Substation Network 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 Substation Network Engineer plays a crucial role in ensuring the secure, stable, and resilient operation of substation networks that underpin critical national infrastructure.

By combining CCNP‑level networking expertise, Palo Alto security skills, and practical onsite experience, the role enables safe and reliable operation of protection systems, SCADA communications, and operational telemetry.

Effective performance in this role reduces the risk of outages, strengthens substation cyber‑resilience, supports regulatory and compliance obligations, and ensures continuity of essential services delivered through the power network.

• Support, configure, and maintain substation network infrastructure, including routing, switching, and firewall technologies, applying CCNP‑level expertise
• Implement, test, and optimise Palo Alto firewall solutions within OT and substation environments, ensuring secure segmentation and compliant access control
• Conduct onsite deployment, commissioning, and maintenance activities within operational substations, following safety protocols and industry standards
• Troubleshoot complex network issues affecting substation systems, protection equipment, and operational communications, ensuring swift restoration and minimal disruption
• Support network architecture improvements, ensuring designs align with OT operational requirements, resilience needs, and cybersecurity best practice
• Maintain accurate and up‑to‑date documentation, including network diagrams, configuration baselines, and substation‑specific asset records
• Contribute to controlled change processes, performing testing, validation, and safe implementation of updates within live operational environments
• CCNP (any track)
• Palo Alto (any) but have onsite industrial experience, ideally substation and bonus if already "cat" certified.

At Sword, our core values and culture are based on caring about our people, investing in training and career development, and building inclusive teams where we are all encouraged to contribute to achieve success. We offer comprehensive benefits designed to support your professional development and enhance your overall quality of life.  In addition to a Competitive Salary, here's what you can expect as part of our benefits package: 

• Personalised Career Development: We create a development plan customised to your goals and aspirations, with a range of learning and development opportunities within a culture that encourages growth. 
• Flexible working: Flexible work arrangements to support your work-life balance.  We can’t promise to always be able to meet every request, however, are keen to discuss your individual preferences to make it work where we can. 
• A Fantastic Benefits Package: This includes generous annual leave allowance, enhanced family friendly benefits, pension scheme, access to private health, well-being, and insurance schemes.

At Sword we are dedicated to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace and are proud to be an equal opportunities employer, ensuring that all applicants receive fair and equal consideration for employment, regardless of whether they meet every requirement. If you don’t tick all the boxes but feel you have some of the relevant skills and experience we’re looking for, please do consider applying and highlight your transferable skills and experience. We embrace diversity in all its forms, valuing individuals regardless of age, disability, gender identity or reassignment, marital or civil partner status, pregnancy or maternity status, race, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation. Your perspective and potential are important to us. 

If we can do anything to help make the hiring process more accessible, please let our talent acquisition team know when you apply so we can support any adjustments.