Network Element Manager Design Authority

Job Description

Recruiter: Luke Byrne

Career Grade: D

Internal Closing Date: 22nd March

Locations: Birmingham or Ipswich

Why this job matters

This team is responsible for the technical design and validation of the UK's largest IP/MPLS core network, which carries 40% of UK broadband traffic, 70% of UK mobile traffic, and over 100,000 government and business services.
As an infrastructure platform, we must consistently offer the best performance at a competitive cost. Given the industry's evolution, we need to stay at the forefront of new technologies and practices to maintain our competitive edge. This role will lead the development and deployment of detailed strategic network solutions to support the evolution and operation of BT's converged core network, using software engineering to deliver changes faster and more accurately. This ensures the network can support BT's capacity, product development, and customer experience requirements while delivering best-in-class cost efficiency.

What you’ll be doing

• Owns and leads strategic network developments, designs & their associated artefacts for new products or platform improvements, in particular the technical design and deployment architecture of Nokia’s Element Manager (NSP) for BT’s Converged Core in alignment with the Platform’s roadmap and strategy

• Champion the security of Nokia’s NSP for BT’s Converged Core (e.g. executes penetration testing, evaluate vulnerabilities, advises on security matters from the underlying Operating System to the application itself, etc.)

• Holds Nokia to account for the quality of their product development, proposed testing cycle and deployment strategy

• As a Subject Matter Expert on Nokia’s NSP platform, sets direction and contributes to wider technical roadmap through assessment of technologies and equipment advancements.

• Advises on how NSP fits in BT’s overall IT system architecture and how changes may impact upstream systems and coordinates stakeholders to ensure seamless integration

• Proactively identifies and pursues opportunities for software adoption, in the context of network automation but not excluding other uses

• Generates and leads on ideas for improvement in process and ways of working

• Works with stakeholders to understand, interpret and shape requirements for network deliverables

• Support for Live and OSS Test issues

• Scopes, reviews and executes tests to ensure network designs & their associated artefacts meet business and technical requirements

• Mentors more junior staff in technical expertise and engineering professionalism within and beyond immediate team, using official channels such as the Tech Fellowship

Skills and Experience

Systems
• Knowledge of Nokia’s NSP platform, its architecture and its capabilities

• A comprehensive understanding of system security, coupled with the ability to implement security measures that comply with the latest TSA requirements.

• Containerisation: Understanding of containers and container orchestration (Kubernetes)

Network Engineering
• Networking: demonstrates good understanding in IP/MPLS, Routing protocols (e.g. OSPF/ BGP) and network services (e.g. VPWS/ VRFs) – CCNA/NRS1 level preferred

Software Engineering
• Ability to write/interpret simple programmes using software engineering best practices (Python preferred)

• Understanding of version control (e.g. GitLab)

Other
• Strategic thinking with regards to network evolution and automation adoption
• Ability to communicate complex technical topics clearly to business stakeholders
• Understanding of Agile working methodologies
Experience you’d be expected to have
Engaging with Vendor and stakeholders to create solutions that are aligned with defined roadmaps and strategy

Building solutions to meet business requirements using network technology and associated systems

Assessing system vulnerabilities to ensure compliance with industry standards

Evidence of creating and implementing process improvements

Benefits

• 10% on target bonus
• BT Pension scheme, minimum 5% Employee contribution, BT contribution 10%
• From January 2025, equal family leave: receive 18 weeks at full pay, 8 weeks at half pay and 26 weeks at the statutory rate. It’s for all parents, no matter how your family is made up.
• Enhanced women’s health support: including help with menopause symptoms, cancer screenings, period care and more.
• 25 days annual leave (not including bank holidays), increasing with service
• 24/7 private virtual GP appointments for UK colleagues
• 2 weeks carer’s leave
• World-class training and development opportunities
• Option to join BT Shares Saving schemes

About us

BT Group was the world’s first telco and our heritage in the sector is unrivalled. As home to several of the UK’s most recognised and cherished brands – BT, EE, Openreach and Plusnet, we have always played a critical role in creating the future, and we have reached an inflection point in the transformation of our business.

Over the next two years, we will complete the UK’s largest and most successful digital infrastructure project – connecting more than 25 million premises to full fibre broadband. Together with our heavy investment in 5G, we play a central role in revolutionising how people connect with each other.

While we are through the most capital-intensive phase of our fibre investment, meaning we can reward our shareholders for their commitment and patience, we are absolutely focused on how we organise ourselves in the best way to serve our customers in the years to come. This includes radical simplification of systems, structures, and processes on a huge scale. Together with our application of AI and technology, we are on a path to creating the UK’s best telco, reimagining the customer experience and relationship with one of this country’s biggest infrastructure companies.

Change on the scale we will all experience in the coming years is unprecedented. BT Group is committed to being the driving force behind improving connectivity for millions and there has never been a more exciting time to join a company and leadership team with the skills, experience, creativity, and passion to take this company into a new era.

A FEW POINTS TO NOTE:

Although these roles are listed as full-time, if you’re a job share partnership, work reduced hours, or any other way of working flexibly, please still get in touch.

We will also offer reasonable adjustments for the selection process if required, so please do not hesitate to inform us.

DON'T MEET EVERY SINGLE REQUIREMENT?

Studies have shown that women and people who are disabled, LGBTQ+, neurodiverse or from ethnic minority backgrounds are less likely to apply for jobs unless they meet every single qualification and criteria. We're committed to building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace where everyone can be their best, so if you're excited about this role but your past experience doesn't align perfectly with every requirement on the Job Description, please apply anyway - you may just be the right candidate for this or other roles in our wider team.