CT operations, providing technical support across a broad range of network‑focused engineering subjects.

Key Responsibilities

• Keep abreast of developments in relevant technologies by attending seminars, industry exhibitions, and national working groups.
• Identify alternative equipment options and improvements to enhance the unit’s operational capabilities.
• Participate in an on‑call rota to provide operational response capability, with occasional unsociable hours.
• Work in difficult and challenging environments subject to appropriate risk assessment and mitigation.
• Interact with members of the public professionally while maintaining confidentiality.
• Drive MPS vehicles as required; no company car provided.
• Maintain a physical presence at a central London site with flexible shift pattern (0700–1800). Remote work not permitted.
• Handle sensitive and classified information within a covert environment.

Key Skills & Qualifications

• Degree, HNC, HND, or higher education in relevant subject, or equivalent demonstrable experience as a network engineer with industry‑recognised certification.
• Good understanding and experience of network monitoring and troubleshooting tools.
• Proficiency with network security and firewall technologies.
• Knowledge of IP networks and configuration/administration.
• Understanding of video and audio standards, compression, recording (NVRs), and mass storage of data and video monitoring systems.
• Recognised engineering training such as apprenticeship, traineeship, or armed forces trade training.
• Demonstrable project management and delivery experience.
• Minimum two years of relevant post‑training experience.

Experience

Two years of post‑training, relevant experience as a network engineer, including diagnosing network issues and performing day‑to‑day maintenance with minimal mentoring.

Desirable

• Experience with Cisco and Juniper networking equipment and VPN technologies.
• Experience with virtual machines, network design, and distribution of audio and video feeds over IP networks.
• Previous work in a law enforcement or military technical surveillance unit.
• Operational experience deploying audio, video, tracking, and associated transmission equipment.
• Knowledge of transmission systems: radio frequency, modulation, antennas, IP radio, mobile data networks, and satellite.
• Held or previously held Developed Vetting level security vetting.

Vetting

Applicants must hold or be prepared to undergo National Security Vetting (NSV) – Developed Vetting (DV) level before taking up the post. Applicants must be British nationals (some dual nationals may be ineligible) and possess an Enhanced Security Check (eSC)/Developed Vetting (DV) clearance. Travel to certain countries may be limited; additional security checks may be required.

Confidentiality Agreement

Applicants will be required to sign a confidentiality agreement upon taking up the post.