(SC cleared) Senior Network Architect - Cisco

In this role you will assess and document enterprise network architecture for a secure defence environment, driving actionable improvements with minimal risk. You will collaborate with Architecture and Network support teams to map current state and craft high/low level designs that align with the Gap programme goals. You’ll evaluate Cisco ACI, routing, firewall and load-balancing setups to enable robust, active/active connectivity between two data centres. The position combines hands-on assessment with formal design documentation, risk reporting and sign-off through secure channels. This is a technically rigorous role with a clear impact on operational resilience and secure connectivity.

• Autonomy to develop and grow skills
• Exciting project work affecting society
• LinkedIn Learning and development programs
• Wellness and confidential employee assistance
• 25 days leave plus option to buy more
• Private Medical Insurance

• Review live network configurations and legacy designs across two data centres to identify gaps vs. documented operation.
• Create current-state High Level Designs and Low Level Designs with topology diagrams and dependencies.
• Assess Cisco ACI, routing, firewall and load-balancing arrangements with Architecture and Network support teams.
• Produce a Network Review and Recommendation Report prioritising practical, low-risk improvements.
• Explore application-centric capabilities in Cisco ACI, including relationships, segmentation and policy design.
• Present a prioritised roadmap with sequencing, dependencies, and service impact for improvements.
• Develop a Network Disaster Recovery Capability Report for true active/active data centre connectivity.
• Explain connectivity limitations, proposed approaches, risks, and any hardware/software/licensing requirements.
• Lead technical reviews, resolve design comments, and secure sign-off from Architecture and Network teams.
• Maintain controlled documentation and contribute to risk/issue reporting through secure channels.

• Strong enterprise network architecture experience with producing High/Low Level Designs.
• Hands-on Cisco ACI experience (fabric, tenants, VRFs, bridge domains, endpoint groups, contracts) and application-centric policy design.
• Solid Cisco routing knowledge; IP addressing, routing protocols, segmentation, and DC interconnectivity.
• Experience reviewing Cisco ASA firewall configurations, traffic flows, policies, NAT and HA.
• Experience with F5 load balancers, traffic management, health monitoring and service dependencies.
• Experience assessing disaster recovery and active/active designs, including failover and stateful dependencies.
• Ability to investigate live configs safely, identify constraints, and propose proportionate changes with clear impact.
• Strong technical writing, diagramming and stakeholder communication; experience guiding designs through formal approval.

• clear communication
• stakeholder management
• analytical thinking
• Cisco ACI
• Cisco routing
• Cisco ASA