Principal Network Engineer, Data Centre

A Principal Network Engineer (Data Centre) is an accomplished technical leader. You develop the strategic and tactical engineering roadmaps for Data Centre technologies and services in their area of responsibility, making sure that they are future proofed, and that the organisation derives maximum value from investment in technologies. You define engineering best practice within the Home Office and inspire others to follow this.

You will own the technical operational relationships with suppliers and internal teams making sure Data Centre network services are delivered and aligned to industry best practice, regulatory and contractual requirements.

You will lead and direct network teams and suppliers in building, managing, transitioning, supporting and maintaining solutions according to departmental policy and strategy. You will work with technical architects to ensure there is continuous improvement to the service catalogue, future designs and service operability. You will lead on overall management activities such as workforce planning, budgeting, technology roadmaps, projects and tasks.

Where business needs allow, some roles may be suitable for a combination of office and home-based working. Where this is the case, employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in the office . Applicants can raise any queries to the email address at the bottom of the advert.

Watch this short video to hear from members of Home Office Digital talking about the projects they work on and their experience of working here: Working for Home Office Digital., Your main day to day responsibilities will be:

• Leading internal teams, suppliers and departments in the design, implementation, administration and support of network solutions and services.
• Providing support to make sure that solutions and services are designed with security controls embedded, specifically engineered as mitigation against security threats.
• Ensuring that the right actions are taken to investigate, resolve and anticipate network problems, coordinating teams to investigate issues, implement solutions and establish preventative measures.
• Identifying the correct procedures and appropriate channels for resolution and monitor resolution activities and progress updates to users.
• Establishing standards and procedures across a service lifecycle including the development lifecycle and ensure that engineers adhere to this. You will manage resources to ensure that the networks integration function works effectively.
• Providing authoritative advice and guidance on test planning and identify network improvements to determine standards and best practice., The allowance values are set by the Home Office, subject to remaining in a qualifying role. This allowance is non-contractual, subject to an annual review and could be withdrawn at any time.

For both new entrants and existing civil servants, the total compensation offer is a combination of base salary and, if applicable, a capability-based allowance. The pay ranges for this role are National: £76,117- £83,729 and London: £80,237- £88,261. New entrants to the Civil Service will start on the pay range minimum. For existing civil servants, our policies on level transfer and promotion will apply.

Working at the Home Office

Every day, Home Office civil servants do brilliant work to develop and deliver policies and services that affect the lives of people across the country and beyond. To do this effectively and fairly, the Home Office is committed to representing modern Britain in all its diversity, and creating a welcoming, inclusive workplace where all our people can bring their whole selves to work and perform at their best.

We are flexible, skilled, professional and diverse. We work to recruit and retain disabled staff and area Disability Confident Leader. We are proud to be one of the most ethnically diverse departments in the civil service. We are a Social Mobility Foundation top 75 employer.

New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.

Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening, subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant's details held on the IFD will be refused employment.

For further information please see the attached notes for candidates which must be read before making an application.

Existing Civil Servants should note that some of the Home Office terms and conditions of employment have changed. It is the candidate?s responsibility to ensure they are aware of the Terms and Conditions they will adopt should they be successful in application and should refer to the notes for candidates for further details.

Transfer Terms: Voluntary.

You will need to meet the nationality requirements for this role and obtain the necessary security clearance to take it up.

Any move to the Home Office from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk.

Reasonable Adjustments

If a person with disabilities is at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.

If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:

• Contact Government Recruitment Service via as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.
• Complete the ?Assistance Required? section in the ?Additional Requirements? page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you are deaf, a language service professional.

If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the ?Contact point for applicants? section.

Feedback Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment. Security Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check .

See our vetting charter . People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks. Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

You?ll have a demonstrable passion for Network Engineering with the following skills and proven experience in:

• Core technical concepts, switching, routing, firewalling, load balancing, segmentation and network security.
• Key engineering principles and standards, and the ability to inspire others to follow these.
• Managing and delivering complex technologies within time, cost and quality targets.
• Ensuring all solutions are robust, resilient and appropriately implemented, secured, tested and documented.
• Presenting verbal and written information clearly and accurately in language which is appropriate for different channels and which meets the needs of the user.
• Advising on future technology changes and innovations and defining best practice for network improvements and information security.
• Recent evidence of leading Network design/implementation and/or operations in large scale Private or Public Sector organisations.

Desirable Skills

Ideally you will also have the following skills or some experience in:

• Software defined networking, * Formal training in computer science to degree level or experience in a known computing field, evidenced by furthering technical qualifications through your career.
• Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE) or technical equivalence in one or more of the following areas:

• Routing & Switching
• Data Centre
• Service Provider

SFIA capability framework

Skills for the Information Age (SFIA) is the technical framework that sets the standard capability and development of all levels in the Home Office. This is a link to the capability framework: All skills A - Z English (sfia-online.org).

We use set SFIA technical skills to form our interview questions and we will assess you against these technical skills during the selection process.

The essential skills listed above are reflective of the Home Office Government Digital and Data Profession Career Framework (based on the industry standard SFIA framework). Use the SFIA levels of responsibility to understand what would be expected for each technical skills listed below. Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Leadership

Technical skills

We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

• Specialist advice (TECH) - Level 4
• Network design (NTDS) - Level 5
• Testing (TEST) - Level 4
• Incident Management (USUP) - Level 4
• Systems installation and removal (HSIN) ? Level 4
• Organisational facilitation (OFCL) - Level 5, Candidates reaching the required standard will then be invited to attend an interview. The interview will assess your Technical Skills (SFIA Framework) and Behaviours using technical and behaviour-based questions.

At the beginning of the interview, you will be required to deliver a presentation. The presentation topic will be provided prior to your interview.

If you are invited to an interview, you will be required to bring a range of documentation for the purposes of establishing identity and to aid any pre-employment checks. Please see the attached list of Home Office acceptable ID documents., For meaningful security checks to be carried out, individuals need to have lived in the UK for a sufficient period of time. Learn more on our website. Security Checks - Home Office Careers.

Please note that this role requires Security Check (SC) clearance, which would normally need 5 years? UK residency in the past 5 years. Candidates must also hold or be prepared to undergo NPPV3 clearance.

However, in exceptional circumstances security clearance applications for candidates who have been present in the UK for at least 3 of the last 5 years may be considered. Failure to meet this residency requirement will result in your security clearance application being rejected., We are unable to sponsor any individuals via Skilled Worker Sponsorship / Tier 2 (General) work visas as we do not hold a UK Visa & Immigration (UKVI) Skilled Worker License.

Due to the business requirements of this role, it is only available on a Full-Time basis. However, compressed hours are available., Benefits Alongside your salary of £76,117, Home Office contributes £22,051 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

Why work for us...

Find out more information at: Benefits - Home Office Careers, but some of the primary ones are:

• A Civil Service Pension with employer contribution rates of at least 28.97%.
• In-year reward scheme for one-off or sustained exceptional personal or team achievements.
• 25 days annual leave on appointment, rising with service.
• 8 days of public holidays, plus 1 additional privilege day.
• Where business needs allow, some roles may be suitable for a combination of office and home-based working. This is a non-contractual arrangement where all employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in an office.