Lead Network Engineer

About the role

We are seeking an experienced Lead Network Engineer to join our Network Engineering team. This role requires deep technical expertise across enterprise routing, switching, cloud networking, data center architecture, and network security technologies.

Responsibilities

• Arc and implement enterprise network infrastructure across data centers, cloud environments, and global offices.
• Design and operate highly available routing and switching environments leveraging technologies such as BGP, OSPF, Cisco Nexus, Cisco IOS, and Cisco ACI.
• Architect and maintain hybrid cloud networking solutions, including Azure networking connectivity, segmentation, and security integration.
• Design and maintain secure network architectures integrating Palo Alto firewall platforms, Cisco ISE identity services, and network access controls.
• Engineer and optimize SD-WAN and wireless networking environments, including Palo Alto Networks and Cisco solutions.
• Design and implement data center networking architectures supporting high-performance application workloads and resilient connectivity.
• Develop and maintain network disaster recovery strategies, ensuring business continuity across critical infrastructure platforms.
• Lead technical troubleshooting and root cause analysis for complex network incidents, including deep packet inspection and performance analysis.
• Evaluate new networking technologies through product assessments, proof-of-concept testing, and architecture validation.
• Develop reference architectures, high-level designs (HLD), and low-level designs (LLD) for current and future network platforms.
• Implement monitoring, observability, and self-healing network capabilities to improve operational efficiency and system resilience.
• Partner with vendors to drive feature enhancements, product improvements, and scalability initiatives aligned with the firm’s evolving infrastructure requirements.
• Collaborate with infrastructure, cloud, and security engineering teams to ensure network designs align with enterprise security frameworks and compliance requirements.
• Define network performance metrics and reporting frameworks to communicate operational health and improvement initiatives.
• Provide technical leadership and mentorship to other engineers while contributing as a hands-on technical expert.

Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Computer Science, Telecommunications, or related field.
• CCIE or equivalent expert-level networking experience.
• Microsoft Azure Solutions Architect Expert or equivalent cloud networking experience preferred.
• Experience: 10+ years of experience in enterprise network engineering and architecture.
• Extensive experience designing and operating large-scale enterprise network environments.
• Proven experience delivering complex infrastructure transformation or modernization projects.
• Enterprise Networking Expert knowledge of enterprise routing and switching protocols and platforms including BGP, OSPF, Cisco Nexus, Cisco IOS, and Cisco ACI.
• Cloud Networking Strong experience designing and operating Azure networking environments, including hybrid connectivity, segmentation, and cloud network architecture.
• Network Security Experience implementing and supporting enterprise network security solutions including Palo Alto firewalls, Cisco ISE, and network access control technologies.
• Data Center & Infrastructure Architecture Proven experience designing data center network architectures, supporting high availability, scalability, and performance for enterprise workloads.
• SD-WAN & Wireless Experience deploying and supporting Prisma SD-WAN and Meraki wireless networking solutions within enterprise environments.
• Resiliency & Disaster Recovery Experience designing network disaster recovery architectures and highly available network infrastructures.
• Monitoring & Observability Experience with network monitoring, telemetry, and self-healing network capabilities to improve operational visibility and reliability.
• Collaboration & Communication Strong communicator who can explain network technologies and approaches, trade-offs, and lifecycle considerations to technical and non-technical audiences.
• Ability to work effectively with collaborators who have diverse backgrounds, roles, and communication styles.
• Comfort giving and receiving constructive feedback as part of a collaborative engineering team.
• General Requirements: Strong written and verbal communication skills, Excellent documentation and architecture design skills, Ability to manage multiple projects and priorities simultaneously, Experience working in global enterprise environments, preferably in financial services or other highly regulated environment, Familiarity with ITIL processes, Willingness to travel (approximately 10–25%).

Pay

The anticipated base salary range for this position is $100,000 - $125,000. Total compensation may also include a discretionary performance-based bonus. The firm also offers robust Benefits offerings, including Comprehensive Medical/Rx, Dental and Vision plans; 401(k) program with company match; Flexible Savings Accounts (FSA); Healthcare Savings Accounts (HSA) with company contribution; Basic and Voluntary Life Insurance; Long-Term Disability (LTD) and Short-Term Disability (STD) insurance; Employee Assistance Program (EAP), and Commuter Benefits plan for parking and transit. Ares offers a number of additional benefits including access to a world-class medical advisory team, a mental health app that includes coaching, therapy and psychiatry, a mindfulness and wellbeing app, financial wellness benefit that includes access to a financial advisor, new parent leave, reproductive and adoption assistance, emergency backup care, matching gift program, education sponsorship program, and much more. There is no set deadline to apply for this job opportunity. Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis until the search is no longer active.