IT Specialist - Networks

Location/s: Newcastle, UK
Recruiter contact: Nikki George

Mott MacDonald is a global engineering, management, and development consultancy with over 20,000 employees across more than 50 countries and 140+ offices. 

We work across incredible global industries, delivering exciting work that is defining our future and making an important societal impact in the communities we serve. Our people power our performance – we succeed when they do. With countless opportunities to collaborate, learn, and grow, the possibilities for excellence are as varied as every individual. 

Whether you want to grow as a subject matter expert or broaden your experience with roles across our international community, you’re surrounded by global specialists who want to combine their expertise and champion you to be your best. As a proudly employee-owned business, we benefit our clients, our communities, and each other, investing in creating the right space for everyone to feel empowered, included, and valued. Whatever your ambition, Mott MacDonald is where people come to be brilliant.

Overview of the role
As the IT Specialist – Networks (4th Line), you will play a pivotal role in managing and maintaining the organisation’s global network infrastructure, ensuring resilience, performance, and security across both on-premise and cloud environments. Reporting to the Network Manager, you will provide advanced technical expertise and operational leadership, supporting the delivery of robust network services that underpin business operations. 

This senior position requires deep proficiency in modern networking technologies—including LAN, WAN, SDWAN, firewalls, remote access, web proxy, and cloud networking—and a proven ability to oversee, optimise, and secure high-performing, highly available network services. You will act as the principal escalation point for complex network issues, drive continuous improvement, and ensure the network environment remains current, compliant, and fit for purpose. 

As a technical leader within a forward-looking IT function, you will champion operational best practices, foster a culture of excellence, and collaborate with stakeholders across the business to ensure network services are robust, scalable, and future-ready. Your proactive approach and commitment to professional development will help the organisation maintain a competitive edge in connectivity and operational agility. 

We are committed to building a diverse, inclusive, and high-performing IT and Security function. In this role, you will help nurture talent, drive innovation, and create an environment where people feel supported, empowered, and valued in their mission to deliver outstanding network services. 

Key responsibilities:

• Manage and maintain global network infrastructure (WAN/LAN/MPLS/SDWAN) to ensure stability, reliability, and optimal performance
• Oversee Data Centre and Server Room operations, including hardware, connectivity, and environmental controls
• Administer and optimise firewall technologies (Meraki, Barracuda, Azure, Cisco) for robust security and compliance
• Support and maintain Microsoft Azure and cloud-based networking solutions
• Deploy and manage cloud-based web filtering and security services for secure, compliant access
• Monitor network performance using advanced tools (e.g., WUG, Meraki Dashboards), proactively resolving issues to minimise downtime
• Manage access to cloud services (Microsoft and other SaaS platforms) for secure, efficient connectivity
• Administer remote access solutions (Direct Access, ZPA, Meraki VPNs) for a flexible, secure global workforce
• Lead operational processes: Problem, Change, Knowledge, Event, Asset Lifecycle, Capacity Management, Monitoring, and Request Fulfilment; assist with incident escalations
• Maintain comprehensive documentation, including network diagrams, technical guides, procedures, and change/test/transition plans
• Provide technical expertise to ensure operational procedures and standards are correctly applied
• Drive continuous service improvement through benchmarking, monitoring, and optimisation
• Act as 4th Line escalation point for change, problems, and incidents, managing resolution and supplier engagement
• Support configuration management, auditing, and compliance of infrastructure services
• Champion network security, resilience, and disaster recovery planning to ensure business continuity and regulatory compliance
• Mentor and support junior engineers, fostering a collaborative, high-performing team

Personal Attributes: 

• Demonstrates strong technical leadership and accountability, taking ownership of complex challenges and delivering results
• Communicates clearly and confidently, able to explain technical concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences
• Maintains composure and professionalism under pressure, making sound decisions in critical situations
• Works collaboratively across teams, building strong relationships and promoting knowledge sharing
• Shows a continuous improvement mindset, actively seeking opportunities to innovate and optimise services
• Committed to professional development and staying current with emerging technologies, security practices, and industry trends
• Displays strategic thinking and foresight, anticipating future networking needs and proactively addressing risks

Key Performance Indicators:

• Infrastructure availability and mean time between failures
• Response times to issues/mean time to repair
• Service continuity test success 
• Policies, procedures, and documentation are up to date for team’s services, including DR/BCS
• Continual service improvements and innovation initiatives
• Provides accurate and punctual regular and periodic reports, as required
• Security breaches and audits report confirming that Network & Data Centre services have appropriate security measures
• Project deliverables and successful implementation of new technologies
• SLA achievement for incident, request, problem, and change management 

Candidate specification
Essential: 

• Deep expertise in LAN, WAN, SDWAN, network management, monitoring, and troubleshooting
• Strong knowledge of IPv4, subnetting, DNS, DHCP, and network security (including firewalls and threat mitigation)
• Advanced experience with cloud networking (Azure, AWS), LAN switching, routing, web proxies, remote access, and VPNs
• Solid understanding of Windows and Linux network environments
• Proven ability in auditing, compliance, and resolving technical issues in large-scale, complex settings
• Skilled communicator, adept at stakeholder engagement and expectation management
• Demonstrated strength in risk identification, escalation, decision-making under pressure, and team mentoring

Desirable: 

• Extensive hands-on experience managing and troubleshooting LAN, WAN, SDWAN, and complex network environments 
• Strong working knowledge of IPv4, subnetting, DNS, DHCP, and network security (firewalls, threat mitigation)
• Advanced proficiency in cloud networking (Azure, AWS), LAN switching, routing, web proxies, remote access, and VPN technologies
• Solid understanding of Windows and Linux network operations 
• Proven track record in auditing, compliance, and resolving technical issues in large-scale, multi-site environments 
• Excellent stakeholder engagement and communication skills, with the ability to manage expectations at all levels 
• Demonstrated capability in risk identification, escalation, decision-making under pressure, and mentoring team members

UK Immigration

Mott MacDonald Ltd. are not currently offering sponsorship to candidates under the Skilled Worker visa route in the UK. This decision is as a consequence of the changes made to the Skilled Worker route by the UK Government in April 2024. We continue to welcome applications from candidates who are eligible for alternative immigration routes in the UK, that do not require sponsorship as a Skilled Worker now or in future.

Agile working  

At Mott MacDonald, we believe it makes business sense for you and your manager to choose how you can work most effectively to meet your client, team, and personal commitments. We offer a hybrid working policy that embraces your well-being, flexibility, and trust.

Equality, diversity, and inclusion 

We put equality, diversity, and inclusion at the heart of our business, seeking to promote fair employment procedures and practices to ensure equal opportunities for all. We encourage individual expression in our workplace and are committed to creating an inclusive environment where everyone feels they can contribute.

Accessibility

We want you to perform your best at every stage in the recruitment process. If you are disabled or need any support to enable you to apply or attend an interview, please contact us at reasonable.adjustments@mottmac.com and we will talk to you about how we can support you.

We offer some fantastic benefits including:

Health and wellbeing

• Private medical insurance for all UK colleagues.
• Health cash plan to support you with every day health costs and treatments.
• Access to Peppy, providing free support from menopause experts for all UK colleagues.
• A variety of wellbeing support is available through our comprehensive wellbeing program, including access for you and your family.
• Ability to flex your salary to opt into a wide range of health benefits, many of which can be extended to your family too.

Financial wellbeing

• We match employee pension contributions between 4.5% and 7%.
• Life assurance equal up to 4 x your basic salary, with an option to increase the level of cover to 6 x your salary.
• Our income protection scheme provides a financial benefit, as well as absence and return to work support due to long-term illness or injury.
• Flexible benefits, including increased life assurance cover, critical illness insurance, payroll saving and will writing.
• As an independently owned business we share the financial success of the business with all our colleagues in various ways including annual bonus schemes.

Lifestyle

• A minimum of 33-35 days holiday each year, inclusive of public holidays and dependent on level, with the ability to buy or sell leave through our flexible benefits programme.
• Holiday entitlement increased to a minimum of 35 days after 5 years’ service.
• Variety of employee saving schemes and discounts from high-street retailers.

 Enhanced family and carers leave

• Enhanced family leave policies, including 26 weeks paid maternity and adoption leave, and two weeks paid paternity/partner leave.
• Our shared parental leave matches maternity leave meaning we pay up to 24 weeks at full pay.
• Up to five additional days leave are provided for those with significant caring responsibilities, two of which are paid.

Learning and development

• Primary annual professional institution subscription.
• A broad range of opportunities to enhance both technical and soft skills through mentoring, formal training, and self-development options.

Networks, communities, and social outcomes

• Join a wide range of groups including our Advanced Employee Networks which support our LGBTQ+, gender, race and ethnicity, disability, and parents/carers communities.
• Make a difference within our communities through our social outcomes.

Apply now, or for more information about our application process, click here.