Network Operations Engineer

This is a remote position.

Key Responsibilities

•      Monitor network infrastructure and connectivity services to ensure high availability and performance.

•      Respond to alerts and incidents affecting network services.

•      Maintain operational oversight of managed network platforms including WAN, LAN, and wireless.

•      Use network monitoring platforms (e.g. Nagios, PRTG, Meraki Dashboard) to maintain service health.

•      Deliver end-to-end network projects including WAN provisioning, LAN and wireless deployment, and firewall configuration.

•      Build and configure routers, firewalls, switches, and access points based on approved HLTDs/LLTDs and governance standards.

•      Coordinate with ISPs, carriers, and vendors for circuit activation, hardware delivery, and configuration validation.

•      Conduct testing, cutover, and post-deployment verification to ensure stability and service readiness.

•      Manage change windows and implementation plans, including rollback and communication procedures.

•      Investigate and resolve network incidents and service disruptions.

•      Perform root cause analysis for recurring network problems and feed improvement recommendations back to design and architecture.

•      Act as a 3rd-line escalation point for complex connectivity issues when not engaged in project delivery.

•      Escalate unresolved or critical issues appropriately within the support chain.

•      Configure and maintain networking components including routers, switches, firewalls, and connectivity services.

•      Manage WAN, LAN, and VPN connections across client environments.

•      Support the onboarding of new clients to managed network services.

•      Assist with network upgrades, configuration changes, and platform improvements.

•      Support the secure configuration of network infrastructure including firewall policies, VPN, and access controls.

•      Work with the cyber security team to ensure network security best practices are maintained.

•      Monitor network environments for potential security risks and vulnerabilities.

•      Produce comprehensive handover documentation including topology diagrams, configuration exports, and monitoring templates.

•      Deliver knowledge transfer sessions and technical briefings to Service Engineers.

•      Ensure all configurations are labelled, version-controlled, and recorded in the CMDB.

•      Update internal templates and SOPs to reflect lessons learned from project execution.

•      Work closely with the Connectivity Architect to ensure all deployments align with SysGroup's design standards and security posture.

•      Support infrastructure, cloud, and platform teams with networking expertise.

•      Participate in internal QA reviews and continuous improvement cycles.

•      Provide feedback on design practicalities and propose operational optimisations.

•      Identify opportunities to improve monitoring, automation, and operational efficiency.

•      Contribute to improving the reliability and resilience of network services.

•      Contribute to improvements in network operational procedures and standards.

Required Skills/ Experience

•      4–6 years' experience managing enterprise or managed network infrastructure, ideally within an MSP environment.

•      Proven track record in both operational network management and project-based delivery.

•      Experience working with connectivity providers and networking vendors.

•      Ability to work in operational environments supporting client infrastructure.

•      Strong understanding of networking principles including routing, switching, and secure connectivity.

•      Firewalls – Cisco, Meraki, or WatchGuard (policy creation, VPNs, NAT, HA setup).

•      Routing & Switching – VLANs, spanning tree, QoS, routing protocols (OSPF, BGP), trunking, and redundancy.

•      WAN & ISP Coordination – circuit provisioning, handover testing, and vendor escalation.

•      Wireless – AP deployment, SSID configuration, controller management, and coverage validation.

•      Network monitoring and diagnostic tools (Nagios, PRTG, Meraki Dashboard, or equivalent).

•      Comfortable producing network documentation and topology diagrams.

•      Knowledge of change management processes and ITIL service transitions.

•      Scripting or automation exposure (Python, Ansible, PowerShell) is advantageous.

•      Exposure to SASE/SSE platforms (e.g. Zscaler ZIA/ZPA, Netskope, Palo Alto Prisma Access) and how they integrate with traditional WAN and firewall estates.

•      Understanding of Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) principles and experience supporting migration away from legacy VPN and perimeter-based access.

•      Familiarity with SD-WAN security overlays and secure application segmentation for distributed client environments.

•      Awareness of identity-aware networking, integrating connectivity with identity providers (Entra ID, Okta) for policy-based access decisions.

•      Vendor certifications such as Zscaler ZCCA/ZCCP, Palo Alto PCNSE, or equivalent SASE/SSE credentials.

•      Cisco CCNA / CCNP

•      CompTIA Network+

•      ITIL Foundation

Joining Sysgroup means becoming part of a dynamic and innovative team that is dedicated to excellence. We offer a supportive, and collaborative work environment, where your ideas and contributions are valued. Here are some of the benefits of working with us:

We offer a competitive salary package, including performance-based incentives, to reward your hard work and achievements.

-          Private Healthcare

-          Life insurance

-          Healthcare cash plan

-          Pension

We believe in investing in our employees' professional development. You will  have your own individual development learning paths with access to various training material and ongoing career advancement opportunities.