Principal Network Lead

Our world-leading Time & Frequency department are seeking an experienced and practicing Principal Network Engineer.

You will be joining our team at an exciting time - we maintain the UK's National Time Scale, UTC (NPL), and are currently developing the National Timing Centre that will underpin our Critical National Infrastructure.
This will address the risks associated with our dependency on global navigation satellite systems (such as GPS) that are vulnerable to both natural and intentional interference.

As the Principal Network Lead, you will enjoy collaborating with prominent Scientists, Engineers and specialists in Cyber Security, to design and implement network infrastructure to time, quality and cost.

Key Responsibilities:


Provide leadership to the NTC Network Engineering team, mentoring and supporting staff.
Leading by example in technical excellence.
Define the shape and roles in the future growth and development of the NTC Network Engineering team.
Be responsible for the network design, creation and maintenance.
Ensuring it successfully meets the requirements of the NTC programme.
Enhancing existing infrastructure to ensure it meets future needs, whilst maintaining network security measures.
Collaborate with senior stakeholders and the Technical Authority to lead the development and delivery of NTC IT infrastructure and networks.
Ensure compliance with appropriate internal and external governance including quality, health, safety, security and environmental legislation minimising risk to the business and enhancing NPL's reputation.

Your role is a key contributor to the success of the NTC programme.
You will have enjoy responsibility for the overall management and delivery of the deployment of the IT infrastructure and networks to this exciting programme.

Essential criteria:


Strong technical background.
Experience in successful delivery of complex mission critical projects at scale.
Experience as a Network Engineer responsible for development and subsequent implementation of complex, mission critical network infrastructures through the project lifecycle.
Strong technical interest, maintaining currency with exploitable emerging technologies and key players in the field.
Experienced working across the full project lifecycle and within associated standards/governance regimes for delivery of scale mission critical projects in to UK Government.
Proactive and forward thinking, capable of looking into the longer term to identify potential future challenges and determine solutions.
For example through capability development/partnering strategy to ensure that the team is adequately resourced.
A strong communicator, capable of bridging between business need, solution requirements, system designers and technical delivery.
Capable of commanding respect from all stakeholders across multiple communities to enable this bridging.
Ability to engage and command respect when engaging at senior levels within client and internal stakeholder communities.
Can clearly communicate technical aspects of the projects with relevance to the overall delivery, i.e.:
against business requirements, risk, opportunity, cost, timescale, obsolescence and support ability through life in the context of an ongoing managed service.

Please note:
Applications will be reviewed, and interviews conducted throughout the duration of this advert therefore we may at any time bring the closing date forward.
We encourage all interested applicants to apply as soon as practical.

We actively recruit citizens of all backgrounds, but the nature of our work in this specific area means that nationality, residency and security requirements are more tightly defined than others.
You will be asked about this throughout the recruitment process.
To work at NPL, you will need to obtain BPSS security clearance.
However, to work in this role, you will need to have an SC clearance with no restrictions, or you must have the ability to obtain an SC clearance

The National Physical Laboratory (NPL) is a world-leading centre of excellence that provides cutting-edge measurement science, engineering and technology to underpin prosperity and quality of life in the UK.
Find out more about what it is like working here - The measure of us - Overview

NPL and DSIT have strong commitments to diversity and equality of opportunity, and welcome applications from candidates irrespective of their background, gender, race, sexual orientation, religion, or age, providing they meet the required criteria.
Applications from women, disabled and black, Asian and minority ethnic candidates in particular are encouraged.
All disabled candidates (as defined by the Equality Act 2010) who satisfy the minimum criteria for the role will be guaranteed an interview under the Disability Confident Scheme.

At NPL, we believe our success is a result of the diversity and talent of our people.
We strive to nurture and respect individuals to ensure everyone feels valued by treating everyone on the basis of their own individual merits and abilities regardless of their own or perceived identity, as part of our commitment to diversity & inclusion, we ensure we're creating an environment where all our colleagues feel supported and welcome.
More about this on our Diversity & Inclusion page.

We are committed to the health and well-being of our employees.
Flexible working and social activities are embedded in our culture to create a positive work-life balance, along with a broad range of rewards, benefits and recognition.
Our values are at the heart of what we do, and they shape the way we interact, develop our people and celebrate success.
To ensure everyone has an equal chance, we're always willing to make reasonable adjustments to the recruitment process.
If you would like to discuss, please contact us.