Lead Network Engineer

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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.

The Lead Network Engineer leads the planning, installation, monitoring, and automated management of complex network systems, delivering top-tier technical support to internal clients. Evaluates, tests, and recommends new network technologies, with a strategic focus on automation and cloud networking, to continuously improve efficiency and align with enterprise modernization objectives.

This role is accountable for complying with all applicable laws and regulations as well as internal policies and standards associated with assigned duties and responsibilities.

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. Ensures all network solutions, including hardware and software, meet enterprise standards for security, availability, reliability, and performance.

Continuously evaluates new technologies, including SDN controllers, cloud networking services, and advanced automation tools, and drives modernization to support cloud adoption and business needs.

Network Automation and Software-Defined Operations

Champions and implements network automation and orchestration capabilities as a core function of the network team. Develops and maintains automation frameworks, including automated provisioning scripts, configuration templating systems, and version-controlled network configurations, to streamline routine network changes and reduce manual effort.

Integrates network management with DevOps practices using CI/CD pipelines for infrastructure updates and policy deployment to ensure consistency and agility in network operations.

Guides the transition toward software-defined networking and APIs for network programmability, ensuring the network can be managed as code for rapid scaling and improved reliability.

Strategic and Tactical Planning

Develops and recommends network strategies that align with broader IT and business goals. Actively participates in technology roadmaps and cross-functional planning to enable digital transformation initiatives, including cloud migration and SDN implementations.

Evaluates and selects new network solutions, including automation platforms, across on-premise and cloud platforms to ensure the organization adopts the most effective, scalable, and cost-efficient technology options.

Team Leadership and Knowledge Sharing

Provides technical leadership and mentorship in network automation and best practices to peers and junior engineers. Promotes a culture of continuous improvement by encouraging innovation in process automation, network monitoring, and self-healing networks.

Leads by example in using both traditional networking expertise and software development skills to solve complex problems. Frequently presents and transfers knowledge on new networking trends, including cloud, SDN, and AI/ML in networking, to the team, fostering professional growth and readiness for future network initiatives.

Business Alignment and Collaboration

Builds strong relationships with business stakeholders to understand requirements, pain points, and objectives. Ensures that network solutions, including automation efforts, directly support critical business needs such as improving operational efficiency, reliability, and security in alignment with enterprise IT strategy.

Collaborates with cross-functional teams, including Security, Cloud, and Application teams, to integrate networking seamlessly into broader infrastructure and cloud projects.

Compliance and Standardization

Ensures that all network changes and architectures adhere to corporate security policies, regulatory requirements, and industry best practices. Implements standardized processes, including change management and governance for network automation tools, to maintain compliance and auditability of network configurations.

Performs other job-related duties as assigned, within scope of responsibilities.

Required Qualifications

Education

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.

Work 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: n-depth 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.

Other Technical Skills:

Demonstrated deep technical knowledge across a broad range of IT disciplines at an architectural level. Capable of analyzing and solving complex network problems, with strong troubleshooting skills and experience using advanced diagnostics, simulation tools, and network analytics.

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 deci