Lead IT Network Engineer Advert We have an exciting opportunity to join our Network team. This lead technical role is vital to providing network services to Companies House. You will be part of a small network team responsible for day-to-day support of both cloud-hosted and on-premise network services on a 24/7/365 basis. Specifically, you will be expected to take the lead in delivering strategic and tactical enhancements to the existing cloud infrastructure utilising Infrastructure as Code (IaC)., + Leading the delivery of technical improvements and upgrades to the cloud and on-premise network infrastructure.
+ Playing an active role in the continuing migration of network services to the cloud, and implementation of the cloud infrastructure required to host all CH systems.
+ Working with the Network Architect on future network strategy and design for cloud-hosted services in AWS and Azure.
+ Managing network security devices in line with Companies House security policies.
+ Leading the delivery of on-premise hardware upgrades such as switch stacks and wireless controllers.
+ Collaborating with other teams on projects and for troubleshooting issues that may arise with network services.
+ Supporting the existing network infrastructure (on premise and in the cloud) alongside the existing team members and participate in a 24/7/365 on-call rota.
About the team:
You would be joining a great team of people to work on maintaining our cloud and on-premise network infrastructure and help our users and customers stay connected to each other and the resources they need. We are looking for someone with a keen interest in being part of our journey from traditional on-premises networking to the cloud. The Network Team is part of the IT Services Team which sits in the Digital and Technology Directorate. The Directorate has over 200 internal staff who are supplemented by external contractors and third-party resources as necessary. The IT Services Team is responsible for day-to-day support and maintaining the availability of all IT services within the organisation including both the customer-facing systems used by the public and the internal systems used by staff., We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
+ Managing a Quality Service
+ Changing and Improving
+ Working Together, 2. We'd like you to write a personal statement of 1000 words where you tell us about why you'd be great for this role.
3. Your personal statement should demonstrate how you meet the required skills detailed in the skills, experience and technical experience sections in the person specification, including work-based examples to demonstrate your level of skill.
4. Provide a response to the additional question on your application: "how you would support the on-call rota requirement?"
We're committed to being diverse and inclusive, so please make your application anonymous by removing all identifying personal information (such as names and dates) from your employment history and personal statement.
What will the process look like?
1. We'll sift all applications - this involves reading through them all, please bear with us as this can take some time. We may raise the score required at sift stage to progress to interview if we receive a high number of applications.
2. Companies House uses a blended interview technique, allowing us to find out more about you. We use the Success Profile framework and at interview we will use Success Profiles assessing the Behaviours and Technical Skills listed in the advert, and Strengths.
3. Interviews will be conducted virtually via Microsoft Teams.
4. There will be an activity as part of the interview - this will be prepared by candidates on the day of the interview. Candidates will be presented with a scenario to consider and then will be asked to talk through their thoughts and ideas regarding the scenario at the start of the panel interview. The activity will be assessing a technical aspect of the role.
Key Dates (These are subject to change)
+ Advert Closes: 22nd June 2025.
+ Panel to sift applications: W/C 23rd June
+ Virtual Interviews: W/C 7th July 2025.
Our recruitment process is underpinned by the principle of recruitment based on fair and open competition with decisions made on the basis of merit, as outlined in the Civil Service Commissioners' Recruitment Principles.
Artificial Intelligence (AI)
We understand that you might use AI and other resources for your application; however, please ensure all information you provide is factually accurate, truthful, and original and doesn't include ideas or work that isn't your own. This is so that your application is authentically and credibly your own. Your application may be rejected if evidence of plagiarism or reliance on AI is detected. Examples include presenting the ideas and experience of others, or generated by artificial intelligence (AI), as your own. If you are invited to interview, please be aware the use of AI tools is prohibited (including recording or note taking) and any suspected use may result in the termination of your interview and subsequent withdrawal from the campaign.
More information on the ways you should and shouldn't use AI can be found here.
Successful candidates must pass a Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) check before they can be appointed.
BPSS is an entry level security check. It uses the Police National Computer (PNC) to make sure a candidate has no convictions. The check returns evidence of any current criminal record and un-spent convictions under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.
Successful candidates must meet the security requirements for Security Check (SC) before they can be appointed.
The requirement for SC clearance is to have been present in the UK for at least 3 of the last 5 years. Failure to meet the residency requirements will result in your security clearance application being rejected.
Further information on National Security Vetting
Sponsorship
Companies House cannot offer Visa sponsorship to candidates through this campaign. Companies House holds a Visa sponsorship licence, but this can only be used for certain roles and this campaign does not qualify. Should you apply for this role and require sponsorship, your application may be rejected, and any provisional offers of employment withdrawn.
Nationality statement
Candidates will be subject to UK immigration requirements as well as Civil Service nationality rules. If you're applying for a role requiring security clearance, please be aware that foreign or dual nationality is not an automatic bar. However certain posts may have restrictions which could affect those who do not have sole British nationality or who have personal connections with certain countries outside the UK.
As part of our recruitment process, it is essential for all candidates to independently verify their eligibility to work in the UK before applying. This includes a thorough check of your right to work to ensure compliance with UK employment laws, being mindful of the recent changes to going rates detailed on GOV.UK. Please ensure you have the necessary documentation and permissions in place. Our team is dedicated to fostering a diverse and inclusive workforce and encourages applicants from all backgrounds to apply. However, it is the candidate's responsibility to ensure they meet the UK's legal requirements to work.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security
Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window).
See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements
This job is broadly open to the following groups:
+ UK nationals
+ nationals of the Republic of Ireland
+ nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
+ nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
+ nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
+ individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
+ Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service
Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service
The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.
The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

Diversity and Inclusion
The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information
This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.
The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window).
Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

We're looking for the following skills, experience and technical skills, which will be assessed at sift and at interview:
Skills (Please refer to these in your personal statement):
+ Drive and enthusiasm to own, lead and implement network infrastructure changes.
+ High level of self-motivation.
+ Confidence in engaging with a range of technical specialists across the Digital and Technology Directorate.
+ Collaboration skills to engage with colleagues and users at all levels.
+ Troubleshooting and problem-solving skills.
Experience (Please refer to these in your personal statement):
+ Working with network technologies in cloud environments.
+ Leading the delivery of cloud network infrastructure.
+ Using infrastructure as code e.g. Terraform to build and configure network technologies in cloud environments.
+ Working within a 24/7 support environment.
+ Delivering network infrastructure upgrades in cloud and traditional LAN / WAN networking.
Technical Skills (Please refer to these in your personal statement):
+ Networking within cloud environments specifically AWS and Azure e.g. Transit Gateway, Azure Firewall.
+ Terraform / IaC - Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) solutions e.g. iboss.
+ Network Security in cloud environments and on-premise including firewall technologies (traditional layer 3/4 and WAF) and DDoS.
+ Wireless LANs, preferably using Cisco APs and WLCs.
+ Working on a switched, both layer 2 and layer 3, and routed Ethernet network, preferably using Cisco switches and routers., + Proven knowledge or experience in networking, whether in cloud environments (e.g., AWS, Azure, Google Cloud) or traditional on-premises setups with a willingness to learn and adapt to new technologies in a collaborative and inclusive team setting.

We celebrate diversity...
As an equal opportunity employer, we celebrate diversity, being committed to ensuring we're representative of the citizens we serve and creating an inclusive environment. Everyone in Companies House brings something different, and so will you. To fulfil our commitment to recruiting and attracting diverse talent we welcome applications from underrepresented groups. We also welcome applications from Welsh speakers.
We are proud to be a disability confident leader. Our recruitment process is fully inclusive and we can make adjustments as needed through our process. These could include having an interview buddy, extra time at interviews/assessments and receiving interview questions in advance, to name a few.
If you require any reasonable adjustments at application stage, or if you'd like to discuss any person-centred adjustments, please contact us by emailing recruitmentCH@companieshouse.gov.uk.
Read our 'Applying under the Disability Confidence Scheme (DCS)' guide to find out how to successfully complete an application under the Disability Confidence Scheme (DCS).
Where will you be working?
You will be aligned to our Cardiff office, where you will be expected to attend on a regular basis. We are currently using a hybrid approach to the way we work which provides opportunities for you to be adaptable in the way you work so that you can achieve a healthy balance between your work and home life. The degree of choice you have will depend on your role and your day-to-day work activities. Your manager will agree regular patterns of attendance with you, however you may be required to make yourself available to attend the office more frequently when required to meet business needs.

Watch this video to find out more about working in Digital at Companies House
Companies House offers a flexible and welcoming culture that promotes a healthy work life balance as well as a proactive approach to wellbeing that allows us to be our best at work. We recognise that people are the key to our success so offer a fantastic benefits package including flexible working with no core hours, 30 days annual leave, 8 bank holidays and 1 privilege day as well as enrolment into the Civil Service Pension scheme with a contribution rate averaging 28%.
Find out more about what a great place Companies House is to work, Alongside your salary of £41,571, Companies House contributes £12,043 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
We believe that our success is driven by the well-being and satisfaction of our team members at all levels of the organisation. At Companies House we're committed to providing a comprehensive benefits package that goes beyond the ordinary, ensuring your career journey with us is not only fulfilling, but also rewarding. We pride ourselves on offering a quality work-life balance with our employee wellbeing being central to our working practices.
Head to Our benefits - Working for us - Recruitment (companieshouse.gov.uk) to find out more about the fantastic benefits package we have at Companies House.