At a Glance
- Tasks: Design and support high-performance networks that keep the country connected.
- Company: Join National Grid, a leader in energy transition and connectivity.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, pension scheme, flexible working, and wellness support.
- Other info: Diverse and inclusive workplace with excellent career growth opportunities.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on national infrastructure while working with cutting-edge technology.
- Qualifications: Hands-on experience in networking and strong problem-solving skills required.
The predicted salary is between 48000 - 57000 £ per year.
About us
At National Grid, we keep people connected and society moving. National Grid provides the environment that allows us to make it happen. As we generate momentum in the energy transition for all, we don’t plan on leaving any of our customers in the dark. Join us as a CNI Network Engineer, and find your superpower.
National Grid is hiring a CNI Network Engineer for our CNI Operations team. This role is based at our Warwick office, with hybrid working (1 day per week on-site). You’ll play a key role in designing, developing and supporting secure, scalable network platforms that underpin critical operations across our enterprise.
About The Role
Step into a role where your work truly keeps the country connected. As a CNI Network Engineer within National Grid’s CNI Operations Team, you’ll be at the heart of designing, implementing and optimising the critical networks that power our most essential services. You’ll take ownership of a diverse and high-impact technical landscape — from LAN and WAN to WLAN and data centre networks — ensuring our platforms deliver the reliable, secure and low-latency connectivity that our organisation depends on every single day.
If you love getting hands-on with cutting-edge network technology, thrive on solving complex technical challenges, and want to play a key role in shaping and improving our network services, this is the place for you. You’ll contribute to major network projects, drive continuous improvements, and help strengthen the resilience of systems that keep society moving. Join us and make a real difference on a national scale.
What You'll Do
- Design, build and support high-performance LAN, WAN, WLAN and data centre networks that deliver fast, secure and reliable connectivity.
- Work hands-on with core networking technologies, including routing, switching, TCP/IP, DNS, DHCP, VLANs and advanced protocols such as BGP and OSPF.
- Optimise and strengthen our infrastructure by performing upgrades, installing patches and enhancing stability, resilience and performance.
- Configure and maintain network hardware and security tools, including routers, switches, firewalls, VPNs and load balancers.
- Troubleshoot and resolve complex network issues, restoring services quickly and preventing future incidents.
- Collaborate with security teams and architects to enforce strong access controls, segmentation and compliance standards.
- Monitor network performance, proactively identifying improvements and keeping our environments running smoothly.
- Contribute to major projects and network enhancements, bringing fresh ideas, new technologies and continuous improvement to the team.
About You
You’re a network engineer who thrives in complex, high-impact environments. You enjoy solving challenging technical problems, improving network performance, and contributing to the resilience of critical national infrastructure. You bring strong hands-on experience, a proactive mindset and the confidence to collaborate across teams.
- Hands-on expertise with VMware NSX and VMware VCF; you understand software-defined networking, micro-segmentation, virtual network design and private cloud networking, and can apply NSX in real-world, high-security environments.
- Strong networking fundamentals — fluent in TCP/IP, DNS, DHCP, VLANs, routing, switching and IP addressing, with experience across Cisco networking technologies to deliver secure and scalable solutions.
- Advanced routing & switching expertise — including BGP, OSPF and EIGRP, with the ability to support multi-site, high-availability environments.
- Security-focused mindset — familiar with firewalls, VPNs, wireless/WLAN, MPLS/SD-WAN and modern network security practices.
- Exceptional troubleshooting skills — able to diagnose and resolve complex issues methodically, even under pressure during major incidents.
- Clear, confident communication — capable of translating complex technical concepts for non-technical stakeholders.
What You'll Get
Competitive Salary: circa £48,000 – £57,000 per annum (based on capability, and experience)
Additional benefits include:
- A competitive contributory pension scheme where we will double match your contribution to a maximum company contribution of 12%
- You will receive a bonus based on personal and company performance
- Flexible benefits such as a cycle scheme, share incentive plan, technology schemes
- Access to apps such as digital GP service for round the clock access to GP video consultations and NHS repeat prescriptions, wellbeing app to support your health and fitness
- Access to Work + Family Space, providing support and resources for work and family life, including paid emergency childcare and eldercare
More information
This role is offered on a full-time basis and will require National Security Vetting (NSV) checks. We are also offering hybrid/flexible working where travel to the office will be as per business need - 1 day per week on average. Base location for this role will be NG House, Warwick. This role closes on 25th February; however, we strongly encourage candidates to submit their application as early as possible.
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
National Grid is an equal opportunity employer that values a broad diversity of talent, knowledge, experience and expertise. We foster a culture of inclusion that drives employee engagement to deliver superior performance to the communities we serve. National Grid is proud to be an affirmative action employer. We encourage minorities, women, individuals with disabilities and protected veterans to join the National Grid team.
At National Grid, we work towards the highest standards in everything we do, including how we support, value and develop our people. Our aim is to encourage and support employees to thrive and be the best they can be. We celebrate the unique differences people bring into our organisation, and welcome and encourage applicants with diverse experiences and backgrounds, and offer flexible and tailored support, at home and in the office.
Our goal is to drive, develop and operate our business in a way that results in a more inclusive culture. All employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, the innovation that comes with having diverse teams and business need. We are committed to building a workforce that is representative of the communities we serve and provide a working environment where everyone feels valued, respected, fairly treated, and able to reach their full potential.
CNI Network Engineer employer: National Grid
At National Grid, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work culture that fosters innovation and collaboration. As a CNI Network Engineer in our Warwick office, you'll enjoy hybrid working arrangements, competitive salaries, and a comprehensive benefits package, including a generous pension scheme and wellness resources. We are committed to your professional growth, providing opportunities to work with cutting-edge technology while contributing to the critical infrastructure that keeps society connected.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land CNI Network Engineer
✨Tip Number 1
Network, network, network! Get out there and connect with professionals in the industry. Attend meetups, webinars, or even just chat with folks on LinkedIn. You never know who might have a lead on your dream job!
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! Create a portfolio or a personal website showcasing your projects and achievements. This is a great way to demonstrate your hands-on experience and technical prowess to potential employers.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews like a pro! Research common interview questions for network engineers and practice your responses. Don’t forget to highlight your problem-solving skills and how you’ve tackled complex challenges in the past.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in joining our team at National Grid. Let’s keep the country connected together!
We think you need these skills to ace CNI Network Engineer
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV is tailored to the CNI Network Engineer role. Highlight your hands-on experience with networking technologies and any relevant projects you've worked on. We want to see how your skills align with what we're looking for!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're passionate about network engineering and how you can contribute to our mission at National Grid. Keep it concise but impactful, and don’t forget to mention your problem-solving skills.
Showcase Your Technical Skills:In your application, be sure to showcase your technical expertise, especially with VMware NSX, routing, and switching. We love candidates who can demonstrate their knowledge of complex network environments, so don’t hold back!
Apply Early Through Our Website:Don’t wait until the last minute! We encourage you to apply as early as possible through our website. This not only shows your enthusiasm but also gives us more time to review your application thoroughly.
How to prepare for a job interview at National Grid
✨Know Your Networking Fundamentals
Brush up on your knowledge of TCP/IP, DNS, DHCP, VLANs, and advanced routing protocols like BGP and OSPF. Being able to discuss these concepts confidently will show that you have a solid foundation and can handle the technical challenges of the role.
✨Showcase Your Hands-On Experience
Prepare to share specific examples of your hands-on work with networking technologies, especially with VMware NSX and VCF. Highlight any projects where you designed or optimised network infrastructure, as this will demonstrate your practical skills and problem-solving abilities.
✨Communicate Clearly and Confidently
Practice explaining complex technical concepts in simple terms. This is crucial, as you'll need to communicate effectively with non-technical stakeholders. Use examples from your past experiences to illustrate how you've done this successfully.
✨Be Ready for Troubleshooting Scenarios
Expect to be asked about how you would approach troubleshooting complex network issues. Prepare a few scenarios where you successfully diagnosed and resolved problems, focusing on your methodical approach and the tools you used to restore services quickly.
