About the job

Job summary

Working patterns available: Full-time, part-time and flexible 

You’ve got the skills to design and implement Network infrastructure allowing critical systems to thrive!

Working closely with our solution architects and DevOps engineers, you’ll develop new skills and grow your expertise as you design and own platforms and environments. More importantly, you’ll build your own systems to deliver value to your customers in direct support of the national security mission.

Working as an integral part of a diverse engineering team, you’ll design and implement the infrastructure to ensure delivery systems run seamlessly and securely. You’ll collaborate with a team of engineers, information security professionals and stakeholders to ensure that infrastructure is reliable, scalable, and capable of handling our requirements over time. As a Network Architect, you will be expected to support apprentice level and junior engineers that you work with.

You’re the person that makes ideas become real. You’ll design, develop & implement the platforms needed to deploy on, from Cloud and Enterprise builds to physical switches, firewalls, and virtual networks, and we’ll support you as you grow and learn your skills. You’ll work on systems that make a difference to the safety of the UK, and your infrastructure will be critical. You’ll enjoy coming up with creative solutions for global systems that contribute to national security.

Job description

You’ll get involved in the complete process. You’ll use your skills and experience to design a wide range of networks whilst working with a variety of customers, stakeholders, and engineering teams. You’ll bring your creativity to work in your own way to deliver on your projects.

Your day involves:

•    Providing thought leadership and communicating with seniors regarding business critical infrastructure.
•    Creating and collaborating on design documentation.
•    Overseeing implementation of network systems as designed.
•    Provide specialist support for complex problems or troubleshooting.
•    Influence in project meetings & guidance of business decisions for network infrastructure.
•    Work closely with engineering teams in design and BAU.

Person specification

Our role is based on the DDaT Network Architect , that means you will already have:

•    Proven experience designing, deploying and implementing Network Infrastructure across a range of different vendors and architectures to high availability requirements.
•    Proficiency in the use of Network Operating systems, such as Cisco IOS or Junos OS.
•    Experience in network security and information assurance practices.
•    Firsthand experience of large-scale network implementations.

To strengthen your application, it would be beneficial if you have knowledge of one of the following areas (but these are not essential),

•    Proven experience of complex troubleshooting and problem management.

•    Design & Concepts
o    i.e., MPLS, VRFs, SD-WAN, VX-LAN, TLS, Internet routing, IPv4/6 dual stack, BGP/MP-BGP.
•    Information Security
o    i.e., Experience of the CIA Triad; Network Traffic/Log Analysis; SOC tooling such as Splunk/Elastic Security; Network Analysis tools such as Wireshark/Zeek;)
•    Cloud
o    i.e., AWS, Azure, Google Cloud, IaaS solutions
•    Automation and Infrastructure as Code
o    i.e., Terraform, Ansible, Bash or Python

Your Personal Skills

You will be the type of person who:
•    Enjoys coming up with creative solutions
•    Can manage your own workload and adapt to changing demands
•    Puts plans in place to make improvements 
•    Enjoys being part of a team. Helping others to deliver or being guided by them yourself
•    Can go with the flow. Change is a big part of our organisation. You will be able to adapt with the support of your team and management
•    Is keen to continually improve both technical and non-technical skills

Benefits

Now that we’ve explained a bit about what you will we be doing, here’s what we can offer you

•    25 days annual leave, rising to 30 after 5 years’ service.
•    8 Bank Holiday days off in addition to your annual leave. 
•    2 ½ additional days leave (set dates through the year).
•    Paid overtime or time off in lieu.  Your salary is for your contracted hours.  If you work more, we believe you should be rewarded for that.
•    Training.  Lots and lots of training.  This can be anything from a ½ day internal course to a distant learning degree.  If it’s relevant to your career, we will aim to support you.
•    Pension.  Our Pension scheme is Alpha.  It’s competitive.
•    Sports & Social Society.  Whether its classic cars or baking, golf or crafting, we have a society for you.
•    On site nursery (subject to availability).
•    3 days paid leave a year to support a registered charity of your choice.
•    Free parking
•    Free onsite gym, open 24 hours a day
•    Relocation Package*
•    Affinity Groups – whether you are disabled, LGBTQ and/or from an Ethnic Minority.  We provide an inclusive environment and support for everyone.
You’ll be working under a capability framework, which recognises and rewards specialist expertise. 

Training and Development Section: 

We offer our commitment in developing our colleagues and recognise this may look different for everyone. We’ll use this capability framework to provide guidance and in turn the tools to support you in your career at HMGCC. Not only that but there’ll be opportunities to gain qualifications and pursue and number of specialist pathways, as well as undertaking training tailored to your skillset, coaching and mentoring.

As you develop, grow, and maintain your technical skills, you will have the opportunity to progress through capability framework pay points. You’ll need to regularly demonstrate and endorse your skills based on the set assessment criteria. If you find yourself in a position where you aren’t maintaining the required skills, you’ll be given the opportunity and support to rectify this, as you could find yourself reverting to a lower level of capability and pay.” 

About HMGCC

We are HMGCC, the engineering specialists at the heart of the UK’s national security.
We work with the National Security Community, UK Government, academia, private sector partners and international allies to bring engineering ingenuity to the national security mission, creating tools and technologies that drive us ahead and help to protect the nation.
We invest in our people, not only with training but also support throughout your career with us; to allow you to reach your full potential at work, as well as enjoy the work/life balance many aspire to.

To find out more about us and if we’re right for you, please visit our website.
 
Equal Opportunities

Inclusion & Diversity really matters to us. It's not just about numbers or visible differences. 

HMGCC are committed to providing equal opportunities and encourage applications from candidates of all backgrounds, ethnicities, gender identities, sexual orientations, and those with disabilities or who are neurodiverse.

We’re not looking for any one type of person. We’re looking for talent from all different backgrounds to join our organisation, where we genuinely respect and value each other's differences, as well as our similarities. It makes us even better at what we do. 

We are proud to offer candidates the opportunity to apply through the Offer Of Interview Scheme. The scheme ensures eligible candidates are selected for an interview as long as their application meets the minimum criteria for the role. To find out more and how you can apply under this scheme, please see the inclusion and diversity information on our website.

Things you need to know

Selection process details

Discover more by visiting our website.  

Our Recruitment Team will process your application once the role has closed and everyone will get a response.

Please note dependent on the recruitment requirements, we withhold the right to bring forward the closing date for this role from the original closing date.  

*if you are relocating to the area then we can discuss the possibility of a relocation package 

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is developed vetting (opens in a new window).

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window). People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

Open to UK nationals only.

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window). The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.