Lead Associate Principal, Network Engineering

Location: Chicago, IL
Salary: $120,000.00 USD Annually - $160,000.00 USD Annually
Description:
Lead Associate Principal, Network Engineering

Are you a highly experienced Network Engineering leader with a passion for designing and deploying cutting-edge, secure network architectures across both on-premise and cloud environments? We're looking for a visionary technologist to drive the future of our network infrastructure, leveraging automation and Infrastructure as Code (IaC) to ensure peak performance, reliability, and security.

What You'll Do

As a Lead Associate Principal, you'll operate at the highest technical level, providing both strategic direction and hands-on expertise for our entire network lifecycle. Your key focus will be:

• Architectural Leadership: Oversee the design, analysis, and implementation of sophisticated new and existing network architectures, including routing, switching, firewalls, and public cloud solutions (AWS focus).
• Automation & IaC: Direct the use of modern tools like Ansible, Terraform, and Python to deliver Infrastructure as Code, streamlining configuration management and deployment processes.
• Operational Excellence: Lead and coordinate complex network changes, guaranteeing security, performance, and compliance with governance frameworks (e.g., NIST-CSF, COBIT).
• Complex Problem Resolution: Collaborate with vendors, carriers, and internal engineering teams to resolve escalated, complex issues and drive large-scale network projects to successful completion.
• Strategic Planning & Documentation: Provide strategic direction for long-term network planning, maintain comprehensive, up-to-date documentation, and contribute to network-related business continuity and disaster recovery approaches.
• Support: Serve as a subject matter expert, offering mentorship and participating in the on-call rotation to ensure exceptional reliability.

Primary Responsibilities

• Lead the full lifecycle management (design, deployment, support, and documentation) of routing, switching, security, and cloud-based network solutions.
• Ensure all network changes adhere to the highest standards of security, performance, and regulatory compliance.
• Define and champion the standards for Infrastructure as Code and network automation across the organization.
• Act as a technical project lead, coordinating installations and complex solution delivery with clients and external vendors.
• Maintain expert-level knowledge in Layer 3 routing protocols (EIGRP, BGP4, OSPF) and platforms (IOS, NX-OS, XR).
• Architect and operate advanced network services including DNS/IPAM, NAC, load balancing, and DDoS mitigation.
• Utilize packet capture and analysis and physical communication troubleshooting skills to diagnose difficult network issues.

Key Technical Qualifications

• Experience: 5+ years of hands-on experience in IT systems installation, operations, administration, and maintenance of cloud systems.
• Cloud Networking: Extensive experience building and securing cloud infrastructure, with AWS strongly preferred (or Azure/Google Cloud Platform).
• Network Automation: Expert-level experience directing and using tools like Ansible, Terraform, Jenkins, Python, and GitHub (or equivalents) to deliver Infrastructure as Code (IaC).
• Core Networking: Advanced knowledge of Layer 3 routing and switching, including extensive experience with IOS, NX-OS, and XR platforms.
• Advanced Services: Proven expertise architecting, designing, deploying, and operating critical network elements (Firewalls, Load Balancers, DNS/IPAM, NAC, DDoS mitigation).
• Protocols: Extensive knowledge of EIGRP, BGP4, RIP, and OSPF routing protocols, along with advanced WAN, LAN, TCP/IP, and VPN skills.

Education & Certifications

• Education: Bachelor's degree in a technical discipline (Computer Science, etc.) or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Required Certifications: AWS certifications such as DevOps Engineer, Solutions Architect, Advanced Networking, or Security (or equivalent field experience).
• Preferred Certifications: CCNP/CCDP equivalent, relevant cloud certifications (Azure/Google Cloud Platform), or CCIE.

Non-Technical Requirements

• Communication: Clear, concise, and precise verbal and written communication skills with a proven capability to tailor communications to both technical and non-technical audiences. Excellent presentation skills are a must.
• Leadership: Strong interpersonal, project management, and mentoring skills.
• Problem-Solving: Demonstrated solution-oriented approach toward complex problem resolution and the ability to work effectively both independently and as a team player.

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Contact:

This job and many more are available through The Judge Group. Please apply with us today!