Senior Platform Engineer (Network)

Position Summary

The Platform Engineering Practice team is responsible for the design, implementation, ownership and management of networking and security elements. Platforms and technology spans public, hybrid and private cloud as well as managing dedicated or multi-tenant network systems for customers and internal systems.

Sitting within the Platform Engineering Network team, this role is for a senior network engineer with network. The role focuses on implementing, supporting, and maintaining network and security technologies than underpins the Platforms and Services Claranet provides to our customers. With the role comes training and opportunity to progress and lead within the network technology field.

Role Mission

Claranet’s strategy is to build long-term, trusted relationships with its customers by delivering market-leading, integrated managed services. Our portfolio platforms, infrastructure and data centres are critical to our strategy and ensuring our customers have access 24*7*365. We are seeking a Senior Platform Engineer (Networks) who will be a diligent contributor to create stable and reliable platforms and ensure that technologies and services are running optimally and maximising synergy and efficiency across the technology landscape.

Objectives and Key Results

• Maintain platform availability uptime in line with contractual obligations across all internal and external customer platforms (maintenance)
• Respond to Major Incidents and in-life tickets within the agreed Service Level Agreement and Key Performance Indicators
• Ensure our platforms are compliant in line with contractual obligations for the business, suppliers/partners, and customers e.g., patching and business continuity
• Ensure skills and knowledge are up-to-date and aligned with the organisation's goals

 Essential duties and responsibilities

• Design, implementation, and support of network solutions.This can involve any or all the following:
  • Switching/ and Routing technologies.
  • Firewall technologies.
  • Load Balancing Technologies.
  • SDN Technologies (VMware NSX).
• Assist in Infrastructure/System issues relating to Network services (e.g., DNS, Monitoring, Backups etc)
• Drive efficiencies through automation, process design, implementation, and decommissioning.
• Review, update and create documentation including network diagrams, technical documents etc.
• Apply critical analysis to problems as part of a methodical approach to debug and troubleshooting issues.
• Have a desire to grow both technically and professionally.
• Join on-call support as required and be prepared to carry out customer activities out of hours.
• Carry out business as usual activities that could encompass any network technology or support systems.
•  Respond to any tickets, major incidents, critical events resolving these in like with service level agreements where required. And participate in problem management on a day-to-day basis and during major incidents.
• Optimise platform performance and stability
• Lifecycle management, proactively maintain and undertake continual service improvements on environments managed by the Platforms Engineering Practice.
• Undertake additional projects and support tasks as appropriate to the role.
• An escalation points for Platform Networking associated in life issues

Teams to collaborate with

• Customer Experience and Managed Services – to ensure we are consistently providing the best service to our customer, proactively monitoring their needs, and integrating their feedback into our solutions
• Customer Success and Growth – collaboration on customer engagements as required
• Portfolio, Alliances and Technology Practices – work with the team to ensure that the defined solution architecture principles and standards are applied where necessary and that the underlying networking or platforms can adequately support portfolio of Cloud, Security and Workplace offerings

Behavioural competencies – organisational and behavioural fit.

• Flexible and creative to take considered risks
• Learn and adapt quickly to changing situations
• Self-motivated and able to work under pressure
• Manages conflict and challenges in an open and constructive manner.

Critical competencies – technical fit

• Recognised as an authority internally and externally for platform infrastructure knowledge and experience
• Good understanding of IT Service Management, Cloud Services and Data-centric Delivery
• At least 5 years of experience working within as Network Engineer.
• Hold relevant technical accreditations (e.g., CCNA)
• Experience with the following (Design, implement, manage, support)
  • Layer 2 and layer 3 protocols
  • Firewalls, preferably Cisco ASA’s, FortiGate’s and/or Juniper Firewalls.
  • VMware NSX
  • Load Balancers, preferably F5.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, and highly presentable to customers
• Have the rigor, ability, and discipline to self-learn that is required for continuous continual professional development and stay abreast of changes in the industry.
• Troubleshoot affectively by defining problems, collecting data, establishing facts, and drawing valid conclusions.
• Additional desirable skills and experience
  • Understanding of Linux systems, preferably with basic hands-on experience.
  • Experience with related systems and services (e.g., DNS, Monitoring, Backups etc.)
  • Experience with scripting or automation of network systems.
  • VMware technologies
  • Barracuda, Fortinet experience

About Claranet

Founded at the beginning of the dot.com bubble in 1996, our CEO Charles Nasser had a light bulb moment to develop a truly customer-focused IT business. Since then, Claranet has grown from an Internet Service Provider (ISP) in the UK to being one of the leading business modernisation experts, who deliver solutions across 11+ countries.

At Claranet, we’re experienced in implementing progressive technology solutions which help our customers solve their epic business challenges. We’re committed to understanding their problems, delivering answers quickly, and making a lasting impact to their business.

We are agile, focused and experienced in business modernisation. Our approach helps customers make genuine, significant shifts in their business strategy, to deliver financial savings, boost innovation, and create a resilient business. We continually invest in our people and the latest technologies, so our customers get peace of mind knowing that they have access to the best talent and services.

In the UK we have over 500 staff working in London, Gloucester, Warrington, Bristol, and Leeds, or as homeworkers.

Working For Claranet

Here at Claranet we pride ourselves on going the extra mile for and with our employees (yes, we really mean it). We offer an extensive benefits package that you can tailor to your needs, inclusive of a matching contribution pension scheme, healthcare, insurance, dental, discounted gyms, and app supported benefit access.

But what we think makes us different is ‘Team Claranet,’ our dedicated internal part of the business that supports you with matters close to your heart. We proudly support local charities in each of our office locations, support employees with paid charity leave, organise key charity fundraising event per year and have a dedicated committee responsible for supporting employee’s fundraising efforts.

Claranet are one of the 10 founding members of TC4RE (Technology Community for Racial Equality.) Being a part of a group of leading UK technology organisations, we are dedicated to building a more diverse and inclusive workforce. We are also very proud members of Tech Talent Charter, a government supported, industry-led membership group created to address the UK’s tech talent shortage and diversity gap through collective action.

Our Vision

Our vision is to become the most trusted technology solutions partner; renowned for being the best and brightest, having lasting impact with our customers and delivering exceptional returns to our stakeholders.