Network & Infrastructure Tooling / Automation Engineer - freelance - hybrid, London, UK

The organisation has accumulated a fragmented tooling estate with significant underutilisation — tools purchased but never properly deployed or embedded. This role will assess the current tooling landscape, define a target\-state tooling strategy, and lead the implementation of automation and observability capabilities that will underpin both the transformation programme and the ongoing operational run state.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>
<\/span><\/span><\/p>

Key responsibilities<\/b><\/span>
<\/h3>

<\/span><\/span> <\/div>

• Audit the current network and infrastructure tooling estate, identifying duplication, gaps, and unlicensed\/underutilised products<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>
  <\/span><\/span><\/p><\/li>

• Define a target\-state tooling strategy covering: network management, observability\/monitoring, automation\/orchestration, IPAM, and CMDB<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>
  <\/span><\/span><\/p><\/li>

• Design and implement network automation workflows for standard operational tasks (port changes, firewall rule changes, VLAN provisioning)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>
  <\/span><\/span><\/p><\/li>

• Build out network observability capabilities to provide deterministic visibility across the converged network environment<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>
  <\/span><\/span><\/p><\/li>

• Work with the architecture team to define and implement a CMDB strategy, enabling accurate asset and service dependency data<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>
  <\/span><\/span><\/p><\/li>

• Develop automation to support the transformation programme itself — migration tooling, configuration validation, and audit capabilities<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>
  <\/span><\/span><\/p><\/li>

• Evaluate and rationalise managed service tooling used by the NTT\-managed network<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>
  <\/span><\/span><\/p><\/li>

• Provide tooling input into the change management process, enabling automated risk classification and impact assessment<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>
  <\/span><\/span>
  <\/p><\/li> <\/ul>

  
  <\/b><\/span><\/span> <\/div><\/span>
  

  Requirements<\/h3>

  Technical requirements <\/span><\/span><\/b>
  <\/h3>

  • Network automation: Python, Ansible, or similar automation frameworks<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>
    <\/p><\/li>

  • Network management and monitoring platforms (e.g., SolarWinds, PRTG, Datadog, Grafana, or equivalent)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>
    <\/p><\/li>

  • CMDB design and implementation (ServiceNow or similar ITSM platforms)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>
    <\/p><\/li>

  • IPAM tools (Infoblox, phpIPAM, or similar)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>
    <\/p><\/li>

  • API\-driven network management (REST APIs, NETCONF\/YANG, Cisco DNA Centre or ACI API)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>
    <\/p><\/li>

  • Cisco ACI API and automation familiarity advantageous<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>
    <\/p><\/li>

  • Configuration management and version control for network infrastructure (Git\-based workflows)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>
    <\/p><\/li>

  • Understanding of DevOps\/NetDevOps practices<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>
    <\/p><\/li> <\/ul>

    Advantageous <\/span><\/span>
    <\/h3>

    • Experience in financial services or similarly regulated environments<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>
      <\/p><\/li>

    • Knowledge of ServiceNow integration with network management tooling<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>
      <\/p><\/li>

    • Familiarity with cloud\-native observability tools<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>
      <\/p><\/li>

    • Scripting for reporting and cost analysis<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>
      <\/p><\/li> <\/ul>

      Soft skills<\/span><\/span>
      <\/h3>

      • Pragmatic and delivery\-focused — able to identify quick wins alongside longer\-term capability builds<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>
        <\/p><\/li>

      • Able to work across infrastructure, operations, and architecture teams<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>
        <\/p><\/li>

      • Strong documentation skills<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>
        <\/p><\/li>

      • Capable of training and upskilling operational team members on new tooling<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>
        <\/p><\/li> <\/ul>

        
        <\/div><\/span>
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