At a Glance
- Tasks: Design and optimise a global network while leading advanced enterprise solutions.
- Company: Join a world-class engineering team with a focus on innovation.
- Benefits: Flexible remote work, competitive salary, and opportunities for continuous learning.
- Other info: Collaborative global team culture with a focus on automation and new technologies.
- Why this job: Be a key player in evolving high-performance infrastructure and drive networking excellence.
- Qualifications: Hands-on experience with Palo Alto and Juniper, plus strong troubleshooting skills.
The predicted salary is between 48000 - 72000 £ per year.
Principal Network Engineer We're looking for a Principal Network Engineer to be the most senior technical lead for network engineering at a global payments technology company. You'll set direction for the whole network across data centres and public cloud, and turn it into automated, self-service capabilities that engineers use without raising a ticket. Success is measured by the requests that no longer need to be made. This is a hands-on role for a network engineer who has made the move to automation and software engineering. You'll write code every week, use AI tools daily and work autonomously in a fully remote team across the US and Europe. Key Responsibilities Keep the network's intended state in source control, managing switches, routers, firewalls and cloud networking through Terraform, Ansible and vendor APIs, with automated validation before any production change Build self-service capabilities with policy checks and guardrails for common requests such as network segments, VPCs, firewall rules and private connectivity Design Palo Alto segmentation and firewall policy as code, keeping PCI DSS cardholder data scope tight Design and evolve routing and switching (BGP, VXLAN/EVPN) across data centres and cloud interconnects Provide load balancing and traffic steering as code, integrated with service discovery Build PCI DSS and SOX controls into the network, with automated backups, drift detection and audit evidence Ship every capability with telemetry, flow data and alerting, and run what you build, including on-call and failover testing Mentor senior engineers and lead the most significant designs and build-versus-buy decisions Required Experience Extensive experience as a principal or lead network engineer in production enterprise environments Expert routing and switching: BGP, OSPF, VXLAN/EVPN, plus networking in AWS, Azure, OCI or GCP Firewall policy and segmentation in regulated environments, ideally PCI DSS and SOX Proven network automation with Terraform, Ansible, vendor APIs and a network source of truth Production-quality code in Python, Go or similar, using Git, pull requests and CI, not just procedural scripts Daily use of agentic coding tools such as Claude Code, Codex or Cursor, with a safety-first approach to reviewing agent output Clear writing and the confidence to explain design trade-offs and make the case for new approaches Nice to Have Palo Alto (including Panorama), Juniper and Cisco HAProxy Enterprise, HashiCorp Consul, NetBox, Cloudflare and Splunk Experience designing or reviewing MCP servers for AI agents Package Up to £115k salary bonus Fully remote Unlimited PTO Pension, 5% employer contribution rising to 7% after 3 years Private medical insurance, including optical and dental Please apply now if you match the above criteria, or contact Andrew Harrison directly. Skills: Palo Alto VXLAN EVPN BGP Prisma Juniper Benefits: Work From Home ADZN1_NI41bf1e1f-b16b-4260-a40a-17c77a06fd15
Principal Network Engineer - remote across UK or Ireland in Belfast employer: Ocho
Join a forward-thinking UK technology company that is at the forefront of AI innovation, where you will have the opportunity to develop your skills in a supportive and fast-paced environment. With a strong emphasis on mentorship from senior engineers, flexible working patterns, and the chance to own your projects early on, this role offers a unique pathway for professional growth in AI engineering. The company's commitment to an AI-first culture ensures that you will be working with cutting-edge tools and technologies, making a real impact in complex customer environments.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Principal Network Engineer - remote across UK or Ireland in Belfast
✨Get Chummy with Industry Events
Dive into telecommunications networking conferences and expos. These are golden opportunities to meet potential employers like Ocho 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 Ocho.
✨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 Principal Network Engineer - remote across UK or Ireland in Belfast
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 Ocho.
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 Ocho.
How to prepare for a job interview at Ocho
✨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.
