At a Glance
- Tasks: Design and maintain telecoms and IT lab infrastructure with hands-on experience.
- Company: Innovative engineering firm in Oxfordshire with a collaborative culture.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, training opportunities, and a supportive work environment.
- Other info: Opportunity for career growth and development in a dynamic lab setting.
- Why this job: Gain real-world experience while working with cutting-edge telecoms technology.
- Qualifications: Experience in networking or telecoms, with a willingness to learn.
The predicted salary is between 46800 - 60000 £ per year.
We are expanding our engineering capability and are looking for an Infrastructure Engineer to support the design, commissioning, and operation of our telecoms and enterprise IT lab. This is an office‑based, hands‑on role working closely with researchers and senior engineers to ensure lab infrastructure is robust, accurately configured, and meets the requirements for deep technical research into telecoms and IT network systems.
We are looking for someone with practical infrastructure and/or networking experience who is keen to deepen their skills. While prior hands‑on knowledge is important, we are willing to provide training and support to help the right candidate grow into the role.
The Role
- Supporting the design, build, and layout of lab infrastructure containing telecoms and enterprise equipment
- Network planning including numbering (e.g. IP addresses, GTs, Cell IDs) and RF frequency allocation
- Installation and commissioning of routers, switches, firewalls, servers and telecoms systems
- Day‑to‑day operation, monitoring, and maintenance of lab environments to ensure reliability and availability
- Working with Linux‑based systems for configuration, management, scripting, and troubleshooting
- Network configuration, connectivity testing, and fault‑finding across physical and virtual environments
- Preparing, maintaining and adjusting lab setups to support ongoing research activities
- Maintaining accurate documentation of lab configurations, changes, and procedures
- Ensuring the safety of the lab environment and staff, including physical, electrical and RF
About You
Essential Skills & Background
- Experience installing and commissioning network or telecoms equipment
- Practical knowledge of TCP/IP networking fundamentals
- Familiarity with router and switch CLIs and GUIs (e.g. Cisco, Juniper, Nokia)
- Understanding of routing protocols such as MPLS, OSPF or BGP
- Familiarity with Linux (command‑line usage, system basics, configuration, and troubleshooting)
- Experience in an infrastructure, networking, telecoms, or lab‑based engineering role
- A hands‑on, methodical approach to working with both physical and logical infrastructures
- Willingness to learn new technologies and develop deeper expertise over time
- Comfortable working in a lab environment with real hardware
- Ability to maintain technical network diagrams and commissioning procedures using Microsoft Office
Desirable Experience
- Ability to configure IP addressing, VLANs, and basic Layer 2/Layer 3 network settings
- Experience of common IETF network protocols (e.g. SNMP, TACACS+/RADIUS, Syslog, NTP, DHCP, DNS, IPsec, X.509)
- Knowledge of mobile telecoms (e.g. cellular network concepts, mobile cores, RAN fundamentals, or related protocols)
- Experience setting up virtual, containerized or cloud computing environments
- Relevant certifications (e.g. CCNA, Linux certifications)
What’s on Offer
- Hands‑on work with real‑world enterprise and telecoms infrastructure
- Opportunity to work alongside experienced engineers and researchers
- Training and support to develop and maintain skills in specialist telecoms and lab environments
- Collaborative, engineering‑driven culture, with high standards for quality
- Competitive salary and benefits
- Based in Oxfordshire
Eligibility
As you will be required to work with UK Government departments, all applicants must already hold, or be able to obtain, the necessary UK security clearance. Therefore, the following must apply:
- You must be a British Citizen. If you hold dual nationality, of which one component is British, your application will still be considered.
- You’ll usually need to have been a resident in the UK for seven out of the last ten years before applying for a role with us.
Equal Opportunity statement
To ensure everyone has an equal chance, we’re always willing to make reasonable adjustments to the recruitment process. If you would like to discuss, please contact us.
Infrastructure Engineer employer: National Physical Laboratory
The National Physical Laboratory in Teddington is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic and supportive work culture that fosters innovation and professional growth. With a focus on cutting-edge research in power systems, employees benefit from opportunities to develop their skills in a collaborative environment, while enjoying the advantages of working in a prestigious institution dedicated to advancing measurement methods for electricity grid monitoring.
Contact Details:
National Physical Laboratory Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Infrastructure Engineer
✨Get Chummy with Industry Events
Dive into telecommunications networking conferences and expos. These are golden opportunities to meet potential employers like National Physical Laboratory and learn about open positions directly from their teams. Keep an eye out for workshops or panels – they’re perfect for showcasing your passion and expertise!
✨Join Networking Communities
Find online forums or local meetups that focus on telecommunications and networking. Sites like LinkedIn Groups or Reddit communities can be great for connecting with professionals in the field. Just remember to participate in discussions – you never know when someone might mention job openings at places like National Physical Laboratory.
✨Showcase Your Skills with Personal Projects
If you’ve got any personal projects or contributions to open-source networking tools, flaunt them! Create a portfolio that showcases your skills relevant to what telecommunication companies are looking for. It’s a great conversation starter during interviews and networking chats.
✨Utilise Online Job Boards Wisely
While we’re all about encouraging you to apply through our website, also keep an eye on job boards specific to tech and telecommunication roles. Websites such as Telecommunication Jobs and TechCareers often list full-time roles that may not appear elsewhere. Just be sure to tailor every application to grab attention – even small tweaks can make a big difference!
We think you need these skills to ace Infrastructure Engineer
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Technical Know-How:When you're applying for a role in telecommunications and networking, it’s crucial to highlight your technical skills. Mention specific technologies you're proficient in, like IP networking, VoIP, or security protocols. Be sure your CV includes any relevant certifications such as CCNA or CompTIA Network+; they really show you've got the chops for the job.
Tailor Your Experience to Match Networking Projects:In your CV and cover letter, don’t just list your past jobs—showcase specific projects that align with the role! If you've worked on network design, implementation, or troubleshooting, weave those experiences in and highlight metrics to demonstrate your impact. This paints a vivid picture of how you'd fit into the role at National Physical Laboratory.
Show Enthusiasm for the Industry:With telecommunications evolving rapidly, it’s important to express your passion for the field in your application. Mention any trends or innovations you've been following that excite you and how they'd influence your work. This can really set you apart and show that you're not just after a job, but a career!
Keep It Clean and Professional:While it’s important to be personable, ensure your application maintains a clean and structured format. Use clear headings and bullet points to make it easy for hiring managers to dig into your skills and experience. Remember, you’re applying for a full-time role, so a well-organised application will signal your seriousness about the position at National Physical Laboratory.
How to prepare for a job interview at National Physical Laboratory
✨Brush Up on Networking Protocols
Make sure you’re up to speed with the key networking protocols like TCP/IP, UDP, and perhaps even MPLS if it's relevant. We can expect technical questions about how these protocols function and the problems they solve, so a solid understanding will help you shine.
✨Showcase Your Projects
Got a portfolio? Bring it along! Highlight any relevant projects where you've designed or managed network systems. This is your chance to demonstrate practical experience; employers love to see how your skills can be applied in real-world scenarios.
✨Get Comfortable with Technical Scenarios
You might be faced with a case study or a technical troubleshooting scenario during the interview. Practise responding to common networking issues—like packet loss or latency problems. Thinking through these scenarios will help us sound confident and competent in our responses.
✨Emphasise Team Collaboration Skills
In the telecommunications field, teamwork is key! Make sure to share examples of how you’ve worked collaboratively, whether in past jobs or projects at uni. Employers want to see that you’re not just technically savvy, but also great at working within a team setting.
