Network Infrastructure Manager
M247 operates and maintains its own carrier grade network backbone in the UK, incorporating IS-IS and Segment Routing, EVPN, BGP and BGP PIC, and Unified MPLS. This network underpins our core product portfolio, which includes DIA and full table BGP Peering, L2 / L3 VPNs, Hosted Firewalls and Security Solutions, Voice and Communications solution, and our Private 247Cloud solutions. Our SD-WAN product portfolio allows us to provide a single managed solution to support our customers digital transformational needs.
Utilising an extensive on-net footprint we can provide connectivity using both fibre and fixed wireless access from any one of our 120+ RAN PoP sites located in Birmingham, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester and Newcastle. Through our offnet / altnet partnerships and an extensive on-net Data Centre footprint, we can support any and all customer solutions.
M247 are currently undergoing a massive network transformation project, requiring a complete re-design of 3 legacy networks to harmonise our UK network design and product delivery.
Position
Network Infrastructure Engineer
Manchester
Your Role
This key role is central to the delivery, operation and support of the backbone and access networks, security and voice infrastructure which underpins M247s entire product portfolio. The Network Infrastructure Manager needs to work closely with all key departments and architects to ensure that the infrastructure is within specification, adheres to best practice design and monitoring principles, ensuring high availability and operational integrity through the delivery of Fault, Capacity, Availability, Performance and Security (FCAPS) programs across the full lifecycle of the systems. This will involve the management of complex implementation and change programs on live infrastructure whilst maintaining the efficient delivery of services.
The role requires management, support, and leadership for a team of Infrastructure Engineers operating on a 24x7x365 on-call rota, who provide 4th line escalation and technical lead functions for all project and transformational work and will have a very strong focus on developing and coaching the team, to assure the highest overall network uptime and the smooth delivery of complex solutions towards customers. Along with the Principal Infrastructure Engineer, the role will provide an escalation point for the Team, assisting with fault diagnosis and business communications.
The role will be responsible for the operational investment & cost management strategy for growth and maintenance.
What you’ll do
- Leads a highly skilled team of engineers that are the delivery and operations subject matter experts for M247s backbone network platform
- Technical operations authority for all network and mission critical infrastructure platforms, including adherence to architectural principles and service targets
- Accountable for the management and maintenance of the backbone and access networks
- Accountable for the management and maintenance of the hosted firewall platform
- Accountable for platform performance monitoring and capacity planning / forecasting
- Develop, monitor, operate & report on KPIs and SLAs to assess platform performance
- Accountable for the management and supervision of network infrastructure engineers that are responsible for implementation of FCAPS programs
- Accountable for all recruitment and development within the infrastructure team
- Oversee the production and development of low level operational and support documentation
- Consulting with external partners and suppliers to ensure best sourcing strategies
- Assistance with PoC evaluation of new architectures, technologies, and products
- Support business case production for the development and implementation of new platforms
- Works closely with the technology design and product functions for the delivery and operation of strategic goals
- Provides delivery and operations support for customer specific solutions where the solutions are complex or use already established repeatable operations capability
- Provides escalation for the network infrastructure team to assist with analysis and business communications, demonstrating thought and process leadership
- Ensure that all critical platforms have the appropriate vendor support contracts in place to meet required hardware and software SLAs
Requirements
You will have a strong background in the ISP, Telecoms industry or similar, be customer centric and have a good understanding of ISP network design best practices, transit and peering, and typical protocols including BGP and ISIS / OSPF.
You will have knowledge of connectivity and security products and platforms, including Ethernet / EAD, DWDM and wave technologies, DIA, MPLS VPNs, hosted firewall solutions, SD-WAN and DDoS.
You will possess strong experience in managing a technical team operating an on-call rota, with excellent organisational, interpersonal, leadership and mentoring skills.
Strong documentation skills will be required to create and modify new and existing processes, procedures, and policies to ensure the infrastructure team and the wider business are aware of the teams’ standard operating model, roles and responsibilities, and escalation mechanisms.
You will be accountable for managing all network infrastructure projects, align, and manage technical resource for all PMO led initiatives, with a strong focus on strategic deliverables and deadlines.
You will possess a flexible working ethic with the capacity to quickly adapt to changes in strategic priority and principles, implementing and owning any tactical changes needed to resolve all issues in a fast paced and highly pressurised environment.
You will proactively identify and lead on the implementation of any improvement plans to help remediate against known or potential issues, demonstrating a willingness and the confidence to challenge the status quo.
- ISP Industry and market knowledge and experience
- Strong experience with large multi-country ISP-grade networks
- Strong operational experience with network monitoring tools and best practices
- Strong operational experience with capacity planning analysis and reporting practices
- FCAPS operational experience and process development experience
- Knowledge of Cisco’s network hardware and service provider product portfolio
- Knowledge of Fortinet’s security product portfolio and management platforms
- Strong operational understanding of IP networking (MPLS, BGP, ISIS) in ISP environments
- Budget responsibility and forecasting
- Experience of ITIL for Service / Incident Management
- Experience of Prince 2 methodologies for Project Management
- Experience of RIPE Database Administration
- Network Management experience
- Strong commercial acumen
- Analytical thinking skills
- Persistence and determination
- Strong relationships with leading platform solution providers
- Exceptional people skills, including teamwork, facilitation, and negotiation
- High degree of initiative, dependability, and the ability to work with little supervision
- Exceptional written and communication skills
- Creative problem-solving abilities
- Proven project management and delivery experience
- Strong focus on developing and coaching the team
Other information
- Competitive basic salary, based on experience.
- M247 iPhone and performance laptop.
- Healthcare Cash Plan and PERKS.
- Company Life Assurance scheme offering 3 times annual salary upon death in service.
- Auto-Enrolment Pension with 3% Employer Contribution.
- Free Car Parking (available 24/7 limited spaces).
- Enhanced Maternity and Paternity Pay.
- 24 days holiday, plus 8 days bank holidays an extra day to use on your birthday.
- Employee Assistance Programme.
- Company sick pay.
- Refer a Friend Scheme – up to £1,000 reward for successful recommendation.