Technical Solution Architect (Networks)

Technical Solution Architect (Networks)

Location: Wokingham – 5 days onsite with travel at short notice

Start Date: ASAP

Contract Rate: £420 per day inside IR35

Working Pattern: Potential on-call/weekend support as required

Duration: 6 to 12 months initially

Clearance: Must be SC Cleared

Role Overview

Our client is seeking a highly skilled Technical Solution Architect (Networks) to design, implement, and deliver secure, scalable, and high-performing network solutions across enterprise environments. This role requires close collaboration with stakeholders, delivery teams, and third-party vendors to translate business requirements into robust technical architectures while ensuring compliance with best practices and security standards.

Key Responsibilities

* Lead technical analysis at project feasibility stage, contributing to business cases and technical documentation

* Design and produce high-level and low-level network architectures covering infrastructure, integration, data, and security requirements

* Troubleshoot complex network environments and recommend improvements and optimisations

* Develop and contribute to IT roadmaps, standards, patterns, and reference architectures

* Ensure solutions align with security policies, compliance requirements, and industry best practices

* Represent architecture designs to governance bodies and stakeholders, addressing risks, assumptions, and constraints

* Support pre-sales activities including solution design and estimation

* Lead technical workshops with internal teams, stakeholders, and external vendors

* Work with third-party suppliers to ensure alignment with architectural standards

* Oversee network modelling, planning, installations, and upgrades

* Provide leadership and guidance to technical teams and collaborate with offshore delivery teams

Skills & Experience

* 10+ years’ experience in network architecture and solution design

* Strong expertise in Cisco networking (Routing & Switching, LAN/WAN, MPLS, BGP, OSPF, QoS, Traffic Engineering)

* Proven experience designing and configuring MPLS and MPLS VPNs (L2/L3)

* Strong troubleshooting skills across Cisco environments

* Knowledge of Firewall technologies (particularly Fortinet)

* Experience with network monitoring and logging tools (Wireshark, SolarWinds, or equivalent)

* Deep understanding of IPSEC, GRE, DNS, HTTP/HTTPS protocols

* Ability to produce HLD and LLD documentation and create architecture diagrams (Visio required)

* Strong understanding of cybersecurity principles and secure network design

* Experience delivering network refresh and upgrade projects in live environments

* Strong stakeholder management skills with the ability to explain technical concepts in clear business terms

* Experience working in Agile and/or Waterfall environments

* Proven ability to lead teams, manage competing priorities, and deliver under tight deadlines

* Excellent collaboration skills across cross-functional and distributed teams

If you have the relevant skills and experience, please do apply promptly to be considered
Only candidates based in UK and eligible to work in UK are allowed