Job Description: Lead Network Data Center Engineer
Job Title: Lead Network Data Center Engineer
Location: Albany, Ohio (Onsite)
Experience: 10+ years preferred
Employment Type: Full-Time / Contract
Work Arrangement: Onsite
Job Summary
We are seeking an experienced Lead Network Data Center Engineer to lead and execute large-scale data center network provisioning, deployment, configuration, and operational activities. The ideal candidate will have strong hands-on expertise in routing and switching, data center fabric architectures, optical networking, and network automation.
This role involves provisioning and troubleshooting network infrastructure across enterprise and hyperscale data center environments, collaborating with network architects, field technicians, and operations teams to ensure reliable, scalable, and high-performance network deployments.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead network provisioning, deployment, configuration, and troubleshooting across large-scale data center environments.
- Configure, validate, and troubleshoot routing and switching technologies, including BGP, IS-IS, and MPLS.
- Work with enterprise and hyperscale networking platforms such as Juniper (JunOS), Arista (EOS), Cisco (IOS-XR), and Meta's FBOSS.
- Deploy and maintain data center network fabrics, including Clos architectures, spine-leaf topologies, and Top-of-Rack (ToR) switching.
- Support optical network provisioning involving DWDM, 800G optics, 800ZR+ technology, and optical transponder configuration.
- Execute large-scale network deployments involving 100+ network devices, ensuring configuration accuracy and deployment consistency.
- Develop and support Python-based automation scripts and tools to improve provisioning efficiency and reduce manual configuration errors.
- Use network management, monitoring, ticketing, and incident management systems to track deployment progress and resolve issues.
- Coordinate with data center field technicians, network operations, infrastructure teams, and other stakeholders during installation, testing, and commissioning.
- Validate network connectivity, routing behavior, redundancy, performance, and service readiness before handover to operations.
- Maintain accurate network documentation, configuration records, deployment plans, test results, and operational procedures.
- Identify and resolve network deployment issues while maintaining delivery timelines in fast-paced, high-pressure environments.
- Consider data center physical infrastructure constraints, including power, cooling, rack capacity, cabling, and equipment installation requirements.
Required Technical Qualifications
Routing and Switching
- Strong hands-on experience with BGP, IS-IS, and MPLS.
- Experience configuring, provisioning, and troubleshooting enterprise or data center network infrastructure.
- Understanding of routing policies, network convergence, redundancy, and high-availability design.
Data Center Networking
- Experience with Clos/spine-leaf architectures, network fabrics, and ToR switching.
- Hands-on experience provisioning network devices at enterprise or hyperscale scale.
- Experience with at least one major networking platform: Juniper, Arista, or Cisco.
- Experience supporting deployments involving 100+ network devices.
Optical Networking
- Understanding of DWDM and high-speed optical networking.
- Familiarity with 800G optics, 800ZR+ technology, and optical transponder provisioning.
- Experience with optical platforms from vendors such as Ciena or Infinera is preferred.
Automation and Tools
- Familiarity with Python-based network automation and provisioning tools.
- Experience with network management, monitoring, ticketing, and configuration management systems.
- Ability to troubleshoot deployment issues and maintain accurate technical documentation.
Required Experience and Certifications
- 5–10+ years of relevant network engineering, data center deployment, or network operations experience preferred for the lead-level position.
- Demonstrated experience with large-scale network provisioning in enterprise or hyperscale data center environments.
- Hands-on expertise with at least one major vendor platform: Juniper, Arista, or Cisco.
- Required certification: CCNA/CCNP (Cisco) or JNCIA/JNCIS (Juniper).
- Optical vendor certifications, including Ciena or Infinera, are preferred.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience supporting hyperscale data center network deployments.
- Exposure to Meta's FBOSS or other large-scale data center networking platforms.
- Experience with advanced optical technologies, including 800G and 800ZR+.
- Familiarity with automated network configuration, validation, and deployment workflows.
- Experience leading technical deployment activities and coordinating cross-functional teams.
Soft Skills
- Strong troubleshooting, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Ability to work effectively in fast-paced, high-pressure deployment environments.
- Strong coordination and collaboration skills with field technicians, network operations, and infrastructure teams.
- Ownership of deployment quality, technical documentation, and delivery timelines.
Success Criteria
- Accurate and timely provisioning of data center network devices.
- Successful deployment and validation of network fabrics and routing configurations.
- Minimal configuration errors and deployment-related service disruptions.
- Effective coordination with field and operations teams.
- Complete and accurate network documentation and successful operational handover.
