
Sanderson Government and Defence
Network Solution Architect
Job Description
Salary: £48,000 - 88,000 per year
Requirements:- Strong experience with core Cisco networking technologies, including routing and switching, Cisco ASA firewalls, Cisco ACI, Cisco IOS and NX-OS, and wireless networking.
- Good knowledge of network orchestration and automation technologies.
- Concrete understanding of vendor-independent IP networking concepts and associated technologies such as DHCP, DNS, and core network services.
- Experience leading technical projects and collaborating within multi-disciplinary teams.
- Proven ability to prepare, present, and communicate technical designs to a high standard.
- Experience working with Microsoft technologies including Windows Server, Active Directory, Exchange, SharePoint, and Group Policy.
- Strong stakeholder management and communication skills.
- Active Security Clearance with the ability to gain DV clearance.
- Previous experience working within Defence, National Security, Government, or Critical National Infrastructure environments is desirable.
- Experience of virtualisation platforms and associated infrastructure technologies is desirable.
- Knowledge of architecture and project delivery frameworks such as TOGAF and PRINCE2 is desirable.
- Familiarity with SIEM technologies and wider network security tooling is desirable.
- Cisco Unified Communications and/or Asterisk PABX experience is desirable.
- Experience with cloud technologies including Microsoft Azure, AWS, and Microsoft 365 is desirable.
- Design and assure secure network architectures within Defence environments.
- Apply Secure by Design principles throughout the solution lifecycle.
- Assess and mitigate security risks across network and infrastructure platforms.
- Provide technical leadership and architectural guidance to project teams and stakeholders.
- Support security accreditation and governance activities.
- Collaborate with engineering, security, and programme teams to deliver robust and resilient solutions.
- Ensure architectures align with Defence security standards and operational requirements.
- AWS
- Active Directory
- Architect
- Asterisk
- Azure
- Cloud
- Cisco
- Support
- Microsoft 365
- Network
- Nx
- Security
- SharePoint
- TOGAF
- Windows
- iOS
- Office 365
More:
We are seeking an experienced Network Solution Architect to support a major Defence and National Security programme. This is a 3-4 days per week onsite role in Salisbury, offered at £700 a day inside IR35. You will play a pivotal role in designing, assuring, and evolving secure network architectures that underpin important services and operational capabilities. We are committed to reasonable adjustments, respect, and equality, and we welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and perspectives. Our success is driven by our people, united by the spirit of partnership to deliver the best resourcing solutions for our clients.
last updated 37 week of 2026
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About Sanderson Government and Defence

Sanderson Government and Defence
Salisbury
IT
Skills & Technologies
Inferred from job description
Salary Insight
£68,000
This role
£90,000
UK median
This salary is 24% below the UK median for Architects (£90,000/yr).
Based on 2024–2025 UK technology sector benchmarks