Technical Network Specialist

Job Title: Technical Network Consultant (Juniper / Aruba / WAN / SASE) Locations: University of Plymouth, Cambridge Aerospace, University of Manchester (Hybrid – UK travel required)Rate: Up to £500/day (Outside IR35)Duration: 6-month contract (with potential extensions)Start: ASAP We are seeking a senior, hands-on Technical Network Consultant to support multiple large-scale enterprise network programmes across higher education and aerospace environments. This is a delivery-focused role spanning design, build, migration, and live cutover activity across multiple UK sites.Key Responsibilities

• Deliver end-to-end enterprise network solutions across wired, wireless, and WAN environments
• Lead network design assurance and produce Low Level Designs (LLDs) and build standards
• Own and execute live migrations and production cutovers across multiple concurrent sites
• Provide technical leadership across complex, multi-client delivery engagements
• Define configuration standards and support repeatable deployment models
• Produce as-built documentation and support operational handover
• Act as escalation point during live delivery and transition phases
• Ensure continuity of service and knowledge transfer during organisational change

Essential Experience

• Proven delivery of enterprise wired, wireless, and WAN networks end to end
• Strong experience producing and owning LLDs and technical build standards
• Hands-on experience with live production migrations and cutovers
• Experience working across multiple concurrent projects or client environments
• Ability to operate as technical authority alongside PMs and stakeholders
• Experience working in Statement of Work (SOW)-led delivery environments

Essential Technical Skills

• Juniper switching
• Aruba switching (AOS-CX)
• Juniper Mist WLAN
• Aruba Central
• Enterprise WiFi 6 / WiFi 7 deployments
• Cato Networks (SASE / WAN edge)
• Firewall integration and troubleshooting (Juniper / Cisco)
• Experience with Cisco coexistence or migration environments
• Cloud-managed networking platforms (Mist, Aruba Central, Cato)

Desirable Skills

• BGP routing (WAN / firewall adjacency)
• Python scripting or network automation
• Campus, education, or multi-site estate experience
• Exposure to aerospace or higher education environments

Ways of Working

• Delivery-focused, outcome-driven approach aligned to SOWs
• Comfortable working across multiple concurrent client engagements
• Hands-on delivery across remote and on-site environments
• Strong focus on stability, quality, and successful live cutovers
• Clear communication with technical and non-technical stakeholders