(SC cleared) Senior Network Architect – Cisco

Company: Methods Consulting
Apply for the (SC cleared) Senior Network Architect – Cisco
Location: Bristol
Job Description:

Overview

In this role you will assess and document enterprise network architecture for a secure defence environment, driving actionable improvements with minimal risk. You will collaborate with Architecture and Network support teams to map current state and craft high/low level designs that align with the Gap programme goals. You’ll evaluate Cisco ACI, routing, firewall and load-balancing setups to enable robust, active/active connectivity between two data centres. The position combines hands-on assessment with formal design documentation, risk reporting and sign-off through secure channels. This is a technically rigorous role with a clear impact on operational resilience and secure connectivity.

Pay / Benefits

  • Autonomy to develop and grow skills
  • Exciting project work affecting society
  • LinkedIn Learning and development programs
  • Wellness and confidential employee assistance
  • 25 days leave plus option to buy more
  • Private Medical Insurance

Responsibilities

  • Review live network configurations and legacy designs across two data centres to identify gaps vs. documented operation.
  • Create current-state High Level Designs and Low Level Designs with topology diagrams and dependencies.
  • Assess Cisco ACI, routing, firewall and load-balancing arrangements with Architecture and Network support teams.
  • Produce a Network Review and Recommendation Report prioritising practical, low-risk improvements.
  • Explore application-centric capabilities in Cisco ACI, including relationships, segmentation and policy design.
  • Present a prioritised roadmap with sequencing, dependencies, and service impact for improvements.
  • Develop a Network Disaster Recovery Capability Report for true active/active data centre connectivity.
  • Explain connectivity limitations, proposed approaches, risks, and any hardware/software/licensing requirements.
  • Lead technical reviews, resolve design comments, and secure sign-off from Architecture and Network teams.
  • Maintain controlled documentation and contribute to risk/issue reporting through secure channels.

Key requirements

  • Strong enterprise network architecture experience with producing High/Low Level Designs.
  • Hands-on Cisco ACI experience (fabric, tenants, VRFs, bridge domains, endpoint groups, contracts) and application-centric policy design.
  • Solid Cisco routing knowledge; IP addressing, routing protocols, segmentation, and DC interconnectivity.
  • Experience reviewing Cisco ASA firewall configurations, traffic flows, policies, NAT and HA.
  • Experience with F5 load balancers, traffic management, health monitoring and service dependencies.
  • Experience assessing disaster recovery and active/active designs, including failover and stateful dependencies.
  • Ability to investigate live configs safely, identify constraints, and propose proportionate changes with clear impact.
  • Strong technical writing, diagramming and stakeholder communication; experience guiding designs through formal approval.
  • clear communication
  • stakeholder management
  • analytical thinking
  • Cisco ACI
  • Cisco routing
  • Cisco ASA

…

Posted: September 30th, 2026