Principal Wireless Network Engineer

Overview

In this role you act as the senior technical authority for enterprise wireless services, shaping reliable and secure WLAN across National Grid sites. You lead design, deployment, and lifecycle management of wireless networks, working with cross-functional teams to meet evolving business needs. You will conduct RF surveys, produce low-level designs, and validate deployments using industry tools. This position offers impact across office, operational, and industrial environments with opportunities to influence standards and automation. You join a global, customer-centric team driving a carbon-free future through innovative connectivity solutions.

Pay / Benefits

• flexible working
• inclusive workplace
• reasonable adjustments during recruitment
• support for professional development
• competitive salary
• opportunity to influence standards

Responsibilities

• Design, deploy, and optimise enterprise WLAN for varied environments ensuring security and scalability
• Own engineering standards and controls for wireless services
• Lead projects and manage workstreams, delivering on time and within budget
• Perform predictive and onsite RF surveys and post-deployment validation
• Produce low-level designs, BOMs, and implementation records
• Support lifecycle management, capacity planning, and standards alignment
• Provide specialist support for Aruba ClearPass and Cisco ISE NAC capabilities
• Evaluate alternative connectivity options (5G, satellite, rapid deployment) and SD-WAN
• Create comprehensive documentation and runbooks; drive incident leadership
• Mentor engineers, promote automation, and drive technical governance

Key requirements

• 10+ years of enterprise network engineering experience with wireless LAN design
• Technical authority experience for enterprise wireless services
• Strong hands-on with Cisco and Aruba WLAN
• Proficiency with Ekahau, Hamina, or equivalent survey tools
• Experience with Cradlepoint or similar 5G platforms
• Expertise in 802.11 standards and NAC integration (802.1X, RADIUS, profiling)
• Ability to travel ad-hoc to National Grid locations
• Excellent stakeholder engagement and communication skills
• Strong documentation and change artefact delivery
• CWNP or related wireless certifications; CCNP Wireless/CCIE Wireless; Aruba ACMP/ACDP/ACCX preferred

• stakeholder engagement
• clear technical communication
• mentoring and coaching
• RF fundamentals and spectrum analysis
• 802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax/ah/af with Wi-Fi 5/6/6E/7
• WLAN authentication (EAP, RADIUS, RBAC, profiling)

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