Senior Network Architect

About the job Job Description Wood is recruiting for a Senior Network Architect to join us on a permanent basis. This is an exciting role where you will be responsible for designing, implementing, and maintaining enterprise network infrastructure to ensure high availability, performance, and security. We are open to this role being remote with the UK and welcome applications from candidates in the region. The Role The role requires deep technical expertise in routing, switching, firewalls, cloud networking, and network automation. The Senior Network Architect will lead complex projects, mentor junior team members, and serve as a subject-matter expert in network architecture and operations. You will build and maintain strong working relationships across a broad range of internal teams, including the IT Leadership Team, Infrastructure and Operations, Business Partners and PMO, Contracts and Vendor Management, and Strategy, Governance, Risk and Compliance functions. You will also collaborate closely with specialists across ERP, technical and business applications. Externally, you will engage with key delivery partners, alongside strategic technology partners, as well as hardware and software vendors. You will operate with a high level of influence across infrastructure delivery, providing ongoing input into design decisions and working closely with project sponsors and technical authorities. The role will contribute to defining technical requirements and service monitoring measures, participate in service and supplier reviews, and support the development of costed infrastructure technology roadmaps to ensure effective cost control. Our Clients and Projects Designing the future. Transforming the world. Wood delivers solutions across more than 60 countries with local offices covering all major energy and materials hubs globally. For more than 160 years, we have partnered with clients to deliver engineering, advisory and operational solutions to some of the world’s most complex and critical challenges in energy and materials. What We Can Offer Meaningful and interesting projects we support green hydrogen and fuel switching, as well as supporting local clients with energy transition Flexible working arrangements that balance client, team and individual needs offering hybrid working arrangements Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion; we are an organisation actively committed to diversity and inclusion across our business with employee networks committed to giving all employees a voice Competitive salary with regular salary reviews to ensure we are rewarding at the right level in line with the market Flexible benefits package; inclusive of 33 days annual leave (including public holidays), generous contributory pension scheme, private medical cover, 4x base salary life insurance; all of these and more that can be adapted to suit your own lifestyle Commitment to continued professional development; development plans that are tailored to your individual needs and interests Global connections; join experts around the world who are at the leading edge of our industry, shaping the standards of our profession Responsibilities Network Architecture & Design Design scalable, secure, and resilient enterprise network architectures (LAN / WAN / WLAN / Data Center / Cloud) Develop and maintain network diagrams, standards, and documentation Evaluate new technologies and recommend improvements to existing infrastructure Implementation & Operations Configure, deploy, and troubleshoot routers, switches, firewalls, load balancers, and wireless systems Manage and optimize SD-WAN, VPNs, and remote-access solutions Ensure uptime and performance of network systems through proactive monitoring and tuning Oversee lifecycle management including patching, upgrades, and hardware refreshes Security & Compliance Implement and maintain network security controls (ACLs, IPS/IDS, segmentation, firewalls) Collaborate with cybersecurity teams on risk assessments, audits, and incident response Ensure compliance with corporate security policies and industry best practices Cloud & Automation Design and support hybrid-cloud connectivity (Azure, AWS, etc) Develop network automation scripts and tools using Python, PowerShell, or Ansible Integrate network infrastructure with cloud-native services and virtualization platforms Leadership & Collaboration Lead network projects from design through execution and post-implementation support Provide mentorship and technical guidance to junior engineers Partner with cross-functional teams (Server, Security, Applications, Operations) to support business objectives Serve as an escalation point for complex network issues Qualifications What makes you remarkable? At Wood, we are committed to equal opportunities and welcome all talented individuals to consider joining our team. So even if you don't match every statement below but feel you have some of the experience, knowledge or skills needed for this role, we encourage you to apply. It will take all of us working together to deliver solutions to the world’s most critical challenges. Expected Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Engineering, or related field; or equivalent experience Extensive hands-on experience in enterprise network engineering Expert-level knowledge of: Routing & switching (OSPF, BGP, STP, VLANs, QoS) Firewalls and security appliances (e.g., Palo Alto, Cisco ASA / FTD, Fortinet) Wireless technologies (802.11 standards, controllers, site surveys) Cloud networking (Azure / AWS / VPN / ExpressRoute / Direct Connect) SD-WAN platforms Proficiency with network monitoring / management tools (SolarWinds, Splunk, ThousandEyes, etc) Scripting or automation experience (Python, Ansible, PowerShell) Desirable Professional certifications such as: CCNP/CCIE (Cisco) PCNSE (Palo Alto) JNCIP/JNCIE (Juniper) AWS/Azure networking specialty certifications Experience with Zero Trust architectures. Knowledge of VoIP / SIP, load balancing (F5), and network virtualization (VMware NSX) Experience working in highly regulated environments (finance, healthcare, energy, etc.) Personal Attributes Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities Excellent communication and documentation skills Ability to manage multiple priorities and lead technical initiatives High attention to detail with a security-first mindset About Us Wood is a global leader in consulting and engineering, helping to unlock solutions to critical challenges in energy and materials markets. We provide consulting, projects and operations solutions in 45 countries, employing around 25,000 people. www.woodplc.com Diversity Statement We are an equal opportunity employer that recognises the value of a diverse workforce. All suitably qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment on the basis of objective criteria and without regard to the following (which is a non-exhaustive list): race, colour, age, religion, gender, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, protected veteran status, or other characteristics in accordance with the relevant governing laws.