Job Description

The Network Architect forms an integral part of a Solution team, developing high-level designs for the networking elements and aspects of broad solutions to solve customer problems. Understanding the critical importance that efficient, performant and cost effective networks play as part of holistic solutions, you will collaborate across boundaries to support the overall Solution Lead and Design Authority with relevant solutions.

Network architects are not just technical specialists, they will have demonstrable broad and detailed experience in the broad networking environment alongside an understanding of the end to end enterprise architecture that drives the business..

The network architect will be expert in the integration of networking across all aspects of solution, understanding, assimilating and developing the networking aspects in partnership with colleagues. You will be expert in key adjacent technologies such as virtual networking in hypervisors and public clouds, crypto overlays (including common government and MoD crypto solutions), firewalling, load balancing, and other network integrated aspects.

The network architect will be a leader and may be needed to perform direct line management, will actively and positively lead teams of engineers within the business to deliver positive and effective outcomes with integrity, innovation and commitment. You will garner followership through coaching and guiding teams to positive outcomes for our clients.

The Network Architect will primarily work on a single programme and participate and have input across the full programme lifecycle, including in a presales capacity on customer proposals and then working with engineering teams to ensure the delivery as per design. Further, network architects will participate in the collaborative development with peers of blueprints and patterns as part of the internal Centres of Excellence, actively promoting best practices.

Key responsibilities

Integrate as part of the solution team, developing network architectures and designs as integrated parts of overall solutions;

Work with stakeholders across the business to identify the most cost effective and strategically aligned of our partner network to realise the solution;

Work as an integrated part of the programme pre-sales solution team to act as networking lead for proposals.

Work as an integrated part of programme architectural team to input into high level designs and translate into detailed designs and support their implementation;

Actively consider and collaborating with security teams to always incorporate proportional and appropriate security into all aspects of design and implementation;

Provide guidance and assistance to members of the engineering teams where required;

Collaborating with peers and colleagues within the Centres of Excellence to:

Identify potential new technologies and solutions that are relevant to the organisation and its pipeline;

Develop standards and best practices, actively promoting their use across the organisation.

Knowledge / skills / experience / Behaviours

Expert level knowledge and demonstrable in-depth experience across large scale public sector UK networks, including detailed understanding of security gateways and associated overlays, supporting the design of and implementation of secure, multi-layered solutions;

Broad experience of the UK networking market, with experience across a breath of carriers across MPLS, routing protocols, VPLS, Ethernet and Dark Fibre, demonstrated through a portfolio of project experience using different suppliers;

Leadership skills and experience, able to bring technical and business people alike along with them, gaining agreement over solutions across broad stakeholder base;

Excellent oral and written communicator, comfortable providing input and supporting proposals and technical documentation;

In-depth experience of networking design, technologies and adjacent aspects across LAN, WAN, Data Centre and cloud, particularly AWS and Azure integration

Knowledge and exposure across a range of networking vendors and their technologies, including Cisco, Juniper, F5 and Palo-Alto. High level formal vendor qualifications (Professional Level) are desirable but not required;

Experience of common deployment patterns, including infrastructure solutions to support secure and resilient multi-site applications, and secure single and multi-tenanted virtual environments within private and public clouds;

Must have or be capable of achieving SC clearance as a minimum; potentially required to undergo DV if not already holding it.

You must be customer-centric, proactive, able to take ownership of a problem and work it through to resolution; have good problem solving skills; a flexible approach to working, and be able to identify & implement process improvements

You must have proven professional behaviors , for example:

Able to use your own discretion when identifying and responding to complex issues

Able to make decisions that have an impact on the success of project objectives

Able to delegate effectively, using an element of autonomy

Freely interacts with colleagues and can influence others

Proactively assess and evaluate situations and risks

Actively share knowledge and experience, provides input based on expertise across the delivery lifecycle

Can investigate, define and resolve moderate and/or complex issues in a methodical manner

Clearance: Candidate must be a UK National and able to obtain SC clearance.

WHAT DO WE DO FOR YOU?

At Leidos we are PASSIONATE about customer success, UNITED as a team and INSPIRED to make a difference. We offer meaningful and engaging careers, a collaborative culture, and support for your career goals, all while nurturing a healthy work-life balance.

We provide an employment package that attracts, develops, and retains only the best in talent. Our reward scheme includes:

Contributory Pension Scheme

Private Medical Insurance

33 days Annual Leave (including public and privilege holidays)

Access to Flexible benefits (including life assurance, health schemes, gym memberships, annual buy and sell holidays, and a cycle to work scheme)

Dynamic Working:

Commitment to Diversity

We welcome applications from every part of the community and are committed to a truly diverse and inclusive culture. We foster a sense of belonging, welcoming all perspectives and contributions, and providing equal access to opportunities and resources for everyone.

If you have a disability or need any reasonable adjustments during the application and selection stages, please let us know, and we will respond in a way that best fits your needs.

Who We Are:

Leidos UK & EUROPE \xe2\x80\x93 we work to make the world safer, healthier, and more efficient through technology, engineering, and science.

Leidos is a growing company delivering innovative technology and solutions focused on safeguarding critical capabilities and transformation in frontline services, our work in the United Kingdom includes addressing some of the most complex problems in defence, healthcare, government, safety and security, and transportation.

What Makes Us Different:

Purpose: you can use your passion and abilities at Leidos to keep the people you care about safe. We are at the forefront of machine learning, AI, cyber security, and solutions. Using your skills in the technology frontline by helping to build a safer world. You can inspire change.

Collaboration: having flexibility to do your job is one of our core benefits, enabling you to become part of our extraordinary team. We have been empowering our people to work flexibly for years. Whether you work from home, the office or on customer sites, we will give you the digital tools and the flexibility to work smarter and align your needs and ours.

People: Leidos empowers people from every background to be themselves and gives you the tools to learn new skills by enabling growth whilst developing. We believe that extraordinary people need opportunities to grow, to be inspired and to inspire others. At Leidos, we invest in technical academies, career rotations and a career development plan that enhance your future.

SATURN

Pay Range:

The Leidos pay range for this job level is a general guideline only and not a guarantee of compensation or salary. Additional factors considered in extending an offer include (but are not limited to) responsibilities of the job, education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities, as well as internal equity, alignment with market data, applicable bargaining agreement (if any), or other law.

Leidos