Job overview

Are you a network expert ready to keep systems connected and secure? We're seeking a skilled Principal Network Engineer to design, implement, and maintain our critical network infrastructure.

If you thrive in fast-paced environments, love solving technical challenges, and want to play a vital role in maintaining a cutting-edge network, we'd love to have you on board! Help us stay connected and drive innovation.

In this role, you'll design, and manage everything from routing and switching to network security and troubleshooting, ensuring optimal performance across all levels.

You'll work closely with other teams to resolve issues, implement upgrades, and ensure the stability and efficiency of our network. Your expertise in configuring firewalls, optimising traffic, and diagnosing complex problems will be key to our success.

Main duties of the job

• Your primary responsibility will be to support the design, deployment and management of data centres, local area networks (LANs), wide area networks (WANs), and wireless networks across NCA sites. You will work closely with senior engineers to design network solutions that meet the unique requirements of healthcare environments, ensuring seamless connectivity and optimal performance for clinical and administrative systems.
• In addition to network deployment, you will provide technical support to diagnose and resolve network issues and incidents promptly. You will utilise network monitoring tools and troubleshooting techniques to identify root causes and implement corrective actions, minimising disruptions to critical healthcare services and maintaining service level agreements (SLAs).
• As a Principal Network Engineer, you will collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to implement network security measures aimed at protecting sensitive healthcare data and ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements. You will assist in the implementation of security policies, firewall configurations, and access control mechanisms to mitigate risks and safeguard NHS network infrastructure from cyber threats.

Working for our organisation

The Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust (NCA) provides hospital and integrated health and social care services to over one million people living across Greater Manchester. Our 20,000 colleagues care for people in hospital and in the community, working across Bury, Rochdale, Oldham and Salford, to save and improve lives.

As a large NHS trust we are committed to enhancing the health of our local population by delivering consistently high standards of care and working closely with local authorities and key partners. We believe in our power and potential to make a difference and we’re always looking for people who demonstrate our three core values - care, appreciate and inspire – to join our team.

In return, we can offer you a job role with purpose and flexibility. The size and scale of the NCA means we can provide more challenge and opportunities so your career can always be moving in the right direction. By joining us you can also access a competitive benefits package, including, a fantastic annual leave allowance, flexible working opportunities and protected hours for health and wellbeing activities, helping you to achieve more personal downtime and a better work-life balance.