Somerset Council is seeking an ICT Engineer – Firewall to enhance and protect their digital services. The role involves supporting the operation and development of the council’s firewall and network security infrastructure, contributing to secure connectivity and assisting with various operational and project support tasks.

Responsibilities

• Monitor firewall, VPN, and security platforms, identifying and escalating issues where required
• Support day-to-day firewall operations including policy updates, NAT configuration, and system health checks
• Assist with troubleshooting network security and connectivity issues
• Perform initial diagnostics across firewalls and related network components
• Support planned changes including firmware upgrades, ruleset optimisation, and migration activities
• Assist with firewall builds, interface configuration, and policy deployment
• Contribute to technical documentation, configuration records, and network diagrams
• Follow governance processes including change control and security standards
• Maintain accurate records of firewall rules, VPNs, and configurations
• Support audit and compliance activities by providing logs and technical evidence
• Work alongside senior engineers to develop knowledge in firewall technologies and security best practice
• Participate in training, shadowing, and knowledge-sharing sessions
• Identify opportunities to improve processes, reduce complexity, and enhance service reliability
• Maintain accurate records in IT service management systems
• Collaborate with internal teams and external suppliers to support service delivery and ongoing improvements

Skills

• Good understanding of networking fundamentals (IP addressing, routing, switching, VLANs, DNS, DHCP)
• Basic knowledge of firewall concepts (security policies, NAT, VPNs)
• Experience troubleshooting IT or network-related issues
• Strong problem-solving and analytical skills
• Willingness and enthusiasm to develop a career in network security
• Good communication and documentation skills
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Full UK driving licence
• Exposure to enterprise firewall platforms (e.g. Fortinet, Cisco, Palo Alto, Check Point)
• Familiarity with network or security monitoring tools
• Understanding of cybersecurity standards (e.g. Cyber Essentials+, ISO 27001, NCSC guidance)
• Basic knowledge of cloud networking (Azure/AWS)
• Relevant certifications (e.g. Network+, Security+, CCNA, Fortinet NSE)
• Awareness of ITIL or service management practices
• Experience working in a public sector or regulated environment

Benefits

• 28 days’ annual leave (additional to Bank Holidays)
• Flexible and hybrid working available

Company Overview