Senior Network Engineer

Hi,

Job Title: Senior Network Engineer

Location: Hempstead, NY

Experience: 10 years

Duration: 6 month to 1 year Contract

Tax terms : W2 and 1099

Job Description:

Position Overview: We are looking for a highly skilled Senior Network Engineer with 10 years of experience in network design, implementation, and optimization. The ideal candidate will have expertise in Cisco networking technologies, data center architecture, and enterprise network connectivity. This role involves working on high-level network strategy, infrastructure design, and automation, while ensuring compliance with industry security standards and providing expert troubleshooting and support.

Key Responsibilities:

Network Design & Implementation:

• Design and implement new network infrastructure from scratch, ensuring scalability, security, and high availability.
• Provide high-level network strategy, roadmap planning, and consulting services for complex network environments.
• Make architecture-level decisions for hybrid cloud or multi-cloud networking solutions, including AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud Platform.
• Manage end-to-end network transformation projects, including hardware procurement, delivery, installation, and physical setup in data centers.
• Deploy and configure network devices such as Cisco ASR, Cisco Nexus switches, firewalls, and load balancers.
• Implement optical fiber deployment and structured cabling projects to enhance network infrastructure.
• Ensure seamless enterprise network connectivity, including WAN, internet, and cloud connections.

Routing and Protocol Management:

• Implement and manage advanced routing protocols such as MPLS, BGP, OSPF, and VXLAN for optimized network performance.
• Provide expert management of LAN technologies, including VLANs, Spanning Tree Protocol, and switching protocols.
• Oversee load balancing strategies and configurations using technologies such as F5 and Citrix NetScaler.

Data Center Architecture:

• Design and implement data center architectures, including ACI, Spine & Leaf, and flat vs hierarchical models.
• Participate in the deployment and management of data center security appliances, such as firewalls and IDS/IPS systems.
• Handle physical access, cooling, power, and environmental management in data centers.

Network Automation & Scripting:

• Develop and implement network automation solutions beyond minor scripting, using tools such as Python and Ansible.
• Create Ansible playbooks and Python scripts to automate large-scale network tasks.
• Integrate custom APIs with third-party tools to enhance network automation processes.
• Implement CI/CD pipelines for continuous integration and deployment in network automation.

Security & Compliance:

• Design security policies, governance frameworks, and conduct regulatory compliance audits (PCI-DSS, ISO 27001, HIPAA).
• Perform security incident response (SOC-level activities) and resolve network security issues.
• Oversee the deployment of security appliances like firewalls and IDS/IPS systems to safeguard the network.
• Ensure compliance with industry-specific standards and manage network security at a high level.

Vendor & Service Provider Management:

• Liaise with ISPs, cloud providers, and third-party vendors for circuit provisioning, contract negotiation, and SLA management.
• Handle escalations with Cisco TAC, F5, or Citrix NetScaler support teams to resolve network issues.
• Manage large-scale network deployments, ensuring timely delivery and service uptime.

Cloud Networking:

• Manage cloud networking components on AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud Platform, including VPC peering, VPN setup, and hybrid networking solutions.
• Migrate on-premises data center networks to the cloud, ensuring a seamless transition.

Monitoring & Troubleshooting:

• Continuously monitor the network to proactively identify and resolve issues, going beyond break-fix support.
• Handle complex troubleshooting for both network infrastructure and non-networking software applications.
• Support end-users with connectivity issues related to Wi-Fi, VPN, and remote access.

Other Responsibilities:

• Provide Level 1/Level 2 support, including helpdesk activities, network troubleshooting, and escalating issues when necessary.
• Ensure adherence to SLA-driven commitments for Mean Time to Repair (MTTR) for all network incidents.
• Provide leadership and mentorship for junior engineers, fostering career development and knowledge sharing.

Required Qualifications:

• 10 years of experience in network engineering and design, with a focus on large-scale enterprise environments.
• Extensive experience with Cisco networking equipment, including Cisco ASR and Cisco Nexus switches.
• 4 years of experience with data networking, including LAN/WAN and Layer 2/Layer 3 protocols.
• Strong knowledge of MPLS, BGP, OSPF routing protocols, and VXLAN.
• Expertise in LAN technologies, VLANs, Spanning Tree Protocol, and other switching protocols.
• Experience with Data Center architecture, including ACI, Spine & Leaf, and flat vs hierarchical networking.
• Familiarity with NAC solutions like Cisco ISE for wired and wireless networks.
• Experience with load balancer technologies, specifically F5 and Citrix NetScaler.
• Proficiency in cloud networking technologies (AWS, Azure, Google Cloud Platform) and hybrid cloud networking solutions.
• Strong skills in network automation and scripting with Python/Ansible.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience in network security design and deployment, including firewall, IDS/IPS, and security appliances.
• Expertise in optical fiber deployment and structured cabling.
• Ability to handle security incident response (SOC-level activities) and compliance assessments.
• Experience in managing network and security incidents, with an emphasis on minimizing downtime.

Must have CCNA and CCNP Certification.