Lead Network Architect - HMRC - G7

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Are you an experienced network architect considering a new opportunity?

If so, continue reading to find out more about this fantastic opportunity to join HMRC - one of the largest and most dynamic IT infrastructures in Europe, and we are now one of the most digitally advanced tax authorities in the world.

This is a great opportunity to join a team where you will be working across one of the largest IT estates in Europe and supporting large scale and radical transformation that will have a profound impact for both the customers and the staff of HMRC.

Job description

This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced architect to be responsible for the design and delivery of small, medium and large scale, high impact projects which support HMRC’s strategic objectives.

The network services architecture function sets the technology direction for HMRC networks and is accountable for delivering the high-level designs and direction for all strategic networking solutions, closely collaborating with other architectural functions.

You will report to the Head of Network Architecture.

Day to day you will be:

Defining the strategy and architecture of the HMRC network.

Collaborating with other architectural functions, 3rd parties, vendors and other technical teams.

Owning network services deliverables.

Gathering requirements.

Conducting product analysis and solution development.

Supporting and guiding the wider network services team.

Producing network architecture documentation and roadmaps.

Analysing the uses and effectiveness of technologies and how they can positively impact our business area.

Providing internal consultancy covering network architecture and appropriateness of solutions.

Person specification

Technical Experience

These are the tools and experience we would like you to have, but don’t worry if you don’t have experience with all of the below. We welcome applicants with a broad and varied range of experience, technical knowledge and willingness to learn new technologies.

Datacentre network technologies, including but not limited to Cisco NX-OS, Cisco ACI, Arista EOS & Arista Cloudvision.

Application delivery services including but not limited to F5 and NGINX.

Network firewall technologies, including conventional and next generation feature sets.

Multi-user secure LAN and converged Wi-Fi Networks.

Traditional WAN technologies.

Foundation network services (DNS, DHCP, IP address management, routing and switching).

Experience of cloud architectural design networking within Azure and/or AWS.

Network security & encryption protocols, (TLS, IPSEC, PKI, NAC – 802.1x etc.).

Network Management and monitoring tools.

Network Automation relating to deployment and testing with experience of CICD including Ansible and Terraform.

Software Defined Networking technologies and capabilities (SD-WAN, SDDC, SD-Access, etc)

AAA services and Network Access Control (Cisco ISE/ Aruba ClearPass)

Network device management platforms (such as but not limited to - FortiManager, Checkpoint management, Aruba Airwave, F5 BIG-IQ, Forcepoint Security Manager)

Firewall audit and compliance tools (e.g AlgoSec, Skybox)

Network performance monitoring (NetScout, Riverbed)

Essential Criteria  

You will need to demonstrate within your application the following essential experience;

A network infrastructure background, where you will have gained experience of large-scale deployments.

Proven experience of providing consultancy on potential uses and appropriateness of network/cloud infrastructure technologies and driving benefits from these technologies at a strategic level.

Experience of end-to-end network architecture and associated technologies.

Ability to work as part of a team, or as an individual, playing a key role in influencing strategic decision making and understand strategic consequences of IT decisions.

Building and maintaining strong working relationships with stakeholders to achieve successful outcomes for the business.

Capability to articulate complex solutions to both technical and non-technical audiences.

Desirable Criteria  

Professional IT qualifications such as but not limited to; TOGAF, ITIL, CCNP, AWS, Azure, etc

Experience of working in an agile environment and experience with agile methodologies such as TDD, Scrum, Kanban.

Programming for Network Automation to support innovation and transformation.

AWS and/or Azure.

Desirable criteria will only be scored in the event of a tie break situation. 

Other Information

Due to the nature of this role you must either hold a valid SC clearance or have a willingness to undertake the process to obtain the relevant SC prior to take up duty.