Job Title: Senior Network Services Engineer
Location: Remote anywhere in the US
Duration: Contract to Hire
Qualifications:
• Public Trust Clearance by start date
• ITILv4 Foundation Certification within 120 days of starting
Job Summary:
We are seeking a Senior Network Services Engineer to support the design, implementation, monitoring, management, change management, software upgrades, problem/incident resolution, and root cause analysis in support of migrating a Data Center to Cisco Application Centric Infrastructure (ACI). This role focuses on transitioning from Cisco End-of-Life equipment to new ACI hardware and migrating all applications at the site. The objective is to simplify, secure, automate, and accelerate the network deployment while refreshing the network hardware, enhancing security, and enabling growth for expanded telecom services
Job Responsibilities:
Implementing and migrating the Data Centers to Cisco ACI.
Oversee and implement switch provisioning (configuration) and implementation across multiple sites, including coordinating cutover logistics and change management.
Establish network monitoring for newly installed and replaced equipment.
Support and maintain network equipment and configuration (routers and routing).
Provision and configuring switches and routers.
Utilize and implement network orchestration tools and techniques to facilitate automated and consistent configurations, management, testing, deployment, and operations of physical and virtual devices within the network.
Manage status, errors, and inbound and outbound traffic statistics of all routing interfaces, bandwidth utilization, and errors of all inbound and outbound LAN/WAN circuits.
Makes technical decisions on the kinds of data to be gathered and methods to be used in data collection and analysis.
Provides technical direction, guidance, and assistance to assigned projects, suggesting efficient approaches and methods for solving problems.
Analyzes, diagnoses, and recommends solutions to complex problems.
Escalate issues to vendor and third-party entities, as necessary and directed by the Government.
Generates / updates network documentation in coordination with the onsite installation resources.
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with associates and client personnel at all levels.
Produce knowledge base articles and SOPs.
Designing and implementing an automation framework for all aspects of the application lifecycle, including build, test, and deployment
Performing operations tasks such as monitoring application performance over time or troubleshooting issues with production applications
Monitoring network performance to ensure that the platform can handle increased traffic from new applications or services
Designing, building, and maintaining the systems underlying an application platform
Developing new technologies to support existing applications or creating new applications using new technologies
Participating in meetings with executives to discuss technical issues and propose solutions
Reviewing code written by other engineers to ensure it meets standards for quality, security, and performance
Collaborating with other members of the engineering team to design new features or improve existing ones
Escalate issues to vendor and third-party entities, as necessary and directed by the Government.
Job Required Qualifications:
Bachelor’s degree
Public Trust Clearance by the Start Date
ITILv4 Foundation Certification within 120 days of starting
7- 12 years of experience
3+ years experience implementing, engineering, designing, and migrating Data Centers to CISCO ACI (Cisco Application Centric Infrastructure)
Considered SME with CISCO ACI.
Previous experience supporting and operating Software-Defined Wide Area Networks (SD-WAN) sites
Design and develop solutions to complex application problems, system administration issues, or network concerns.
Experience as a remote worker demonstrating time management and self-discipline with cultural change management and an agile mindset.
Proven ability to work independently in a full and/or partial remote environment with limited supervision and may supervise/lead others.
Possess the ability to communicate in both oral and written forms, demonstrating an ability to communicate effectively with all levels of staff as well as clients.
Possesses and applies expertise on multiple complex work assignments.
Assignments may be broad, requiring originality and innovation in determining how to accomplish tasks.
Operates with appreciable latitude in developing methodology and presenting solutions to problems.
Contributes to deliverables and performance metrics where applicable.
Maintain standard working hours per the client contract and be available for meetings, and other collaborative efforts during working hours
Job Desired Qualifications:
Deep understanding of Cisco Application Centric Infrastructure (ACI) architecture, including fabric components such as leaf, spine, and Application Policy Infrastructure Controller (APIC).
Proficiency in designing, implementing, and managing Cisco ACI environments.
Expertise in configuring and troubleshooting ACI constructs, including tenants, VRFs, EPGs, contracts, and application profiles.
Strong knowledge of Layer 2 and Layer 3 networking protocols (e.g., OSPF, BGP, VLANs, VXLAN, and ISIS).
Experience with integrating Cisco ACI with third-party services or external Layer 2/3 networks.
Familiarity with Cisco ACI automation tools such as REST API, Python, Ansible, or Terraform.
Proven ability to create and maintain scripts for operational efficiency and automation of ACI tasks.
Proficient in using Cisco ACI tools and third-party monitoring solutions for operational visibility and performance management.
Experience in identifying and resolving fabric and policy-related issues in a production environment.
Understanding of fault isolation and remediation techniques within ACI fabrics.
Experience integrating ACI with network management tools like Cisco Nexus Dashboard Insights, SolarWinds, or ServiceNow.
Understanding hybrid environments and extending ACI to cloud platforms or other data center solutions (e.g., AWS, Azure, VMware NSX).
Cisco Certified Specialist – ACI or related certifications.
Preferred certifications: CCNP Data Center, CCIE Data Center, or DevNet Professional.
Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities with attention to detail.
Excellent communication skills for documentation, cross-team collaboration, and end-user support.
Ability to work independently and as part of a team in a fast-paced, evolving environment.
Experience in multi-site or stretched ACI fabric deployments.
Knowledge of software-defined networking (SDN) concepts and other SDN solutions.
Must be willing to work a variety of shifts, including holidays as scheduled.
Physical Requirements:
The physical demands described below are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to do the following:
If remote, safely maintain home workspace, free from safety hazards and in line with information security policies.
Communicate verbally in person, over the phone, or by video chat and clearly/succinctly in writing, primarily utilizing a keyboard.
Appear on camera for meetings with co-workers and government partners via video chat and ensure the protection of proprietary company and customer information is consistent with the company’s expectation of information security.
Viewing computer screens and sitting for long periods.
Travel 10%, via car or plane, which requires the ability to manage luggage, laptop, and briefing materials (up to 25 pounds).