Principal Network Engineer

Leonardo Worldwide Corporation; Bristol; Hybrid; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading defense technology firm is seeking a Principal Network Engineer to design and deliver secure network solutions. The ideal candidate will have extensive technical expertise in networking protocols and technologies, as well as leadership experience. This role offers hybrid working options and competitive benefits that promote employee well-being and career growth.

Benefits

Generous leave with flexi-days

Up to 15% employer pension contribution

Free mental health support

Bonus scheme for all employees

Access to online courses

Financial rewards for referrals

Flexible benefits spending

Flexible working hours

Qualifications

• Extensive experience across multiple networking domains.
• Ability to balance hands-on engineering with leadership.
• Deep understanding of networking protocols.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design and implementation of secure networks.
• Act as the technical authority across networking domains.
• Engage with customers and vendors to define solutions.

Skills

Network protocols knowledge

Cisco (CCNP level)

Problem-solving abilities

Hands-on engineering and technical leadership

Education

CCNP certification or equivalent

Tools

AWS

Azure

Python

Ansible

Terraform

Job description

Principal Network Engineer

Location: Gloucester, United Kingdom (hybrid working options available).

Contract Type: Permanent, Full-time.

Your Impact

Are you ready to take on complex technical challenges and shape secure networks that underpin the UK’s most critical missions? At Leonardo, our Principal Network Engineers are recognized as subject matter experts, providing advanced technical authority and leading the design, integration, and delivery of resilient network solutions.

What You Will Do As a Principal Network Engineer

• Act as the technical authority across one or more networking domains (LAN/WAN, cloud, security, or SDN).
• Lead the design and implementation of secure networks across on-premise, hybrid, and cloud environments.
• Capture and analyse complex requirements, shaping high‑ and low‑level network designs.
• Ensure secure‑by‑design principles are embedded across all network solutions.
• Own technical delivery within work packages, including planning, estimation, and reporting.
• Provide guidance, mentoring, and technical leadership to junior and senior network engineers.
• Support technology assessments, innovation projects, and roadmap development.
• Engage with customers, stakeholders, and vendors to define and defend technical solutions.

What You’ll Bring

• Extensive technical expertise across multiple networking domains with proven delivery experience.
• Ability to balance hands‑on engineering with technical leadership and solution ownership.
• A problem‑solving mindset with the ability to innovate and recommend the best approaches for complex challenges.

Core Areas (Must Have)

• Deep understanding of networking protocols and technologies (BGP, OSPF, MPLS, VPNs, QoS, IPsec, MCLAG).
• Experience with Cisco (CCNP level) or equivalent multi‑vendor technologies (Dell, Palo Alto, Fortinet).
• Strong knowledge of firewalls, IDS/IPS, and network security principles.
• Experience designing and integrating networks within secure environments.
• Experience with cloud networking (AWS, Azure) and hybrid integration.
• Familiarity with network automation and scripting (Python, Ansible, Terraform).

Desirable

• Full CCNP or equivalent certification/experience (4‑7 years).
• Experience with software‑defined networking (SDN, SD‑WAN) and cloud‑native networking.
• Knowledge of DevSecOps pipelines and integration with security monitoring tools (SIEM, SOC platforms).
• Involvement in industry forums, technical publications, or best‑practice development.
• Experience with enterprise IT services (Active Directory, DNS, PKI, monitoring).

Security Clearance

This role is subject to pre‑employment screening in line with the UK Government’s Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS). An additional range of Personnel Security Controls referred to as National Security Vetting (NSV) may apply, which could include meeting the eligibility requirements for The Security Check (SC) or Developed Vetting (DV). For more information and guidance please visit https://careers.uk.leonardo.com/gb/en/security-and-vetting.

Why Join Us

• Time to Recharge – Enjoy generous leave with the opportunity to accrue up to 12 additional flexi‑days each year.
• Secure your Future – Benefit from our award‑winning pension scheme with up to 15% employer contribution.
• Your Wellbeing Matters – Free access to mental health support, financial advice, and employee‑led networks championing inclusion and diversity (Enable, Pride, Equalise, Armed Forces, Carers, Wellbeing and Ethnicity).
• Rewarding Performance – All employees at management level and below are eligible for our bonus scheme.
• Never Stop Learning – Free access to 4,000+ online courses via Coursera and LinkedIn Learning.
• Refer a Friend – Receive a financial reward through our referral programme.
• Tailored Perks – Spend up to £500 annually on flexible benefits including private healthcare, dental, family cover, tech & lifestyle discounts, gym memberships and more.
• Flexible working – Flexible hours with hybrid working options. For part‑time opportunities, please talk to us about what might be possible for this role.

Seniority Level

Mid‑Senior level

Employment Type

Full‑time

Job Function

Other, Information Technology, and Engineering

Industries

Defense and Space Manufacturing, Aviation and Aerospace Component Manufacturing, and Computer and Network Security

Benefits

For a full list of our company benefits please visit our website.