IT Network Engineer

PORTWEST, a leading global manufacturer of safety wear, workwear and PPE is currently seeking applications for the position of IT Network Engineer in Westport, Ireland on a permanent basis reporting to the Infrastructure Manager. Founded in 1904, Portwest has become one of the fastest growing workwear companies in the world currently employing over 6,000 staff worldwide. With 1400 styles across more than 20 ranges, we design, manufacture and distribute market leading workwear, safety wear and PPE in fully owned production facilities. We’re on a mission to become the world’s most requested PPE and Safety Wear Brand.


JOB SUMMARY:

We are seeking an experienced and proactive IT Network Engineer to take ownership of our global network infrastructure, ensuring secure, resilient and reliable connectivity across our international operations.

Working within a mixed-vendor environment, the successful candidate will manage day-to-day network operations and security, deliver infrastructure upgrades and drive the standardisation and modernisation of our network. The role requires a continuous-improvement mindset, identifying recurring issues, technical risks and opportunities to automate repetitive operational tasks.

The role works closely with our Infrastructure and Cyber Security teams.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Network Infrastructure & Security

• Take operational ownership of the global network environment, including firewalls, switches, wireless access points, controllers, VPNs and associated management platforms

• Configure and maintain network infrastructure, proactively monitoring health, capacity, performance and security to address emerging issues before they cause service disruption

• Administer FortiGate, SonicWall and other firewalls, including security policies, rules, network objects, VPN connections and secure remote access

• Support routing, switching, VLANs, network segmentation, DNS, DHCP and connectivity between global sites, cloud platforms and third-party services

• Manage the lifecycle of network equipment, including firmware updates, support renewals and end-of-life replacement

• Work with the Cyber Security team to regularly review firewall rules, VPNs, administrative access and network configurations, identifying obsolete, insecure or unnecessary configuration

• Own network issues from initial investigation through root cause analysis, resolution, communication and closure

Infrastructure Projects & Improvements

• Design and deploy secure, resilient and supportable network solutions for new sites, warehouse developments, infrastructure upgrades, and technology refreshes.

• Standardise the global network environment, reducing unnecessary technical variation between locations

• Contribute to network architecture, topology planning, capacity planning and infrastructure roadmaps

• Coordinate with internal teams, local IT resources, telecommunications providers and technology partners during implementations and upgrades

• Assist with wider IT infrastructure activities, including servers, cloud platforms, virtualisation and warehouse technologies, where required

• Maintain accurate and current network documentation, including configurations, diagrams, IP addressing, circuits, support information and standard operating procedures

Requirements

• At least 3 years' relevant experience in network engineering or a similar IT infrastructure role.

• A recognised networking certification, such as CCNA, Fortinet Certified Professional or an equivalent qualification, or proven hands-on experience

• Demonstrable hands-on experience managing enterprise firewalls, switches, wireless access points and associated management platforms, including Fortinet (FortiGate and centralised management or reporting platforms), SonicWall, HP Aruba and Cisco.

• Ability to manage technical work independently while collaborating across Infrastructure, Cyber Security, service providers and global teams.

• Knowledge of firewall policies, network security, segmentation, and secure remote access.

• A proactive and structured approach to continuous improvement, documentation, and operational risk reduction.

• General IT infrastructure knowledge and willingness to support wider technical activities.

• Strong troubleshooting, analytical, problem-solving and decision-making skills

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