Senior Network Engineer

Network Engineer Rate - £500 (A day) Duration - 6 Months (Initially) Location - SW London IR35 - Outside Role Overview We are looking for a Senior Network Engineer to support a network refresh and transformation programme within a university environment. This role is hands-on and will involve working closely with internal IT teams and key stakeholders across the institution. The successful candidate will contribute to the migration from Cisco to Extreme Networks infrastructure, with a strong focus on delivering robust, high-performing wired and wireless services that meet the needs of students, faculty, and staff. Key Responsibilities Support the design and implementation of network infrastructure as part of the Cisco to Extreme Networks migration. Configure and deploy wired and wireless network solutions across campus environments. Work collaboratively with key university stakeholders to understand requirements and minimise disruption during change. Assist in network assessments, site surveys, and optimisation activities. Execute migration activities, including staging, deployment, testing, and validation. Troubleshoot and resolve complex network issues across LAN, WAN, and WLAN. Ensure high availability and performance of wireless networks, particularly in high-density environments (e.g., lecture halls, student accommodation). Assist with the production and maintenance of technical documentation (LLDs, configurations, operational guides). Adhere to network security standards and best practices. Support knowledge transfer to internal IT teams.Essential Skills & Experience Strong experience as a Network Engineer in enterprise or campus environments. Hands-on experience with Extreme Networks (switching, routing, and wireless). Solid background in Cisco networking technologies. Hands-on experience working with ClearPass NAC Hands-on experience working with Palo Alto firewalls Proven expertise in wireless networking, including design, deployment, and troubleshooting. Experience working in Higher Education (HE) or similar large, multi-site campus environments. Strong knowledge of: Layer 2 & Layer 3 networking (VLANs, STP, EIGRP, OSPF, BGP) Wireless standards and RF optimisation Network security fundamentals (ACLs, segmentation, NAC) Experience supporting network migration or transformation projects. Strong diagnostic and problem-solving skills.Desirable Skills Experience with ExtremeCloud IQ or equivalent network management platforms. Understanding of automation/scripting (e.g., Python, Ansible). Relevant certifications (e.g., Extreme Networks, Cisco CCNP, CWNA/CWNP). Experience supporting large-scale wireless deployments in high-density environments