Network Engineer Apprentice - Bell
QA Limited · London · SE1 7ND
About the role
🚀 Launch Your Network Engineering Career with Bell! 🚀
Ready to level up your tech skills and become a network guru? 🧠 Bell is offering an awesome apprenticeship where you'll get hands-on experience with top-tier tech like Cisco, cutting-edge security, and modern data centre networks. Plus, you'll earn a recognized apprenticeship qualification! 🎓
About the Role:
Dive into the world of network engineering! You'll help build, run, and constantly improve Bell's wired, wireless, and super-secure network services. Think enterprise networks, data centres, customer setups, and even future AI infrastructure. 🌐 This role is all about building your foundational network engineering skills, with a strong focus on:
- Cisco Tech: Routing, switching – the essentials! 💻
- Wireless Networking: Keeping everyone connected smoothly. 📶
- Network Security: Protecting our systems like a pro. 🔒
- Operational Support: Making sure everything runs like clockwork. ⚙️
You'll also get introduced to cool modern data centre concepts like EVPN/VXLAN, software-defined networking, automation, observability, and even high-performance AI fabrics using NVIDIA InfiniBand. 💡
Working alongside experienced network, infrastructure, and security engineers, you'll contribute to making our networks more reliable, improving documentation, and mastering troubleshooting. You'll gain practical experience with brands like Cisco, Palo Alto, Fortinet, HPE Aruba, and Dell networking.
What You'll Be Doing (Responsibilities):
- Network support and engineering tasks.
- Getting involved with firewalls, security, and access control. 🛡️
- Monitoring, troubleshooting, and ensuring operational reliability.
- Exploring modern network automation and observability.
- Helping with documentation and maintaining standards. 📝
- Collaborating with different teams across the business. 🤝
What You'll Bring (Required Skills):
- A solid grasp of networking basics: IP addressing, subnetting, routing, switching, DNS, DHCP, and common network services. 📊
- A genuine passion for Cisco technologies, network engineering, and maybe even getting certified! ✨
- An understanding of network security principles (firewalls, access control, logging, monitoring, secure configs).
- Curiosity about modern network setups: data centre fabrics, cloud, automation, observability, and AI networking.
- Good analytical, diagnostic, and problem-solving skills. 🤔
- Excellent communication and people skills.🗣️
- The ability to thrive in a structured team and follow important procedures.
Bonus Points (Desirable Experience):
- Familiarity with Cisco networking and CCNA-level concepts.
- Exposure to firewalls, wireless, or network monitoring.
- Experience with Palo Alto, Fortinet, HPE Aruba, or Dell networking.
- A basic understanding of data centre networking, cloud connectivity, or secure remote access.
- Awareness of EVPN/VXLAN, leaf-spine architectures, network overlays, segmentation, and software-defined networking.
- Interest in AI networking, NVIDIA InfiniBand, RDMA, low-latency fabrics, and GPU clusters.
- A keen interest in network automation, telemetry, observability, and infrastructure-as-code.
Entry Requirements:
You'll need one of the following:
- An A-Level in ICT.
- An International Baccalaureate at Level 3 ICT.
- A Level 3 apprenticeship in a similar field.
- A BTEC Extended Diploma in IT (180 credits).
Don't have these exact qualifications? If you have a combination of qualifications and experience that shows you've got the foundation we're looking for, you might still be a great fit! We'll consider international equivalents too – just make sure you have official documentation comparing them to UK qualifications. 🌍
Work & Perks:
- Hours: 9am - 5:30pm. ⏰
- Work Model: Remote-first, with occasional in-person meetups for collaboration. 🏡
- Benefits: Pension, coffee machine, dress-down policy, hybrid working. ☕️
- Future: This is a launchpad! We aim for you to grow into a permanent Network Engineer role or specialize in areas like network security, wireless, data centre, AI networking, or automation. 🚀
About Bell:
We're all about making IT operations shine, whether it's boosting performance, improving how things connect, or using game-changing tech like Cloud and AI to create real value. Count on Bell's decades of expertise to guide you. ✨
Ready to Apply?
Hit that apply button to learn more and submit your application! Don't wait too long – applications might close early. 👉 [Apply Now]
Key responsibilities
- Network support and engineering
- Firewall, security and access control
- Monitoring, troubleshooting and operational reliability
- Modern network automation and observability
- Documentation and standards