Director of Network Operations (Irvine, US)

Responsibilities

• Architect, operate, and optimize large-scale, low-latency IP/MPLS and cloud networks.
• Drive automation (Python, Ansible, Terraform, APIs) to eliminate manual toil.
• Build monitoring and observability systems (Prometheus, Grafana, NetFlow, SNMP, Splunk).
• Lead the Network Operations function, including 24/7 NOC activities, capacity planning, and service availability.
• Build, mentor, and develop a high-performing team of developers, engineers and operations staff.
• Define and execute operational strategy, KPIs, and SLAs to ensure uptime and customer satisfaction.
• Partner with cross-functional teams to support new product launches and network initiatives.
• Oversee vendor relationships, contract negotiations, and service provider performance.
• Act as the final escalation point for critical incidents and drive root cause analysis (RCA).
• Ensure compliance with security, regulatory, and audit requirements.

Requirements

• 10+ years in Network Operations/Engineering, with at least 5 years leading teams.
• Expertise in routing, switching, and large-scale IP networks (BGP, OSPF, MPLS, VXLAN).
• Strong experience with cloud networking (AWS, Azure, GCP).
• Familiarity with automation and orchestration tools (Python, Ansible, Terraform).
• Experience managing mission-critical, 24/7 global network environments.
• Advanced certifications (CCIE, JNCIE, or equivalent) are a plus, but hands-on skills matter more.

Competencies

• A hands-on leader who can build teams and still jump into configs.
• Obsessed with reliability, automation, and “fixing things the right way.”
• Calm under pressure, sharp in a crisis, and relentless about operational excellence.
• Excited to lead by example and mentor engineers to become world-class operators.

Pay

Annual salary range: $160,000 - $250,000