Senior Network Design Engineer
Senior Network Design Engineer – HS2
Location: UK / Hybrid
Project: HS2
Sector: Rail / Operational Telecommunications / Network Infrastructure
An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced Senior Network Design Engineer to join a major rail infrastructure programme supporting the design and assurance of critical network, operational telecommunications and security systems for HS2.
This is a senior technical position combining network architecture, systems engineering, requirements management, design assurance and multidisciplinary interface coordination within one of Europe's largest infrastructure programmes.
You'll play a key role in developing secure, resilient and maintainable network and telecommunications solutions that interface with wider railway systems, including signalling, SCADA, station systems, control environments and operational infrastructure.
The Role
As Senior Network Design Engineer, you will provide technical leadership across network, telecommunications and security design activities, while also supporting wider network programmes.
You'll be involved throughout the design lifecycle, from system definition and architecture through to assurance, integration, testing and acceptance.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead the development of high- and low-level network architectures for secure, resilient operational environments.
- Provide technical leadership across network, operational telecommunications and security system design.
- Develop and assure IP/MPLS transmission networks within operational telecommunications environments.
- Support requirements management, compliance, traceability and technical assurance.
- Coordinate interfaces with Signalling, SCADA, M&E, station systems, security, civil infrastructure and other rail systems.
- Produce architecture diagrams, system descriptions, technical specifications, design reports and interface documentation.
- Define IP addressing, subnetting, network segmentation, resilience and cyber-security strategies.
- Support IDC, IDR and equivalent formal design review processes.
- Respond to technical comments and manage design close-out through to acceptance.
- Support system integration, testing, commissioning, migration and maintainability activities.
- Undertake Responsible Engineer or independent checking responsibilities where required.
- Apply CDM 2015 and Safe by Design principles throughout the design process.
Systems & Technical Scope
The role covers a broad range of operational network and telecommunications technologies, including:
- IP/MPLS and operational data networks
- LAN/WAN infrastructure
- Routing, switching and network resilience
- Operational telecommunications and voice services
- Server and hypervisor environments
- Backbone and route-wide communications
- Network segmentation and cyber-secure infrastructure
- Integration with signalling, SCADA, station systems and railway control environments
- CCTV, access control, SISS and wider security systems
What We're Looking For
You'll ideally have:
- A degree in Engineering, Telecommunications, Computer Science or a related discipline, or equivalent experience.
- Significant experience designing and delivering LAN/WAN and operational network infrastructure.
- Proven experience delivering IP/MPLS transmission networks within operational telecommunications environments.
- Experience working within rail, safety-related, mission-critical or highly regulated environments.
- Strong knowledge of requirements management, design assurance and technical governance.
- Experience managing technical interfaces across multidisciplinary engineering teams.
- Strong understanding of network security, segmentation, resilience and access control.
- Experience producing network designs supporting Signalling, SCADA, Voice, SISS, CCTV, access control or backbone communications.
- Cisco CCNA-level knowledge or above, backed by substantial practical experience.
- Experience producing documentation for IDC, IDR or equivalent formal assurance processes.
- The ability to manage technical comments, design changes, configuration management and acceptance evidence.
- Strong communication skills and the ability to explain complex technical solutions to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
Desirable
It would be advantageous if you also have:
- Chartered Engineer status or are working towards professional registration.
- IRSE Licence or experience working within railway engineering assurance processes.
- UK railway operational telecommunications experience.
- Experience on HS2, Network Rail or other major rail infrastructure programmes.
- Knowledge of signalling, SCADA, radio, M&E, station systems and railway control environments.
- Experience with SDN, network virtualisation, data-centre technologies or network automation.
- Knowledge of cyber-security technologies such as next-generation firewalls, SIEM, IAM and OT security monitoring.
- Experience planning design packages and preparing deliverables for formal client submissions.
Why This Opportunity?
This is an opportunity to work on a high-profile, technically complex rail infrastructure programme, helping shape the network and telecommunications architecture underpinning the future operational railway.
You'll have genuine technical ownership, exposure to multidisciplinary engineering interfaces and the opportunity to work on systems where resilience, security and reliability are absolutely critical.
If you're an experienced Network Design Engineer, Network Architect, Telecoms Engineer or Operational Telecommunications specialist with strong IP/MPLS and rail/mission-critical infrastructure experience, I'd be keen to speak with you.
Apply directly or get in touch for a confidential conversation about the role.