Project Network Consulting Engineer

Sword is a leading provider of business technology solutions within the Energy, Public and Finance Sectors, dedicated to driving transformational change for our clients. We leverage proven technology, specialist teams, and extensive domain expertise to create robust technical foundations across platforms, data, and business applications. Our mission is fueled by a passion for technology as a means to solve complex business problems and achieve our clients' objectives.

About the Role:

The Project Network Engineer plays a key role in the design and delivery of secure, resilient, and scalable network solutions as part of a major transformation programme for a large client in the energy sector. This is not a traditional BAU support role. It is a project-led engineering position focused on the design, implementation, testing, and controlled transition of next-generation network capabilities that support business growth, security, and operational resilience.

The successful candidate will bring strong technical expertise across enterprise networking and security, with the ability to move confidently between detailed design work and hands-on delivery. They will be comfortable producing low-level designs, supporting proof-of-concept activity, building and validating solutions, and working directly with senior stakeholders and blue-chip customers. The role requires someone who can contribute throughout the project lifecycle, from technical discovery and design through to implementation, testing, migration, and handover.

Candidates should ideally be qualified to Cisco CCNP level, although those with CCNA and strong demonstrable project-based experience will also be considered. Experience with Palo Alto technologies is highly desirable. Exposure to regulated or critical infrastructure environments such as energy, oil and gas, defence, or Operational Technology would be advantageous.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and deliver enterprise network solutions across routing, switching, firewall, and where required wireless technologies, with a strong emphasis on project implementation rather than BAU administration.
• Produce high-quality low-level designs, implementation plans, migration plans, and build documentation to support project delivery.
• Deploy, configure, test, and optimise network infrastructure using strong Cisco networking knowledge at CCNP level or equivalent.
• Support the design and implementation of modern network architectures, including traditional three-tier campus designs and spine-leaf or fabric-based architectures using technologies such as Cisco ACI or VXLAN EVPN.
• Configure and support Palo Alto security platforms, including next-generation firewalls, Panorama, security policy implementation, NAT, VPNs, and threat prevention features.
• Apply strong working knowledge of core network protocols and services, including BGP, OSPF, IS-IS, VXLAN, VLANs, HSRP/VRRP, routing policy, multicast, and related enterprise services.
• Undertake hands-on build, proof-of-concept, lab validation, and technical testing activity to de-risk delivery and validate designs before deployment into production.
• Troubleshoot and resolve complex technical issues encountered during project delivery, implementation, migration, or testing phases.
• Work closely with architects, project managers, security teams, and customer stakeholders to ensure solutions are aligned to agreed design principles, standards, and governance requirements.
• Support change execution through the preparation, rehearsal, and implementation of changes within controlled project and operational environments.
• Produce and maintain accurate technical documentation, including configuration baselines, as-built records, network diagrams, test results, and support handover material.
• Contribute to technical workshops, design reviews, and customer discussions, with the confidence to explain technical decisions clearly and credibly.
• Understand how network infrastructure integrates with wider platform components, including compute and storage environments built on VMware, Nutanix, and Hyper-V.

Skills and Experience

• Strong enterprise networking background with hands-on experience in project delivery, implementation, and design.
• Cisco networking expertise to CCNP level preferred; CCNA with strong relevant experience will also be considered.
• Good experience across core enterprise routing and switching technologies.
• Strong understanding of modern data centre and campus network design patterns.
• Experience with Palo Alto firewalls and centralised management through Panorama is desirable.
• Ability to produce detailed technical and low-level design documentation to a high standard.
• Experience of delivering technical solutions in structured and governed environments.
• Strong troubleshooting and diagnostic skills across complex network environments.
• Comfortable working directly with customers, including large enterprise or blue-chip organisations.
• Experience in regulated or critical infrastructure sectors such as energy, utilities, oil and gas, defence, or OT environments would be beneficial.
• Cisco CCNP preferred.
• Cisco CCNA or other relevant networking certifications will be considered.
• Palo Alto certifications or relevant practical experience desirable.