Network Engineer
- 📁
- Technical
- 📅
- Apr 18, 2024 Post Date
- 📅
- 240000EM Requisition #
Science and Technology Facilities Council
Salary: £42,840 - £47,124 or £53,818 - £59,199 per annum (dependent on skills and experience)
Hours: Full Time
Contract Type: Fixed Term (3 years)
Location: Science and Technology Facilities Council, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory Harwell, Oxfordshire
Due to the requirement of obtaining an enhanced security clearance for this role, we are only able to accept applications from persons who have been resident in the UK for the last five years.
Come and discover the kind of impact you can make when you work with some of the best facilities and brightest scientists in the world.
The Central Laser Facility (CLF), part of the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC), provides advanced laser research facilities for UK and international scientists. Based at the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory (RAL) at the Harwell Campus, we are an exciting and dynamic department with about 200 staff.
The CLF is currently building two new laser centres - the £100M Extreme Photonics Applications Centre (EPAC) and the world’s most powerful laser facility - £85M Vulcan 20-20 – which will help scientists recreate interiors of stars in laboratory and work towards clean energy as well as develop new types of particle and radiation beams for a wide range of applications in science and industry. We are seeking new team members to contribute to the design, construction and operation of these facilities.
As part of UK Research and Innovation, the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) is one of Europe’s largest research organisations and operates at a number of sites within the UK, including RAL and many more around the world. RAL is home to about 1,200 staff that work with a community of more than 10,000 scientists and engineers mainly from the research sector, which spans the scientific spectrum including energy, security, materials healthcare, lifesciences and the environment to address important challenges facing society.
About the role
EPAC’s and Vulcan 20-20’s experimental areas will generate high data rates (~ 5GB/s) and will require appropriate data transport and networking solutions. A software engineer with specialised knowledge in networking will be required to undertake the design and testing of the end-to-end network and its services in these facilities. You will have experience of fibre networks and knowledge of fibre transmission concepts and technologies.
A successful candidate will also have experience of TCP/IP Ethernet networking including managing and configuring Layer 2 and Layer 3 network switches and routers would be required for the job. Experience of working with Firewalling technologies and VPN as well as leading networking products would be beneficial. Knowledge in network programmability and frameworks as well as Software design solutions and Network virtualisation would also be advantageous.
Main responsibilities for both salary bands include to:
• design, develop, and maintain a modern network architecture that can support high data rates, working with scientists and engineers designing EPAC and Vulcan 20-20
• collaborate with cross-functional teams to understand their requirements and provide network solutions that enhance reliability, and scalability, along with security
• work closely with other network experts at STFC’s Digital Infrastructure department on providing common solutions for cutting-edge projects across the organisation as we are moving towards 100Gbps networks
At STFC, we ask some of the biggest questions in the universe, to answer some of the biggest challenges in the world. Together, our scientists, technologists, engineers and business support team explore the unknown across every field you could think of. And they turn what they find into work that changes the world around us.
What could you achieve with the world-leading facilities and experts of one of Europe's largest research organisations by your side? Join us and discover what's possible.
STFC values their employees by offering a benefits package designed to provide an excellent work/life balance including 30 days’ annual leave, 10.5 public and privilege holidays, flexible working hours, exceptional average salary pension scheme, social and sporting activities and societies and a subsidised restaurant.
Person Specification
The following criteria will be assessed at either Shortlisting (S), Interview (I), or both (S&I)
Essential for lower salary band:
• degree or equivalent experience in a STEM subject (S)
• hands-on experience with network equipment and technologies (S&I)
• experience designing robust data networks using design principles and tools (S&I)
• hands-on experience in TCP/IP Ethernet networking, including managing and configuring Layer 2 and Layer 3 network switches and routers (S&I)
• experience with fibre networks and fibre transmission concepts and technologies (S&I)
• hands-on experience in Quality of Service (QoS) and VLAN configuration (S&I)
• good communication skills (S&I)
Essential for higher salary band:
To be considered for the higher band you will meet all of the above essential criteria and will also have:
• previous experience in configuring and managing network monitoring tools (S&I)
• experience in network programmability and frameworks (E.g. Using Ansible/Python) (S&I)
• experience in network security technologies and VPNs (S&I)
• experience in handling large volume data at high data rates (S&I)
• experience in software design solutions and network virtualisation (S&I)
Additional Information
SC Clearance
The post you are applying for attracts a National Security Vetting clearance, there are further eligibility requirements, further details can be found via: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/unitedkingdom-security-vetting.
To meet national security vetting requirements, you will normally need to have been resident in the UK for at least 3 years for CTC, 5 years for SC and 10 years for DV prior to the date of application. All DV posts are required to be UK Nationals.
You may still be considered if, for example:
• You have been serving overseas with HM Forces or in some other official capacity as a representative of HM Government
• You were studying abroad
• You were living overseas with parent.
For further information about this role please contact either Rajeev.Pattathil@stfc.ac.uk or Michael.Chikwanda@stfc.ac.uk
About The Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC)
As one of Europe’s largest research organisations, we ask the biggest questions in the universe to find answers that change the world around us. We seek understanding. We’re proud of the impact we make. And we’re committed to helping build a globally competitive, knowledge-based UK economy. Being part of all this means contributing to work that pushes boundaries and creates possibilities. You’ll work with, and learn from, true experts. Whatever your role, you’ll be free to question, and encouraged to share ideas. And, in a positive and supportive culture, you’ll discover just what a difference you can make when you’re equipped and inspired to excel.
We’re a place where curious minds thrive. Not bound by profit, we explore ideas that others don’t, ask questions that others won’t, and discover answers that others are not equipped to find. And, alongside Mars landings and black holes, we also explore diverse, international projects in everything from science and engineering to computing and technology. Whether it’s at the cutting edge or behind the scenes, our work is intellectually challenging. It’s very often ground-breaking. And it’s endlessly, irresistibly fascinating.
For more information about STFC please visit https://stfc.ukri.org/
You can also visit our careers site https://www.stfccareers.co.uk/
About UK Research Innovation (UKRI)
UKRI is an organisation that brings together the seven disciplinary research councils, Research England and Innovate UK. Together, we build an independent organisation with a strong voice and vision ensuring the UK maintains its world-leading position in research and innovation.
Supporting some of the world’s most exciting and challenging research projects, we develop and operate some of the most remarkable scientific facilities in the world. We are pushing the frontiers of human knowledge through fundamental research and delivering benefits for UK society and the economy through world-class research, skills and business-led innovation.
More information can be found at www.ukri.org.
Choosing to come to work at UKRI means that you will have access to a whole host of benefits from a defined benefit pension scheme, excellent holiday entitlement, access to employee shopping/travel discounts and salary sacrifice cycle to work scheme. For more details, visit benefits of working for UKRI.
The role holder will be required to have the appropriate level of security screening/vetting required for the role. UKRI reserves the right to run or re-run security clearance as required during the course of employment.
How we support EDI in the workforce
At UKRI, we believe that everyone has a right to be treated with dignity and respect, and to be provided with equal opportunities to thrive and succeed in an environment that enables them to do so. We also value diversity of thought and experience within inclusive groups, organisations and the wider community. For further information, please visit ‘How we support EDI in the workforce’.
Disability Confident Employer
As users of the disability confident scheme, we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the vacancy/ies. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.
How to apply
Online applications only preferred for this role. Please submit a CV and covering letter which clearly outlines how you fulfil the criteria specified along with your motivation for UKRI and the role. Ensure that the job reference number is included in the filename description of each document uploaded. Note that failure to address the above criteria or submit an application without a covering letter may result in the application not being considered. Assessment will only be based upon the content of your submitted covering letter and CV and not the ‘experience’ section of the application.
UKRI seeks to ensure it creates and maintains a system of openness, fairness and inclusion – a collaborative, trusted environment, which is attractive to and accessible to everyone who is interested in developing their career with us.