Lead Network Engineer

Position Purpose

Provides the highest level of network architecture design, implementation, and automation leadership for enterprise voice and data communications systems across on-premise and cloud environments. Ensures the integrity, security, availability, reliability, and performance of network infrastructure by leveraging modern, software-defined approaches, including network programmability and Infrastructure as Code practices.

How You Contribute to the Company’s Mission in this Role

• Technical Architecture and Modernization - Leads the planning, design, testing, and automated deployment of network architectures across multiple platforms, including data center, WAN, campus, and cloud environments.
• Network Automation and Software-Defined Operations - Champions and implements network automation and orchestration capabilities as a core function of the network team.
• Strategic and Tactical Planning - Develops and recommends network strategies that align with broader IT and business goals.
• Team Leadership and Knowledge Sharing - Provides technical leadership and mentorship in network automation and best practices to peers and junior engineers.
• Business Alignment and Collaboration - Builds strong relationships with business stakeholders to understand requirements, pain points, and objectives.
• Compliance and Standardization - Ensures that all network changes and architectures adhere to corporate security policies, regulatory requirements, and industry best practices.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science or related field is required.
• Four years of relevant work experience may be substituted for a bachelor’s degree.
• Industry certifications approved by management, such as Cisco CCNA or Cisco DevNet Associate, may be considered in lieu of some years of experience.
• Minimum of seven years of progressive network engineering experience in a large-scale, complex environment required.
• Extensive background in enterprise network systems and programming required, including significant hands-on expertise in multiple of the following key domains:
• Network Automation and Scripting: Proficiency in Python programming and/or other scripting languages for network automation, including use of RESTful APIs, Ansible, and Netmiko. Experience implementing Infrastructure as Code, including Terraform, to define and manage network infrastructure via automated pipelines is highly desired.
• Ci/CD and Orchestration: Experience designing or using Ci/CD and GitOps workflows for network configuration management and automated deployment processes to ensure consistent, repeatable changes across network environments.
• Software-Defined Networking: Depth of knowledge of software-defined network architectures, such as Cisco ACI, VMware NSX, SD-WAN solutions, and multi-cloud networking across Azure and AWS environments. Familiarity with modern network programmability frameworks, including controller-driven and API-centric networking, and policy-driven network segmentation technologies.
• Traditional Network Infrastructure: Strong background in core route/switch protocols, including BGP and OSPF, firewall administration, including Palo Alto and Cisco ASA, load balancers, network access control, including Cisco ISE, wireless networks, and network performance monitoring tools.
• Multi-Platform and Hybrid Infrastructure: Experience designing and supporting network connectivity across on-premise data centers and cloud platforms, including Azure. Familiarity with virtualization and container networking, including VMware, Hyper-V, Kubernetes, and cloud VPC/VNet design, is preferred.

Skills And Abilities

• Strong communication skills and business acumen, with the ability to translate complex network concepts into business terms and negotiate solutions across multiple departments.
• Recognized technical leader who proactively recommends process improvements for the network technology stack and stays current with industry advancements, including cloud networking, automation, and security.
• Regularly meets with peers and vendors to resolve complex network issues, analyzes business requirements, and weighs alternatives to recommend optimal, cost-effective solutions.
• Contributes significantly to network strategy and architecture decisions and advises senior management on emerging network technologies and approaches.
• Demonstrates creativity and strong analytical ability in solving difficult problems and developing innovative approaches to meet objectives.
• Able to provide technical leadership, mentorship, and knowledge transfer to less-experienced team members.
• Able to collaborate effectively across cross-functional teams and support enterprise technology modernization initiatives.