Lead Network Engineer (Tier 3)

Job Title: Lead Network Engineer (Tier 3)

Location: Liverpool (Hybrid)         

Salary: From £65,000

Contract type: Permanent

#LI-Hybrid

About the role

ARO’s Specialist Data Services (SDS) business unit is seeking a Lead Network Engineer (Tier 3) to provide senior technical leadership across the resilient data-centre and customer networks underpinning SDS-hosted NHS, clinical and public-sector services.

Working closely with the Principal Network Engineer, you will translate SDS technical strategy and architecture into secure, resilient and supportable solutions. You will act as the senior network escalation point for Tier 1 and Tier 2 engineers and lead the resolution of SDS’s most complex incidents, problems and technical risks.

This role combines advanced hands-on network engineering with technical assurance, design review, mentoring and continual service improvement across SDS-managed data-centre, wide-area and customer network services.

The role’s primary remit is the SDS service estate, including critical NHS, clinical and public-sector services delivered from ARO’s Liverpool and Runcorn data centres. You must be comfortable operating within structured environments aligned to ISO 27001, NHS DSPT and ITIL practices.

The role is predominantly based within the SDS NOC in Liverpool, with home-based working two days per week and occasional attendance at the Runcorn data centre and customer sites to support operational or project needs.

Please note this is a hybrid role based out of the Liverpool office 3 days a week, with 2 days working remotely and occasional attendance at other sites as required. You must be able to commute to these locations and have your own transport.

• Act as the Tier 3 escalation point for complex incidents, problems and technical risks affecting SDS-managed networks and the customer services they support.
• Take end-to-end ownership of escalated SDS issues, ensuring accurate records, regular communication and timely resolution.
• Lead the technical response to major incidents affecting SDS-hosted and managed services, working with customers, vendors and internal teams to restore service safely and promptly.
• Troubleshoot complex LAN, WAN, WLAN, firewall, VPN, SD-WAN and data-centre networking issues across the SDS service estate.
• Work with the Principal Network Engineer to implement SDS technical standards, architectures and technology roadmaps.
• Produce and review technical documentation, including:

- high-level and low-level designs

- implementation and migration plans

- test and validation plans

- rollback procedures

• Provide technical assurance for new SDS solutions, customer onboarding, migrations and high-risk changes affecting hosted or managed services.
• Lead complex SDS network deployments, data-centre changes, customer cutovers, upgrades and transformation activities.
• Review and approve technical plans produced by Tier 1 and Tier 2 engineers.
• Lead root-cause analysis and ensure permanent corrective actions are identified and delivered.
• Support capacity, lifecycle, vulnerability, firmware and technical risk management.
• Improve the monitoring, resilience, security, automation and operational efficiency of SDS-managed network services.
• Ensure new and changed SDS services are documented, monitored and successfully transitioned into the SDS operational support model.
• Maintain effective professional relationships with SDS customers, colleagues, partners and vendors, particularly across NHS, clinical and public-sector environments.
• Mentor Tier 1 and Tier 2 engineers and contribute to individual and team development plans.
• Maintain current technical knowledge and complete agreed vendor or industry accreditations.
• Support planned out-of-hours activities affecting SDS customer services and data-centre platforms where reasonably required.

• 5+ years’ relevant experience in senior network engineering, consultancy or technical delivery, ideally within an MSP, ISP, data-centre provider or similarly critical hosted-services environment.
• Expert knowledge of enterprise routing, switching, firewalls and secure connectivity.
• Advanced experience with at least two core technology platforms, including Cisco IOS/NX-OS, Fortinet FortiGate/FortiManager and Extreme EXOS/ExtremeCloud IQ.
• Advanced knowledge of BGP, OSPF, route redistribution, HSRP/VRRP, VLANs, spanning tree, MLAG and 802.1X.
• Strong understanding of firewall policy, NAT, VPN, segmentation, SD-WAN and resilient network design.
• Experience supporting complex, multi-site and data-centre networks underpinning business-critical hosted or managed services.
• Proven ability to lead major incidents, complex changes, migrations and technical problem investigations.
• Experience producing and reviewing technical designs, implementation plans and supporting documentation.
• Strong understanding of ITIL-aligned incident, problem, change and service-transition processes.
• Ability to work independently, exercise sound judgement and operate without continuous supervision.
• Ability to prioritise competing incidents, projects and deadlines while remaining composed under pressure.
• Strong customer focus, with clear written and verbal communication skills.
• Experience mentoring engineers and providing technical assurance.
• Commitment to following company policies, processes, security requirements and engineering standards.

• Experience supporting NHS, clinical, public-sector or other regulated customers, ideally within hosted data-centre environments.
• Knowledge of VXLAN, EVPN, fabric architectures and cloud networking.
• Experience with network automation using Python, Ansible or APIs.
• Knowledge of ISO 27001, Cyber Essentials Plus and NHS DSPT requirements.
• Experience managing or providing technical leadership to project workstreams.
• Experience operating as a senior escalation point across complex, business-critical hosted or managed customer environments.
• A relevant degree, professional qualification or equivalent practical experience.
• ITIL Foundation or equivalent service-management experience.

ARO has 25 years’ experience in Collaboration, Connectivity, Cloud and Infrastructure and Cyber Security services both in the UK and Internationally and has a nationwide presence with offices across the UK.

As one of the UK’s leading independent IT and communication experts our mission is to deliver a seamless technology experience to all end users. To make that vision a reality, we need bright, tenacious and inspiring talent to help drive our performance, growth and achieve this mission.

To make us successful we focus on strong communication, a culture based on fun, trust and collaboration. We have created a modern workplace environment, which is full of engaged, energetic, positive and curious people whose productivity, resilience and wellbeing allow them to thrive.

In 2021 we were awarded the People Insight’s Outstanding Workplace Award, which celebrates organisations building positive workplace cultures and acting on employee feedback to spark positive change. 

At ARO we are committed to creating an excellent employee experience. Our employees, culture and additional benefits all make ARO a great place to work. Come join us!

We offer a wide range of benefits and incentives to our employees including:

💰 Company Pension Scheme and matching contributions

🎁 Company Perks portal

🏥 Private Medical insurance

🛡️ Life assurance

✈️ 25 days holiday plus bank holidays plus holiday trading

🎂 Your Birthday off, on us

💪 Health Club and Wellbeing Scheme

📈 ARO Shares after 12 months employment

🤝 Employee Assistance Programme

💻 Technical Training Academy and E-learning

💼 Hybrid working

If even 80% of this matches your experience and attributes, we would be delighted to hear from you.