Network Engineer

Key Responsibilities

Network Topology Simplification (Priority Initiative)

• Lead a critical initiative to assess, redesign, and simplify the organization’s network topology, which has grown complex as a result of multiple mergers and acquisitions.
• Conduct a comprehensive audit of the current network architecture, documenting inherited topologies, overlapping segments, redundant providers, and integration gaps.
• Design a simplified, unified target-state network architecture that consolidates overlapping infrastructure, standardizes connectivity, and reduces operational complexity across all sites and environments.
• Develop and execute a plan to transition away from high-cost legacy network providers to more cost-effective and strategically aligned solutions, including SD-WAN and cloud-native connectivity options.
• Quantify cost reduction opportunities associated with provider consolidation and topology simplification; present findings and recommendations to program leadership.
• Track and report realized cost savings against program targets throughout the engagement. Recommend right-sizing of bandwidth, circuits, and managed services based on actual utilization data.
• Define and document the future-state network standards, runbooks, and architectural patterns to support ongoing operations post-simplification. Provide structured knowledge transfer to the internal network team ahead of contract close-out.

Network Design & Engineering

• Design, configure, administer, monitor, and troubleshoot complex enterprise network environments for communications and solution improvements within high-traffic, business-critical production environments.
• Analyze, design, test, and evaluate network systems including LAN, SD-WAN, cloud networking, data centers, and other data communications systems.
• Develop and implement plans for infrastructure upgrades, network modeling, capacity analysis, and long-range planning.

Infrastructure & Operations

• Work with complex network and storage environments including SAN, clustering, load balancing, multi-site VPNs, network IDS, and firewalls.
• Acquire, maintain, and report on data related to network performance management, capacity planning, and utilization trend analysis.

Automation & Cloud Networking

• Develop and maintain network automation scripts and tooling to streamline configuration management, provisioning, and monitoring.
• Design and manage cloud networking configurations across AWS, OCI, and GCP environments, including VPCs/VCNs, VPNs, transit gateways, Direct Connect, FastConnect, Cloud Interconnect, and peering.
• Implement and maintain SD-WAN solutions across enterprise locations.

Collaboration & Governance

• Collaborate with other functional IT areas to ensure best practices, policies, and procedures are adhered to.
• Coordinate with third-party vendors and internal engineering teams to support network upgrades and modernization initiatives.
• Maintain accurate network documentation, diagrams, and change records throughout the engagement.

Required Qualifications

• 8+ years of experience in setup, configuration, and maintenance of networking infrastructure including Cisco and Juniper switches, routers, firewalls, VPN technologies, SD-WAN, and WAN administration.
• 8+ years of experience configuring and supporting IP networks; proven experience designing and operating hub-and-spoke or large-scale WAN/hybrid network architectures; strong fundamental knowledge of networks, ports, protocols, and infrastructure setup.
• 5+ years of experience with Google Cloud Platform (GCP), multi-region Amazon Web Services (AWS), and/or Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI) networking configurations.
• 3+ years of experience managing Cisco Meraki wireless networks and equipment in office environments.
• Direct experience with post-acquisition network integration or network rationalization programs.
• Experience managing or transitioning away from managed network service providers (Masergy, AT&T, Lumen, or similar) — candidates with this background will have a strong advantage.
• Demonstrated Juniper networking expertise (MX, EX, SRX series or equivalent) — critical requirement for this role.
• Hands-on experience with network automation using Python, Ansible, or similar tools — critical requirement for this role.
• Experience with Cisco UCS compute and data center infrastructure.
• Solid understanding of Microsoft Active Directory, DNS, DHCP, and related services in a large, multi-site environment.
• Enterprise-scale experience (1,000+ PCs, 500+ servers, multi-platform environments) strongly preferred.
• In-depth knowledge of IT standards, concepts, best practices, and procedures; relies on experience and judgment to plan and accomplish goals.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently with limited oversight in a contract or consulting capacity; highly autonomous — able to own and drive workstreams from discovery through delivery with minimal supervision.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills; able to communicate effectively across technical teams and business stakeholders.
• Strong organizational, project management, analytical, and problem-solving skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• CCIE, CCNP (Enterprise, Data Center, or Service Provider), or equivalent advanced networking certification.
• Juniper JNCIS or JNCIP certification.
• AWS Advanced Networking Specialty, GCP Professional Network Engineer, or OCI Networking certification.
• Experience with EMC or equivalent enterprise storage platforms.
• Familiarity with network IDS/IPS platforms and firewall policy management.
• Prior experience delivering engagements in a consulting or contract capacity.
• Experience with post-merger network integration or topology consolidation initiatives, including provider transitions and cost reduction programs.
• Prior experience specifically replacing or right-sizing Masergy or comparable managed WAN services.

PREFERRED Certifications

Certifications & Technical Qualifications

• CCNP or equivalent Cisco certification required.
• Juniper JNCIS/JNCIP preferred.
• OS Platforms: Windows / Linux.
• Hardware Platforms: Cisco UCS, Cisco Meraki, Juniper (MX/EX/SRX), EMC storage.
• Cisco switches, routers, firewalls, VPN technologies, SD-WAN, and WAN administration.
• Cisco SAN experience.

Core Technical Skills

• Juniper (MX / EX / SRX) — Critical
• Network Automation (Python / Ansible) — Critical
• Cisco Switches, Routers & Firewalls
• AWS, GCP & OCI Cloud Networking
• SD-WAN & VPN Technologies
• Cisco Meraki Wireless
• Cisco UCS & SAN
• LAN / WAN / DNS / DHCP / AD
• Network IDS / Firewalls / Security
• EMC Storage
• Linux / Windows Platforms
• Monitoring & Observability
• BGP / OSPF / EIGRP Routing
• NGFW (Palo Alto / Fortinet / ASA)
• Diagramming (Visio / Lucidchart)