technical Network Service Delivery Principal

programmable, and future-ready. Key Responsibilities Network Architecture & Strategy * Define and govern the overarching enterprise network architecture, covering LAN, WAN (SD-WAN), cloud platforms (AWS/Azure), and data centres * Translate business objectives into clear architectural standards, roadmaps, and best practices * Design scalable, automated, and secure network solutions aligned to long-term strategic goals * Partner closely with cloud, infrastructure, application teams, and external providers to ensure seamless integration across hybrid environments * Act as the senior technical authority on network architecture, emerging technologies, and industry best practice Network Security Leadership * Own the end-to-end network security architecture across on-prem, cloud, and hybrid environments * Design and govern secure network segmentation, including Zero Trust models, next-generation firewalls, and secure connectivity (Direct Connect, Transit Gateway, Zscaler-delivered services) * Define, publish, and enforce enterprise network security standards, conducting regular architectural reviews * Develop and maintain a 12-24 month network security technology roadmap, with strong focus on automation and orchestration * Act as the highest escalation point for complex network security incidents, performing root-cause analysis and designing permanent architectural solutions * Monitor emerging threats, vulnerabilities, and trends, proactively evolving the security architecture DevOps, Automation & Leadership * Drive adoption of Network DevOps and Infrastructure as Code principles at an architectural level * Promote programmability, resilience, and operational efficiency through automation * Provide technical mentorship and leadership to engineering and operations teams * Foster a culture of continuous improvement, learning, and architectural excellence Skills & Experience * 8+ years in network engineering, with 3+ years in a Network Principal, Architect, or Lead role designing enterprise-scale or global networks * Proven ability to design holistic architectures balancing performance, security, cost, and automation Expert-level knowledge of: * Routing & switching: BGP, OSPF, VXLAN, MPLS * Core networking fundamentals: TCP/IP, DNS, DHCP, UDP * Enterprise technologies: Cisco (routing, switching, Wi-Fi), firewalls, load balancers (F5 or similar), SD-WAN * Cloud networking: AWS & Azure (VPCs, Transit Gateway, PrivateLink, Direct Connect, NAT, Security Groups, Cloud WAN) * Network monitoring, observability, and IPAM at scale Network DevOps & Automation * Strong experience architecting Infrastructure as Code for networking (Terraform, CloudFormation, Ansible) * Solid understanding of CI/CD pipelines, Git, and automated testing of network configurations * Ability to design scalable, well-documented, standards-driven automation frameworks Desirable Certifications * Architecture/Security: TOGAF, SABSA, CISSP-ISSAP * Vendor: CCNP/CCDE/CCIE, PCNSE, NSE 7/8 * Cloud/DevOps: AWS or Azure Professional, HashiCorp If you have the relevant skills & experience, please apply promptly to be considered

Network Service Delivery Principal Location: Wokingham (3-5 days per week onsite) Start: ASAP Contract: 6 months initially Rate: £420 per day (Inside IR35) Overview Our client is seeking a visionary, highly technical Network Service Delivery Principal to lead the strategic design, evolution, and governance of a complex enterprise network estate. This is a senior, hands-off architecture and leadership role. While engineering teams focus on delivery and operations, this position defines the network blueprint they build from-bridging business strategy and technical execution across on-prem, cloud, and hybrid environments. You will architect scalable, automated, and secure network solutions spanning LAN, WAN (including SD-WAN), cloud (AWS/Azure), and data centres, while driving the adoption of Network DevOps and Infrastructure as Code at an architectural level. Acting as a technical authority, you will guide senior stakeholders, mentor engineers, and ensure the network estate is resilient