At a Glance
- Tasks: Design and support cutting-edge network solutions for over 1,200 locations.
- Company: Join Whitbread, the team behind Premier Inn and top UK restaurants.
- Benefits: Enjoy family healthcare, generous discounts, and a bonus scheme.
- Other info: Hybrid work model with excellent career growth opportunities.
- Why this job: Be a key player in transforming our network and making a real impact.
- Qualifications: Hands-on experience with Cisco, Aruba, or Meraki infrastructure required.
The predicted salary is between 45000 - 55000 £ per year.
At Whitbread, the team behind Premier Inn and some of the UK's best-known restaurant brands, we're transforming our technology landscape to support more than 1,200 locations across the UK. We're looking for a talented Network Engineer to play a leading role in shaping, supporting and evolving our next-generation network estate. This is a unique opportunity to work with cutting-edge technologies, take ownership of critical network services and help deliver one of the most ambitious network transformation programmes in the industry.
Role: Network Engineer
Contract Type: Full time, Permanent
Location: Whitbread Court, Dunstable (Hybrid, 3 days per week in office)
Why You’ll Love It Here
- Healthcare: Family BUPA healthcare
- Pension: 10% matched pension
- Discounts: Up to 60% discount on Premier Inn stays and 25% discount on our Restaurant brand
- Annual Incentive: up to 20% Bonus
What you’ll be doing:
As a Network Engineer, you'll be responsible for the performance, reliability and future development of Whitbread's network infrastructure. Working across SD-WAN, LAN, WAN, WiFi, cloud and telephony environments, you'll design, implement and support scalable network solutions that keep our business connected and secure.
You'll provide technical leadership across the network team, act as the highest point of escalation for complex issues, mentor junior engineers and work closely with architects, security teams and third-party suppliers to ensure our network estate continues to meet the needs of a growing business. You'll also play a key role in major incidents, lifecycle management, capacity planning, disaster recovery testing and the delivery of strategic technology projects.
What you’ll need:
- Hands-on experience with Cisco, Aruba or Meraki infrastructure
- Strong networking expertise including SD-WAN, SD-Access, TCP/IP and OSI models
- Experience with routing, switching and security technologies including BGP, OSPF, IPsec and QoS
- Strong troubleshooting, monitoring and network performance management skills
- Experience managing third-party suppliers and service providers
Be part of our Technology Team at Whitbread. Through collaboration, passion and hiring the smartest minds, our Technology team builds products and services that are used by 38,000 of us at Whitbread and millions of guests. Everything from an eCommerce website that handles £2 billion in transactions per year, applications that are scalable across our 1,200 hotel and restaurants, devices that enable our teams and guests to have a seamless experience, all whilst keeping data secure. Together we’re building the hotel of the future.
Infrastructure and Connectivity - Network Engineer in Dunstable employer: Whitbread PLC
Whitbread PLC, as part of the UK's leading hospitality group, offers a supportive and dynamic work environment at Premier Inn Slough. Employees benefit from flexible hours, competitive pay, and opportunities for personal growth within a culture that prioritises guest satisfaction and teamwork. Join us to be part of a dedicated team that values your contributions and fosters a sense of belonging.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Infrastructure and Connectivity - Network Engineer in Dunstable
✨Join Local Tech Meetups
Get out there and mingle with fellow developers by joining local tech meetups. It’s a fantastic way to meet people who might be working at Whitbread PLC or know someone who does. Plus, you can pick up some trendy tech skills and trends while you're at it!
✨Contribute to Open Source Projects
Show off your coding chops by jumping into open-source projects. Not only does this give you practical experience, but it also gets you noticed in the dev community. You'll create a killer portfolio that speaks volumes about your skills to Whitbread PLC.
✨Tap into Online Developer Communities
Don’t underestimate the power of online developer communities like GitHub, Stack Overflow, and even Reddit. Participate in discussions, share your projects, and build your visibility. We can often find opportunities through these channels that can lead to a full-time gig at companies like Whitbread PLC.
✨Explore Job Boards Specifically for Tech Roles
Keep your eyes peeled on job boards that focus on tech roles. Sites like TechCareers or Stack Overflow Jobs can often have listings for companies like Whitbread PLC that might not show up on broader job sites. Make it a habit to check these regularly, and don’t hesitate to apply directly through our website!
We think you need these skills to ace Infrastructure and Connectivity - Network Engineer in Dunstable
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show off your coding skills:When applying for a software engineering role, it's super important to showcase your coding skills. Make sure your CV includes your tech stack, any relevant programming languages you’re comfortable with, and examples of projects you've worked on. If you have a GitHub profile, link it up! We love to see code in action.
Tailor your portfolio:For a full-time role, we’d expect to see some solid examples of your work in your portfolio. Make sure to include at least two or three projects that highlight your problem-solving skills and your ability to work with different technologies. Focus on the projects that are most relevant to the position at Whitbread PLC.
Craft a killer cover letter:Your cover letter is your chance to stand out—make it personal! Explain why you want to work at Whitbread PLC and how your skills align with the role. Show us your passion for software development. We dig enthusiastic candidates who understand the value of collaboration and continuous learning!
Be clear and concise:When it comes to writing your CV and cover letter, clarity is key. Avoid jargon that could confuse us and stick to simple, direct language. Highlight your achievements with quantifiable results where possible, and keep everything easy to read. A well-organised application goes a long way!
How to prepare for a job interview at Whitbread PLC
✨Brush Up on Your Coding Skills
For a full-time software engineering role, it's crucial that we stay sharp with our coding abilities. Expect technical questions that might involve solving problems on the spot or discussing algorithms. Practise on platforms like LeetCode or HackerRank to get comfortable with the types of questions that often come up.
✨Know Your Tools and Frameworks
Make sure we’re well-acquainted with the tools and technologies listed in the job description. Familiarise ourselves with any specific frameworks or programming languages mentioned. If Whitbread PLC uses React or Node.js, for instance, be ready to discuss how we’ve used them in previous projects or coursework.
✨Showcase Your Projects
Bring along a portfolio that highlights our best work. This could be code samples, GitHub repositories, or any side projects we’ve built. Make sure we can talk through our thought process for each project, especially the challenges we faced and how we solved them—this shows our problem-solving skills in action.
✨Prepare for Behavioural Questions
While technical skills are key, full-time positions also require cultural fit. Be ready to discuss our previous experiences and how we handle teamwork, conflict, and deadlines. Brush up on the STAR method—Situation, Task, Action, Result—to clearly articulate our past experiences when discussing how we've contributed to a team.
