WAN Architect
WAN Architect - DV Cleared
Location: Corsham / Hybrid, with travel to other MOD sites as required
Clearance: Active DV clearance required
Contract: 6 Months
Rate: Circa 700pd DOE (Inside IR35)
We are looking for an experienced WAN Architect to support a major Defence programme within a large-scale Fixed Networks environment.
You will provide technical leadership and architectural assurance across enterprise WAN services, working closely with Defence Digital, Managed Service Providers, technical authorities and third-party suppliers.
This is primarily an architecture, design assurance and technical governance role, rather than a hands-on network engineering position. You will be responsible for challenging supplier designs, supporting service transition and helping shape the ongoing modernisation of complex, secure network services.
Key Responsibilities
- Provide architecture and design assurance across large-scale WAN services.
- Review and challenge HLDs, LLDs, RFCs, Impact Assessments and supplier technical proposals.
- Ensure WAN designs are secure, supportable and aligned with Defence Digital standards and technical strategy.
- Support Technical Design Authorities and architecture governance forums.
- Provide architectural input into service transition, onboarding, testing and go-live activities.
- Work with MSPs and third-party suppliers to resolve technical risks and design issues.
- Review technology lifecycle and obsolescence plans and support future replacement strategies.
- Identify opportunities to modernise and optimise WAN services.
- Assess emerging technologies including SD-WAN, SDN, cloud connectivity, secure remote access, network automation and monitoring.
- Act as a technical escalation point for WAN architecture and assurance issues.
- Communicate technical risks, recommendations and design decisions to senior technical and non-technical stakeholders.
Essential Experience
We are looking for strong experience across:
- Enterprise-scale WAN architecture and design
- MPLS, IP networking and routing
- SD-WAN / SDN
- Network security architecture
- Secure remote access
- Telecommunications and fixed network infrastructure
- Network monitoring and management
- Reviewing and assuring HLD and LLD documentation
- Service transition and operational support requirements
- Supplier and MSP technical assurance
- Working within secure, regulated or complex enterprise environments
Previous MOD / Defence Digital experience would be highly advantageous, particularly experience of technical governance, TDAs, security assurance and Defence network environments.
Qualifications such as CCNP/CCIE, JNCIP/JNCIE, TOGAF, ITIL or CISSP would also be beneficial.
Candidates must hold active DV clearance.
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