Senior Network Engineer

Job category: Engineering
Job Identification:1440
Contract type:Permanent
Salary: Band E S2 £51,242 gross per annum
Hours:Full-time/Part-time (minimum 0.8FTE)(We understand the importance of work-life balance, and are happy to discuss the possibility of flexible working with applicants)

Location:Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Harwell Campus, Oxfordshire, UK

Apply by: 05/10/2025, 23:55

Due to the requirement of obtaining an enhanced security clearance for this role, we are only able to accept applications from persons who have been resident in the UK for the last 5 years.

Come and do the kind of computing that got you into technology in the first place. Work with cutting-edge tech and world-leading scientists and engineers. And harness the power of some of the country’s most advanced supercomputers to tackle work that improves daily life in the UK and far beyond.

Put simply, come and discover the impact you can make when you’re equipped, encouraged and inspired to perform to your very best.

About NQCC

The National Quantum Computing Centre (NQCC) is the UK’s national laboratory dedicated to accelerating the development and adoption of quantum computing.

Headquartered at the Harwell Campus in Oxfordshire, the NQCC works across government, industry, and academia to address the engineering challenges of scaling quantum computers and to build a quantum-ready economy. Its mission is to enable the UK to solve complex societal and industrial challenges by harnessing the transformative potential of quantum computing.

The NQCC is a joint initiative of the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC). It sits alongside other departments within the STFC National Laboratories and is part of the wider National Quantum Technologies Programme (NQTP).

Our Benefits include a flexible working scheme (subject to business requirements), a defined benefit pension scheme, and 30 days annual leave allowance plus 10.5 bank holiday/privilege days and several other benefits.

The Role

We have a great opportunity for a Network Engineer to join the National Quantum Computing Centre (NQCC). You will be working alongside scientists, engineers, developers, and experts in quantum technologies, working to enhance the UK’s quantum computing capabilities. You will also engage with internal and external stakeholders. The Network Engineer is critical to the delivery of our ambitious technology roadmap for supporting quantum computing advantage for the UK.

The NQCC oversees diverse projects for classical and quantum technologies, aiding quantum computer development in our labs. This involves intricate software, high-performance computing, security, and collaborations. We seek a candidate to optimise network infrastructure and systems, ensuring performance, security, and adherence to best practices. This role requires network expertise, security awareness, and a commitment to staying current. The candidate will manage the NQCC network, serving various IT systems whilst collaborating with multiple teams.

Key Responsibilities

Managing the NQCC’s networking infrastructure, you will ensure stable service while aligning with security policies. Leading networking projects, you will coordinate resources and maintain cyber, network, and data security across all stages. Your role involves advising stakeholders on networking advancements, managing projects within NQCC’s framework, and procuring and implementing new technology for operational enhancement. You will work with cross-functional teams, maintain thorough technical documentation, and generate accurate network service reports. Collaboration with the benefits and evaluation team will be crucial for project success, as you promote positive change and continuous improvement throughout the process.

This is an outline description of the key responsibilities and accountabilities involved in the job. This is not an extensive list, and there may be other duties expected of you, appropriate to the band and level of responsibility of this post.

Person Specification

Prior knowledge of quantum computing is not required for this role. We offer significant development and training opportunities. Applicants for this role should meet the following criteria:

(Please note the criteria below will be assessed at the Shortlisting or Interview stage as indicated)

• Experience in managing complex network infrastructures. Proficiency in LAN, WAN, VLANs, routing, and switching protocols. Familiarity with network monitoring and optimization. (S)
• An analytical mindset for efficient issue resolution, especially under pressure. (I)
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, ability to convey technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders, and ability to work collaboratively. (S&I)
• Evidence of a strong, practical understanding of cybersecurity, testing tools, authentication, encryption, and cloud services. (S&I)
• Strong grasp of network security principles, firewalls, IDS/IPS, VPNs, and encryption. (S&I)
• Experience in Linux networking. (S&I)
• Proficiency in Python, Bash, or PowerShell. (S)

You would need to be available to occasionally travel/work within the UK and overseas for workshops, conferences, and meetings, when required.

Security Clearance:

Due to the nature of the role and a requirement to support diverse projects, the successful candidate is required to successfully complete national pre-employment control checks to the BPSS (Baseline Personnel Security Standard) to fulfil the role. BPSS checks can take between 9-12 working days. Once in post, you will need to successfully complete a Security Check (SC) clearance.

Join us and discover what’s possible!

About us

UKRI – UK Research and Innovation

UKRI is an organisation that brings together the seven disciplinary research councils, Research England and Innovate UK. Together, we build an independent organisation with a strong voice and vision, ensuring the UK maintains its world-leading position in research and innovation.

Supporting some of the world’s most exciting and challenging research projects, we develop and operate some of the most remarkable scientific facilities in the world. We are pushing the frontiers of human knowledge through fundamental research and delivering benefits for UK society and the economy through world-class research, skills and business-led innovation.

Choosing to come to work at UKRI means that you will have access to a whole host of benefits from a defined benefit pension scheme, excellent holiday entitlement, access to employee shopping/travel discounts and a salary sacrifice cycle to work scheme. For more details, visitthe benefits of working for UKRI .

How we support EDI in the workforce

At UKRI, we believe that everyone has a right to be treated with dignity and respect, and to be provided with equal opportunities to thrive and succeed in an environment that enables them to do so. We also value diversity of thought and experience within inclusive groups, organisations and the wider community. For further information, please visit‘How we support EDI in the workforce’.

Disability Confident Employer

As users of the disability confident scheme, we guarantee to interview all applicants with a disability who opt into the disability confident scheme and meet the minimum criteria for the role. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.

How to apply

Online applications only preferred for this role. Please submit a CV and covering letter which clearly outlines how you fulfil the criteria specified, along with your motivation for UKRI and the role. Ensure that the job reference number is included in the filename description of each document uploaded. Note that failure to address the above criteria or submit an application without a covering letter may result in the application not being considered. Assessment will only be based upon the content of your submitted covering letter and CV, and not the ‘experience’ section of the application.

UKRI seeks to ensure it creates and maintains a system of openness, fairness and inclusion – a collaborative, trusted environment, which is attractive to and accessible to everyone who is interested in developing their career with us.

The role holder will be required to have the appropriate level of security screening/vetting required for the role. UKRI reserves the right to run or re-run security clearance as required during the course of employment.

About the team

The Science and Technology Facilities Council is a world-leading multi-disciplinary science organisation where curiosity-driven, blue-skies thinking meets practical, application-led science and engineering. Our goal is to deliver economic, societal, scientific and international benefits to the UK and its people – and more broadly to the world.

One of Europe’s largest research organisations, we’re trusted to support, enable and undertake cutting-edge projects in an amazing diversity of fields. Through world-class facilities and people, we’re driving ground-breaking advances in science, engineering, computing and technology. Our research seeks to understand the Universe from the largest astronomical scales to the tiniest constituents of matter, yet creates impact on a very tangible, human scale.

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