Principal Network Defence Analyst

Not Specified
Peterborough
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IS / IT / Data
Not Specified
Permanent

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The Role & Key Responsibilities
Job Title: Principal Network Defence Analyst

Location: Peterborough (Hybrid)

Contract and shift details: Permanent, full-time position (37.5 hours per week), with participation in an on-call rota approximately once every six weeks—covering out-of-hours support, including evenings and weekends.

Are you an experienced network professional with a keen interest in cyber defence and skilled at solving complex infrastructure challenges? Do you thrive in a critical role where connectivity and security converge to protect global operations?

Our Cyber Security team is looking for a Principal Network Defence Analyst to join our DevSecOps function—playing a critical role in shaping, maintaining, and innovating our network security landscape. This is a hybrid role combining deep technical knowledge of connectivity with a strategic approach to cyber defence. You'll work closely with internal teams and external vendors to ensure our infrastructure remains secure, scalable, and aligned with our wider security goals.

What you'll be doing:
- Act as the subject matter expert for network security, providing technical leadership across Cyber Security and BTS teams.
- Coordinate the triage and remediation of vulnerabilities across network infrastructure—ensuring timely patching of switches, firewalls, and related assets.
- Manage vendor and third-party relationships to ensure secure, compliant, and resilient network service delivery.
- Enhance innovation within the security product landscape, particularly in network detection and response, intrusion prevention, and packet analysis tooling.
- Develop and maintain technical standards, documentation, and best practices for secure network design and operation.
- Support the upskilling of team members by sharing network knowledge and mentoring junior analysts.
- Collaborate closely with SOC and DevSecOps teams to systematically identify, assess, and mitigate emerging threats.
- Contribute to the design and continuous improvement of security operations processes, ensuring they align with wider BTS and business goals.
What you'll bring:
- Proficient knowledge in networking fundamentals and infrastructure, including WAN (SD-WAN, Fabric), LAN (Cisco/Extreme), and cloud networking (Azure or other providers).
- Practical experience with network security tools and appliances such as Palo Alto, Check Point, Network Detection and Response (NDR), and packet capture analysis.
- A solid understanding of information security frameworks and standards such as ISO 27001, NIST, and general security architecture principles.
- Experience managing infrastructure patching processes and vulnerability remediation within complex environments.
- Skilled in analytical and problem-solving efforts, with the ability to make informed decisions.
- An ability to effectively collaborate with a diverse array of stakeholders, including vendors, security teams, and platform teams.
- Relevant industry certifications or willingness to pursue them—such as CCNA, CCSA, CISSP, CISM, or equivalent.
- A motivated mindset, solid sense of ownership, and enthusiasm for mentoring others and driving continuous improvement.
Location

Hybrid, a mix of office and homeworking. This role will be based at our Peterborough offices on the Lynchwood Business Park. The office has recently been renovated and along with a modern work environment has great public transport links, free onsite parking, free drink facilities, free lunch option each day and a great team culture. Please note, this role may require occasional travel to ABF sites in the UK.

Associated British Foods Business Technology Services are continually reviewing our benefits to ensure our staff feel rewarded…

Associated British Foods is a global giant when it comes to the world of food processing and retail. Our ingredients division is the world’s second-largest producer of both sugar and baker’s yeast and our grocery brands occupy leading positions across the globe meaning that, in the UK, nine out of ten households use our brands.

Associated British Foods Business Technology Services (BTS) was first established in 2008 to deliver a centralised IT infrastructure and service to our fellow ABF businesses. We have now grown and operate in over 185 locations spread across 23 countries supported by a fantastic team of nearly 200. Our customers are at the heart of everything we do and we’re looking for people who are eager to join us in supporting and delivering this vision.

We want you to be a part of our future and to support you, so below are a handful of some of our benefits that are offered to our employees.

AB Foods BTS match up to 10% pension (contributory)
Up to 10% Bonus
Opportunity to buy up to 5 days holiday per calendar year
Discounts on ABF products such as Twinings, Silverspoon, Pataks and Ryvita
24/7 free and confidential access to an Employee Assistance Programme to support you as and when necessary

We’re looking for dedicated and conscientious people who embrace and live our values. If you are an individual who thrives in a collaborative, trusting and pioneering work environment, ABF could be the right company for you.

All recruitment activities into our ABF BTS team are supported by our AB Agri business.

Making your application

Ready to apply? Great! Simply register your details and upload your CV via our careers website – it usually takes just a few minutes. Please do not delay making your application. In the event of a high candidate response to this vacancy we may close the application period before the date shown and without notice.

So that we can support you to perform at your best, please let us know of any adjustments that may be required throughout the recruitment process by emailing [email protected]

As part of your application, we ask you to answer some equal opportunities questions that help us to monitor how inclusive our recruitment process is and identify areas we can improve in. This information is anonymised, separate from your application and is never seen by the hiring panel. You can choose not to answer these questions with no impact on your application.

ABF BTS recruitment is supported by our AB Agri group and we politely request no contact from recruitment agencies or media sales. We have a PSL and do not accept speculative CVs from recruitment agencies nor accept the fees associated with them.

Job Spec

Questions about this role?

If you have any questions about this role or need help applying please contact Taylor Waldon via [email protected].

Supporting your application

We work with a number of external partners to ensure that our application process is as comfortable as possible, regardless of your circumstances or background.