Senior Network Architect

Senior Network Architect - £550 per day - Outside IR35 - Hybrid working, one day per week on site near Manchester Airport - 3-6 months initial contract.

We are working with a global organisation undergoing a major transformation of their entire network estate, and they are seeking a highly experienced Senior / Enterprise Network Architect to define and lead the design of their future-state network.

This role is not focused on BAU or incremental change - it is about architecting the network of the future. You'll set the long-term network strategy, design the target architecture, and guide the selection and onboarding of strategic technologies and suppliers as the business transitions to a fully modern, cloud-centric, Internet-first model.

The future environment will be built around DIA underlay, clean underlay/overlay separation, and modern SD-WAN/SASE/SSE patterns, aligned with Azure-native cloud connectivity. Therefore, deep experience designing Internet-first architectures is essential.

The Role: Define & Lead the Future-State Network

1. Own the Target Architecture Vision

• Define the future-state network architecture that delivers a cloud-first, security-first, Internet-centric model.
• Drive simplification, resilience, performance and scalability through architectural vision.
• Champion the future-state across senior stakeholders and technical teams.

2. Build the Network Transformation Roadmap

• Create a clear, actionable roadmap that guides the organisation from current to future state.
• Identify prerequisites, dependencies, migration paths and sequencing.
• Set both direction and pace for the client's transformation journey.

3. Lead RFP Development & Vendor Engagement

• Shape RFPs to reflect the future-state design, including technical requirements, SLAs and evaluation frameworks.
• Define requirements for underlay, SD-WAN/SASE/SSE overlays, cloud interconnects and network security tooling.
• Play a central role in structured vendor scoring, assessments and shortlisting.

4. Technology & Supplier Selection

• Lead architecture-focused PoCs, deep dives and evaluation sessions.
• Assess solutions based on long-term alignment, integration complexity, and architectural fit.
• Deliver objective recommendations backed by rigorous technical reasoning.

5. Contracting, Commercials & Early Delivery Oversight

• Ensure contract schedules and scopes accurately reflect architectural boundaries and expectations.
• Validate supplier designs, BoMs, commercials, and implementation plans for alignment with the target state.
• Provide oversight during early deployment to ensure consistency with the future-state architecture.

About You

This role is best suited for an architect who excels at strategic design and future-state thinking, not simply BAU support.

You will bring:

• CCIE certification (required) - or equivalent depth of experience with proven architectural credibility.
• Significant experience as a Network Architect across global or multi-region environments.
• Expertise in DIA, WAN/underlay, SD-WAN, SASE/SSE, Zero Trust, and cloud connectivity (especially Azure).
• Experience with SAP environments, OT/industrial networks, or hybrid cloud models (advantageous).
• Proven ability to develop long-term architectural roadmaps and strategies.
• Strong RFP, vendor evaluation and supplier selection experience.
• Excellent communication skills, able to translate complex architectures into clear, decision-ready narratives.
• Independent, vendor-neutral mindset with the confidence to challenge assumptions.
• Hands-on approach and comfort operating in fast-paced transformation programmes.