Network Solutions Specialist (5-8 yrs)

Job Purpose :

The role sits within the IT Operations area, and the right candidate would be an experienced 3rd level network engineer with high level of relevant technical expertise.

This role operates across both projects and operational activities. Facing off to project managers and senior stakeholders to accurately capture requirements and propose technology solutions to deliver business outcomes. For project activities in delivery this individual will work closely with either third parties on in house network engineers to ensure compliance with agreed design, standards and governance to facilitate acceptance into formal service.

They will also provide a high level of expertise in the diagnosis and resolution of complex technical challenges, problems or major incidents.

Key Accountabilities & Responsibilities :

- Provide the technical delivery and design support for projects, and complex network changes.

- Participate in network design activities, commissioning of design / delivery work from third party suppliers and the quality assurance and acceptance into service of third party delivered work.

- Has strategic awareness and proposes robust solutions which can be reused to quickly meet project timescales.

- Maintains currency - follows key vendor roadmaps and industry trends to anticipate and plan for upcoming changes, security updates, new features and evolving best practice and incorporating these into project proposals.

- Ensures that all network designs are compliant with relevant standards and design principles whilst satisfying Infosec requirements.

- Play a key role in the diagnosis and resolution of high impact, or technically challenging problems, in close coordination with IT operations colleagues.

- Is diligent in determining the root cause of problems / issues and driving resolution to address the cause rather than the symptom.

- Supports audit and compliance activity e.g. Finance / ISO27001 / Sarbanes-Oxley / NIST and Client audits.

- Has experience of proposing robust and reusable solution designs within the network space to meet project deliverables.

- Strong expertise across routing & switching, LAN and WAN technologies and Cisco (Catalyst & Nexus), Palo Alto, Meraki, ASA, FirePower technology stack.

- Management of third parties, both for technology vendors and professional services including support and project delivery.

- Extensive experience of working within Infosec and security best practice to deliver robust and secure solution designs and technical environments.

- Experience of methodical and robust diagnostic approach in the resolution of complex problems and major incidents.

- Experience in design, build and support of campus and data centre network architectures.

- Excellent communicator, able to form strong working relationships with colleagues in other operational areas and the broader business. Able to leverage these relationships to meet project outcomes.

- An understanding of ITIL processes, including change and incident management

- Team player, with the ability to mentor/up skill other team members.

Desirable :

- Experience of telephony technologies including SIP, dialler, SBC etc

- Knowledge of TOGAF architecture framework

- Azure experience, including design best practice and networking principles, configuration and support.

- Experience in a technical support role within financial services sector

Personal Attributes :

- Credible and persuasive at all levels within the organisation and externally

- Ability to innovate and to challenge entrenched thinking coupled with sensitivity to the current culture of teams

- Able to work at pace whilst maintaining very high standard in a busy Network team

- Able to operate effectively in a matrix management structure and is comfortable being accountable for services they may not directly own

- Ability to communicate clearly internally and externally and develop relationships with a variety of stakeholders

- Ability to apply a robust and methodical diagnostic approach to facilitate resolution of complex problems.