We are looking for a Principal Network Engineer to join a high-profile Government Digital function. In this role, you will act as the Technical Design Authority (TDA) for a national-scale digital infrastructure, providing strategic leadership for one of the most complex network estates in the UK.As a Principal Engineer, you won''t just be managing technology; you will be managing the technical roadmap. You will bridge the gap between high-level policy requirements and low-level engineering execution, ensuring a secure-by-design, resilient, and automated network environment.Key ResponsibilitiesTechnical Design Authority: Lead the architectural direction and serve as the final escalation point for complex network routing, switching, and security issues.Strategic Transformation: Drive the migration from Legacy infrastructure to a modern, automated SD-WAN and Multi-Cloud ecosystem (AWS/Azure).Leadership andamp; Governance: Manage technical relationships with Tier 1 Implementation Partners and internal delivery teams to ensure alignment with departmental standards.Automation Strategy: Champion "Network as Code" initiatives, overseeing the deployment of CI/CD pipelines for network configuration and monitoring.Stakeholder Influence: Provide authoritative advice to Senior Civil Service (SCS) leaders on risk, budget, and technological investment.Technical Stack andamp; RequirementsRouting andamp; Switching: Expert-level knowledge of Juniper (Mist/SSR) and/or Cisco enterprise solutions