Job Vacancy Principal Network Engineer - Home Office - Grade 6

What is this role?

This is a senior technical leadership role within Home Office Digital, responsible for shaping and leading Data Centre network engineering at scale.

As a Principal Network Engineer, you’ll set technical direction, define best practice, and ensure critical network services are secure, resilient and future‑proof.

Why this role matters

Data Centre networks underpin some of the UK’s most critical government services.

In this role, you will:

• Shape long‑term network strategy and technology roadmaps

• Ensure maximum value from investment in network technologies

• Embed security, resilience and reliability into core infrastructure

• Influence how network engineering is done across the Home Office

What you’ll be responsible for

You’ll lead and influence across a broad technical and strategic space, including:

• Leading internal teams, suppliers and partners to design and operate data centre networks

• Defining engineering standards and best practice across the service lifecycle

• Owning technical relationships with suppliers and internal stakeholders

• Ensuring services are secure by design and resilient to threats

• Investigating and resolving complex network issues, and preventing re‑occurrence

• Working closely with architects to improve future designs and service operability

• Leading workforce planning, budgeting, technical roadmaps and delivery priorities