IT Infrastructure Network Engineer

  • Job Reference: JR101159
  • Date Posted: 29 September 2026
  • Employer: South East Water
  • Location: Snodland, Kent
  • Salary: £45,000 to £50,000
  • Sector: Information Technology (IT)
  • Job Type: Temporary
  • Work Hours: Full Time
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Job Description

Job Description Summary

Are you a hands-on Network Engineer who thrives on the open road rather than being chained to a desk? Do you love the satisfaction of physical deployments, complex problem-solving, and seeing the direct impact of your work?

We are launching a major, high-priority infrastructure overhaul across our remote sites, and we need a skilled engineer to grab their tools, partner up, and lead the charge from the front lines.

What to expect from our recruitment process:

  • Visa Sponsorship: Please note that we are unable to provide Skilled Worker Visa sponsorship for this role.
  • Right to Work: You must provide proof of your Right to Work in the UK during onboarding.
  • Background Checks: Any offer of employment from South East Water will be conditional upon satisfactory completion of identity, employment referencing, and DBS checks.

Contract Details:

  • Duration: 12 months fixed term, with potential for extension.
  • Hours: 37 hours per week, Monday to Friday.

Location & Setup:

  • This is a field-based role, covering our entire South East geographical area.
  • You will be part of dynamic, collaborative teams of two.

The Mission: Dual-Project Deployment

You won’t just be maintaining the network; you will be actively transforming it. Working in a team of two, you will hit our various geographical sites to run two critical projects simultaneously:

  • The NIS Project (Network Security): Install and deploy critical "box" network security hardware to safeguard our infrastructure against modern threats.
  • The WAN Upgrade: Rip out and upgrade legacy systems to modern Wide Area Network (WAN) infrastructure, preventing critical telephone connectivity drops and ensuring our remote treatment and process sites stay online 24/7.

What A Typical Week Looks Like

This is a highly active, 37-hour-a-week field role where no two days are the same. Your main focus will be out on-site doing the heavy lifting of network engineering:

  • On-Site Project Execution: Traveling across our regional estate to install, maintain, and decommission physical equipment at data centers and remote processing sites.
  • Hardware & Cabling: Mounting network cabinets, switches, and routers (yes, you’ll be using power tools!), and implementing new structured cabling solutions (Ethernet, Cat5e, Cat6a, and single/multimode fiber).
  • Power & Protocol Management: Working hands-on with a mix of 230v AC, as well as 24v and 48v DC power systems used by low-voltage routers, switches, and sensors.
  • High-Level Support: Backing up the IT Helpdesk by providing expert 2nd and 3rd line support to troubleshoot complex routing, switching, and security issues while on or off-site.

What You’ll Bring:

  • The Technical Foundations: CCNA, CompTIA, or equivalent certification/formal training.
  • Field Experience: Proven experience with physical network installations, patching, and enclosure mounting.
  • Protocol Expertise: Solid knowledge of routing, switching, and network security protocols.
  • Versatility: Comfort working with low-voltage DC power systems and a "security-first" mentality.
  • Communication Skills: The ability to collaborate closely with your site partner and explain technical solutions clearly to non-technical end-users.
  • IT Savvy: Experience with Google Workspace/M365, cloud infrastructure (GCP/Azure/AWS), ITIL frameworks, or a background working within the water/utilities sector.

Note: A full driving license and a willingness to travel across our regional sites are absolute essentials for this role.