Principal Core Network Engineer - Telecommunications

Ready to take the next step in your career?

Join a leading provider of unified communications, business telephony, and cyber security solutions, focused on delivering secure and practical technology services that help organisations overcome real-world challenges.

An exciting opportunity has opened for a Principal Engineer to provide technical leadership within a Core Network Engineering team. The role focuses on major network infrastructure projects, including core network redesign and architecture, developing complex low-level designs, supporting high-level technical delivery, and mentoring junior engineers.

Don’t miss out on this exciting opportunity and apply today!

Responsibilities:

• Technical Leadership: Lead and coordinate teams through all design and delivery activities, taking full accountability for outcomes.  
• Solution Architecture: Validate High-Level Designs (HLD) and produce detailed LLDs, build plans, and integration/test plans. 
• Core Operations: Manage complex network solutions covering WAN, LAN, Data Centre, Broadband, Peering, and Security.  Stakeholder Engagement: Communicate and present technical concepts to customers and senior management using architectural techniques.  
• Documentation: Create high-quality technical documentation to facilitate seamless handovers to operational support teams.  
• Continuous Improvement: Research and implement innovative technologies to improve network reliability and performance.  

Skills/Must have:

• Sector Experience: Deep background working within ISP and MSP environments is essential.  
• Core Protocols: Expert-level knowledge of MPLS and BGP (IS-IS & Multi-Protocol BGP).  
• Network Design: Proven experience in both High-Level and Low-Level network design.  
• Vendor Proficiency: Strong hands-on experience with Cisco platforms (ASR 9K/1K, Nexus, ASA) and fluency in IOS-XR and NX-OS.  
• Security Awareness: Awareness of Telecoms Security (TSA) standards and practical experience with stateful firewalling and VPNs. 
•  Certification: CCNP (current or previously held). The business will fund re-certification if expired.

Desirable Skills:

• Juniper: Practical experience with Junos and Juniper SRX platforms.  
• Automation: Familiarity with network automation tools such as Ansible or Salt.  
• Linux/Sysadmin: Background in UNIX/Linux with scripting skills in Python, Perl, or SQL. 
• Process: Familiarity with ITIL frameworks (Foundation or Service Operation).  
• Virtualisation: Knowledge of VMware or MS Hyper-V platforms. 

Location: 

• Manchester (Ideal), with other office hubs in Sevenoaks, Wapping, Burstow, and Solihull.

Benefits:

• Overtime: Paid at standard rates for project work and outages, providing significant additional earning potential.
• On-Call: 1 in 6 rotation (included in base salary).

Salary: 

• £60,000 – £70,000 (Maximum signed off).