Network Engineer

Job summary

The Home Office works to build a safe, fair and prosperous UK. We achieve this through our work on counter-terrorism, policing, crime, drugs policy, immigration and passports.

Home Office Digital designs, builds and develops services for the rest of the department and for government. Every year our systems support up to 3
million visa applications, checks on 100 million border crossings, up to 8 million passport applications and deliver 140 million police checks on people, vehicles, and property.

The Network Engineer will design, deliver and support secure and reliable network services in line with departmental policy and Home Office strategy. Working as part of a specialist engineering team, you will ensure the network operates effectively and meets organisational needs. You will collaborate with technical architects and external suppliers to implement solutions, maintain service quality and support ongoing improvements across the Home Office estate. This role offers the opportunity to work on large‑scale, high‑impact network services that support essential Home Office operations. You will develop your technical expertise, work alongside experienced professionals, and contribute to critical national services, with opportunities to broaden your skills in a complex, fast‑paced environment.

Job description

As a Network Engineer, you will play a vital role in ensuring the Home Office’s network services are robust, secure and fit for purpose. You will work within a collaborative engineering team and may provide guidance and day‑to‑day support to junior staff, helping to maintain a high‑performing and inclusive working environment.

The role involves implementing network changes, supporting day‑to‑day service operations, and ensuring that issues affecting users are resolved promptly and effectively. You will work closely with technical architects to move designs into operational use, and with third‑party suppliers to ensure standards, service levels and performance expectations are met.

You will help maintain service continuity by responding to incidents, undertaking fault investigations and advising on preventative measures. Your work will support the wider technology strategy and ensure that services remain aligned with business needs.

Some activities may require occasional out‑of‑hours work, for which an additional allowance will be provided.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide effective line management to team members, including workload oversight, performance monitoring, skills development and fostering a supportive, high‑performing culture.
• Lead the delivery of network services in line with operational, security and compliance requirements, ensuring consistent service quality for all users.
• Oversee implementation of network changes and configurations, ensuring all work adheres to agreed standards, designs and governance processes.
• Investigate, diagnose and resolve network faults, minimising disruption through timely action, clear communication and appropriate escalation.
• Coordinate incident response activities, prioritising issues effectively and ensuring stakeholders receive accurate, timely updates.
• Work collaboratively with suppliers and delivery partners to maintain service performance, resolve issues and ensure contractual obligations are met.
• Monitor network performance and analyse service data, identifying risks, trends and opportunities to improve resilience, efficiency and user experience.
• Maintain and enhance operational documentation, procedures and best‑practice guidance to support continuous improvement and knowledge sharing.

Working Pattern

This role is available on a full-time basis with the option of compressed hours working. This role is also suitable for part-time working hours, with a minimum requirement to work [4 days / 30 hours] per week due to business requirements.

Travel

The postholder may be required to occasionally travel to other Home Office locations.

Person specification

Essential Criteria

You’ll have a demonstrable passion for Network Engineering, with the following skills or some experience in:

• networking concepts, switching, routing, firewalling and load balancing
• maintaining focus on the whole life cycle of service delivery; from design, development, and delivery through to operations
• dissecting a problem into its component parts to identify and diagnose root causes, allowing for problem resolution
• demonstrating the ability to build effective partnerships with diverse teams across multiple locations and technologies
• presenting verbal and written information clearly and accurately in language which meets the needs of the user and can adapt to stakeholders' reactions with flexibility

The essential skills listed above are reflective of the Home Office Government Digital and Data Profession Career Framework (based on the industry standard SFIA framework- Use the levels of responsibility to understand what would be expected for each technical skill listed). Please see below for the relevant skills for your role:

Strategy and architecture

• Advice and guidance
  • Specialist advice (TECH) - Level 3
• Strategy and planning
  • Testing (TEST) - Level 2

Development and implementation

• Systems development
  • Network design (NTDS) - Level 2

Delivery and operation

• Service management
  • Incident management (USUP) - Level 2
• Technology management
  • Systems installation and removal (HSIN) – Level 2

People and skills

• People management
  • Organisational facilitation (OFCL) - Level 3

Desirable Skills

Ideally you will also have the following skills or some experience in:

• working with software defined networking
• understanding of design principles and standards and how they apply to your work

Technical skills

We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

• Strategy and architecture Advice and guidance - Specialist advice (TECH) - Level 3Strategy and planning - Testing (TEST) - Level 2
• Development and implementationSystems development - Network design (NTDS) - Level 2
• Delivery and operationService management - Incident management (USUP) - Level 2 Technology management - Systems installation and removal (HSIN) – Level 2
• People and skillsPeople management - Organisational facilitation (OFCL) - Level 3

Benefits

In addition to your salary, a career with the Home Office offers a range of benefits, including:

• A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%.
• In-year reward scheme for one-off or sustained exceptional personal or team achievements.
• 25 days annual leave on appointment, rising with service to 30 days.
• Eight days of public holidays, plus one additional privilege day.
• Where business needs allow, some roles may be suitable for a combination of office and home-based working. This is a non-contractual arrangement where all employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in an office.

The advertised role is eligible for a Digital Capability Allowance. Successful candidates with exceptional skills and experience may apply for a Recruitment and Retention Allowance.

The allowance values are set by the Home Office, subject to remaining in a qualifying role. This allowance is non-contractual, subject to an annual review and could be withdrawn at any time.

For both new entrants and existing civil servants, the total compensation offer is a combination of base salary and, if applicable, a capability-based allowance.

See more of our benefits on our careers website.

Sign-up on our website to receive emails with information about careers at the Home Office.

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Experience and Technical skills.

This gives us the best possible chance of finding the right person for the job, drives up performance and improves diversity and inclusivity

We will endeavour to conduct the selection process in line with the dates indicated below, but cannot guarantee that these will not, where necessary, be revised.

1. Application – by 8th March 2026

As part of the application process, you will be asked to complete:

• CV
• Personal Statement (maximum 500 words).

Your CV should consist of your career history, and skills/experience, including any key achievements in each role. Your CV will be scored against the experience required for the role as noted within the essential criteria.

The Personal Statement should be aligned to and demonstrate how you meet the skills and experience set out in the essential criteria, detailed in the job description.

For guidance and information on how to construct your application (CV, Personal Statement), you are encouraged to visit Civil Service Careers website.

2. Sift – week commencing 9th March 2026

The sift will be held on the Personal Statement and CV.

Should a high volume of applications be received, an initial sift will be conducted on the Personal Statement. Candidates who pass the initial sift will then be progressed to a full sift that will consist of the CV. Candidates who fail to meet the minimum pass score for the initial sift will not have their remaining CV scored and will only receive a sift score for that assessed at the initial sift.

3. Interview – week commencing 30th March 2026

If you are successful at sift stage, you will be invited to an interview that will be Technical Skills based questions.

The interview will take place on Teams.

For guidance on the Technical skills, please refer to the SFIA 8 — English.

For guidance and information on what to expect and how to prepare for an interview, you are encouraged to visit Civil Service Careers.

Problems during the application process

If you experience problems accessing this advert, or you think you’ve made a mistake on an initial application, please contact hocandidates.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk, including the vacancy reference, at least two working days before the vacancy closes. Further information can be found on our website.

Do not create or attempt to submit another application, online test or use a different Civil Service Jobs account to proceed as this would be in violation of the candidate declaration.

Reserve List

A reserve list may be held for a period of up to 12 months from which further appointments may be made. There is no guarantee that being held on a reserve list will lead to a job offer. Further information can be found on our website.

Candidates judged to be a near miss at interview may be offered a post at the grade below the one advertised without the need to go through a further selection process, providing the role has the same Success Profiles elements and essential skills. There is no guarantee that further such vacancies will arise.

Standards

All Civil Servants are expected to comply with the Civil Service Code, and its core values of integrity, honesty, objectivity and impartiality.

In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service on your behalf. However, we recognise in exceptional circumstances some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct.

If you will be doing this, please advise Government Recruitment Service of your intention by emailing Pre-EmploymentChecks.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading.

Additional Security Checks

As well as successfully obtaining UK Security Vetting clearance, candidates will be subject to a range of additional checks. The range of checks carried out will depend on whether you are a current Home Office employee, existing civil servant or an external new entrant as well as the role requirements. The level of Criminal Record Check required for this role is Basic. Further details are included in the Notes to Candidates.

Non-Police Personnel Vetting (NPPV)

You should currently hold, or be willing to obtain, Non-Police Personnel Vetting (NPPV) Level-3 vetting (including financial checks). This is essential for the role. For further information visit About the Police National Vetting Service , Warwickshire Police.

Formal offers of employment will not be made until successful candidates have obtained both NSV clearance and NPPV3 clearance.

For existing Civil Servants: Please note that failure to obtain NPPV3 Clearance may trigger a formal review of your National Security Vetting Clearance (NSV). Depending on the nature of the information identified, this could result in your NSV being revoked.

Reasonable Adjustments

If a person with disabilities is at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.

If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:

• Contact Government Recruitment Service via HOrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs

• Complete the “Assistance Required” section in the “Additional Requirements” page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you're deaf, a language service professional

If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the ‘Contact point for applicants’ section.

Feedback

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window).

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see theCivil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

• Name : Home Office Resourcing Centre
• Email : HORCCampaignTeamHSGPSGandMBG@homeoffice.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : HOrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

Further information

If you feel that your application has not been treated in accordance with the Civil Service recruitment principles and you wish to make a complaint, then contact the Government Recruitment Service via HOrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk. If you are not satisfied with the response that you receive, then you can contact the Civil Service Commission.

Attachments

candidate_information_v16_January_2026 Opens in new window (pdf, 429kB)2025-11-17 Pre-employment Checking - Document Requirements (V17) Opens in new window (pdf, 231kB)