Senior F5 Network Engineer

Job Title: Senior F5 Engineer (Contract-to-Hire)

Location: Riverwoods, IL (Preferred) | 100%Remote (Open to strong candidates)
Team: Network Engineering Network Services Product Group
Experience Level: Senior (6 8+ years)

About the Role

We are looking for an experienced and technically proficient F5 Engineer to join our Network Services Product Group within the Network Engineering team. This is a contract-to-hire opportunity aimed at backfilling a critical role due to a recent team transition. While the preference is for candidates local to Riverwood, we are open to remote engineers with the right skill set and experience.

The ideal candidate will have deep expertise in F5 technologies, particularly LTM and GTM, with a broader understanding across the F5 suite (e.g., APM, ASM). A strong background in core network protocols and DNS is also essential due to the nature of the services being managed and their reliance on sound Layer 3/4 networking principles.

Key Responsibilities

Configure, maintain, and troubleshoot F5 load balancers (primarily LTM and GTM).

Support the ongoing migration to F5 R-Series hardware.

Ensure high availability and performance of network services, especially during critical escalations.

Participate in long-term planning and potentially expand into additional F5 technologies such as ASM and APM.

Collaborate with cross-functional teams during high-priority incidents and outages.

Build and support advanced DNS solutions and maintain DNS best practices.

Understand and support underlying network protocols such as BGP, OSPF, and general LAN/WAN infrastructure.

Required Qualifications

6 8+ years of hands-on experience with F5 technologies.

Expertise in F5 LTM and GTM (Big-IP).

Broad knowledge of the full F5 suite: ASM, APM, and their configurations.

Familiarity with R-Series hardware is highly desirable (current environment is undergoing migration).

Strong knowledge of DNS, both within and outside of F5 platforms.

Solid understanding of networking fundamentals including BGP, OSPF, VLANs, and network troubleshooting tools.

Experience supporting critical infrastructure in complex enterprise environments.

Excellent problem-solving and incident management skills.

Preferred Qualifications

Experience working in large-scale enterprise environments or service provider networks.

Exposure to industry-standard monitoring and automation tools.

Previous involvement in contract-to-hire or project-based engineering roles.

Interview Process

• Initial Technical Interview: 1-hour session with one or two senior engineers. A hiring manager may join as an observer.
• Follow-Up Interview (if needed): Additional technical discussion with another lead engineer.
• Due to the contract-to-hire nature, more attention is paid to fit and expertise during the evaluation phase.

Additional Information

On-Call Rotation: No immediate on-call expectation. Candidate will ramp up for ~6 months before being added to the rotation.

Work Environment: Although historically onsite, over half the current team works remotely.

Conversion Timeline & Salary: Subject to company direction post-merger. Specifics to be discussed during the hiring process.

Industry Background

No specific industry experience is required. We are open to candidates from diverse backgrounds as long as they bring the right technical skills.