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Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Lead Network Engineer

💰 $135,000 - $190,000+

Information TechnologyNetwork EngineeringInfrastructureLeadershipCloud Computing

🎯 Role Definition

We are actively searching for a dynamic and visionary Lead Network Engineer to join our thriving technology team. In this pivotal role, you will be the technical cornerstone for our entire network ecosystem, responsible for its strategic direction, architectural integrity, and operational excellence. You will spearhead critical infrastructure projects, mentor a team of dedicated network engineers, and champion the adoption of next-generation technologies, including cloud networking and automation. This is an opportunity for a hands-on leader to make a significant impact, ensuring our network is a robust, secure, and scalable foundation that powers our business growth.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Senior Network Engineer
  • Network Architect
  • Senior Infrastructure Engineer

Advancement To:

  • Network Engineering Manager
  • Principal Network Architect
  • Director of Infrastructure

Lateral Moves:

  • Senior Security Architect
  • Cloud Solutions Architect
  • IT Project or Program Manager

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Architect and Design Network Solutions: Spearhead the design, architecture, and implementation of scalable, resilient, and secure network solutions across our global LAN, WAN, WLAN, data center, and cloud environments.
  • Lead and Mentor Engineering Team: Provide technical leadership, mentorship, and guidance to a team of network engineers, fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement.
  • Drive Network Automation Initiatives: Champion and execute the automation of network provisioning, configuration management, and operational tasks using tools like Ansible, Python, and Terraform to improve efficiency and reduce human error.
  • Manage Complex Network Projects: Take ownership of the entire lifecycle of network-related projects, from initial requirements gathering and solution design to deployment, migration, and post-implementation support.
  • Oversee Network Security Posture: Collaborate with the cybersecurity team to design and enforce network security policies, manage next-generation firewalls (Palo Alto, Fortinet), and implement security best practices for NAC, VPN, and segmentation.
  • Steer Cloud Networking Strategy: Architect and manage our cloud network infrastructure in AWS, Azure, or GCP, including VPC/VNet design, Transit Gateways, Direct Connect/ExpressRoute, and cloud-native security controls.
  • Advanced Troubleshooting and Escalation: Serve as the final escalation point for complex and critical network outages and performance issues, leading incident response and conducting thorough root cause analysis.
  • Develop and Enforce Standards: Create, document, and maintain network architecture standards, diagrams, operational procedures, and disaster recovery plans to ensure consistency and compliance.
  • Vendor and Carrier Management: Manage relationships with hardware vendors, software providers, and telecommunications carriers, leading negotiations, procurement, and service-level agreement (SLA) management.
  • Performance Monitoring and Capacity Planning: Implement and manage robust network monitoring and analytics tools (e.g., SolarWinds, Zabbix, Grafana) to proactively identify issues, track performance metrics, and forecast future capacity needs.
  • SD-WAN Architecture and Management: Lead the design, deployment, and ongoing management of our Software-Defined WAN (SD-WAN) solution to optimize application performance and reduce connectivity costs.
  • Maintain Core Routing and Switching: Oversee the configuration, maintenance, and lifecycle management of core network hardware, including routers, switches, and load balancers from vendors like Cisco, Arista, and F5.
  • Strategic Technology Evaluation: Continuously research, evaluate, and recommend emerging network technologies, protocols, and solutions to drive innovation and support evolving business requirements.
  • Report to Leadership: Prepare and present regular reports on network health, project status, and key performance indicators (KPIs) to IT leadership and key business stakeholders.
  • On-Call Escalation Leadership: Lead the on-call rotation for Tier 3/4 network support, providing decisive leadership during major incidents to ensure rapid service restoration.

Secondary Functions

  • Support ad-hoc data requests and exploratory data analysis related to network traffic and performance.
  • Contribute to the organization's overall IT infrastructure strategy and technology roadmap.
  • Collaborate with business units, DevOps, and applications teams to translate their needs into technical network engineering requirements.
  • Participate in sprint planning, agile ceremonies, and cross-functional project meetings.
  • Budgetary Input: Provide technical input and cost analysis for annual budget planning and forecasting for network-related capital and operational expenditures.
  • Identity and Access Management: Manage and maintain network-level AAA (Authentication, Authorization, and Accounting) systems, such as Cisco ISE or RADIUS.
  • Wireless Infrastructure Oversight: Oversee the design, deployment, and optimization of enterprise-grade wireless networks, ensuring seamless coverage and security.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • Expert-Level Routing & Switching: Deep understanding of BGP, OSPF, EIGRP, MPLS, and Spanning Tree protocols on platforms like Cisco (IOS/NX-OS) and Arista.
  • Next-Generation Firewalls: Extensive hands-on experience with Palo Alto Networks, Fortinet, or Check Point, including policy management, Threat Prevention, and VPNs.
    ⚫ Cloud Networking: Proven expertise in designing and managing networks in AWS (VPC, Transit Gateway, Direct Connect) and/or Azure (VNet, ExpressRoute, Virtual WAN).
  • Network Automation: Proficiency in scripting with Python and using automation tools like Ansible or Terraform for network configuration and management.
  • SD-WAN Technologies: Practical experience with SD-WAN solutions such as VMware VeloCloud, Silver Peak, or Cisco Viptela.
  • Load Balancing: Strong knowledge of application delivery controllers and load balancers, particularly F5 BIG-IP (LTM/GTM) or NGINX.
  • Network Monitoring & Analysis: Skilled in using tools like SolarWinds, Nagios, Zabbix, Wireshark, and NetFlow/sFlow for performance tuning and troubleshooting.
  • Wireless Networking: In-depth knowledge of 802.11 standards, wireless security (WPA2/WPA3-Enterprise), and enterprise Wi-Fi controllers (e.g., Cisco, Aruba).
  • DNS, DHCP, and IPAM (DDI): Solid experience managing enterprise-grade DDI solutions like Infoblox or BlueCat.
  • Network Access Control (NAC): Experience implementing and managing NAC solutions, such as Cisco ISE or Aruba ClearPass.

Soft Skills

  • Leadership and Mentorship: Ability to guide, coach, and technically develop other engineers.
  • Strategic Thinking: Capacity to see the big picture and align network strategy with business goals.
  • Advanced Problem-Solving: Calm, methodical, and creative approach to resolving complex technical issues under pressure.
  • Excellent Communication: Can clearly articulate complex technical concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences.
  • Project Management: Strong organizational skills to lead projects from conception to completion.
  • Vendor Management: Skill in negotiating and managing relationships with external partners and suppliers.
  • Collaboration and Teamwork: A proactive and cooperative attitude when working with cross-functional teams.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • Bachelor's degree in a relevant field or equivalent combination of professional-level certifications and demonstrated work experience.

Preferred Education:

  • Bachelor's or Master's degree in a technical discipline.
  • Professional-level certifications such as CCNP/CCIE, PCNSE, or AWS/Azure networking specialties are highly desirable.

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Computer Science
  • Information Technology
  • Network Engineering
  • Telecommunications

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

  • 8-12+ years of progressive experience in network engineering and architecture.

Preferred:

  • At least 3 years of experience in a senior or lead capacity, with a proven track record of leading complex, large-scale network projects and mentoring a team of engineers. Experience in a hybrid cloud environment is strongly preferred.
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