Network Engineer, Principal

Job Description

Your Role

We are seeking a highly experienced and strategic Principal Network Engineer to lead the design, implementation, and optimization of enterprise network infrastructure. This role reports to the Director, Technical Operations in the Digital Employee Experience team and requires deep expertise in WAN, SD-WAN, LAN, wireless technologies, and network architecture. The ideal candidate will have a proven track record of executing complex network designs in production environments with minimal disruption to operations.

Responsibilities

Your Work

In this role, you will:

Design & Architecture

• Lead the design and architecture of scalable, secure, and resilient network solutions across WAN, SD-WAN, LAN, and wireless domains.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to translate business requirements into technical network solutions.
• Develop and maintain network diagrams, documentation, and standards.

Implementation & Operations

• Execute network designs in live production environments with a focus on minimizing downtime and service impact.
• Oversee configuration, deployment, and integration of network hardware and software.
• Perform advanced troubleshooting and root cause analysis of complex network issues.

Optimization & Performance

• Monitor network performance and implement improvements to ensure high availability and optimal throughput.
• Evaluate emerging technologies and recommend enhancements to existing infrastructure.
• Security & Compliance
• Ensure network designs adhere to security best practices and compliance requirements.
• Collaborate with cybersecurity teams to implement network segmentation, access controls, and threat mitigation strategies.

Leadership & Mentorship

• Provide technical leadership and mentorship to junior engineers.
• Lead network-related projects and initiatives, including vendor management and budget planning.

Qualifications

Your Knowledge and Experience

• Typically, requires a college degree or equivalent experience and minimum 10 years of prior relevant
• 7-10 years of hands-on experience in enterprise networking, including WAN, SD-WAN, LAN, wireless, and network design.
• Strong experience with Cisco, Aruba, Fortinet, Palo Alto, or similar technologies.
• Proven ability to execute network changes in production environments with minimal downtime.
• Solid understanding of routing protocols (BGP, OSPF, EIGRP), VLANs, VPNs, and QoS.
• Experience with network monitoring and management tools (e.g., SolarWinds, NetFlow, Wireshark).
• Experience with network capabilities, DNS, DHCP, network segmentation, firewall principles, load balancers and a good understanding of colo deployments with both virtual and physical network platforms.
• Excellent communication, documentation, and project management skills.
• Relevant certifications (e.g., CCNP, CWNP, NSE, or equivalent) strongly preferred.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience with cloud networking (AWS, Azure, Google Cloud Platform).
• Familiarity with automation and scripting (Python, Ansible).
• Exposure to SDN and network virtualization technologies.

About the Team

About Stellarus and the Ascendiun Family of Companies

Stellarus, launched in January 2025, is designed to scale innovative healthcare solutions that support customers in creating a health care experience deserving of their family, friends, and neighbors.

Stellarus is part of a family of organizations that is overseen by a nonprofit corporate entity named Ascendiun. The Ascendiun Family of Companies also includes Blue Shield of California and its subsidiary, Blue Shield of California Promise Health Plan and Altais, a clinical services company.

Stellarus' vision is to empower its customers to create a healthcare experience that is worthy of their family, friends, and neighbors. Stellarus' objective is to offer innovative, modern, scalable solutions that challenge the health care status quo. This very closely aligns with Blue Shield of California's vision by using innovation to improve quality, affordability, and experience for members.

To achieve our mission, we foster an environment where all employees can thrive and contribute fully to address the needs of the various communities we serve. We are committed to creating and maintaining a supportive workplace that upholds our values and advances our goals.

Our Values:

At Stellarus, our core values of agility, trust, drive, courage and service shape our approach to developing innovative product offerings.

Our Workplace Model:

At Stellarus and the Ascendiun Family of Companies, we believe in fostering a workplace environment that balances purposeful in-person collaboration with flexibility. As we continue to evolve our workplace model, our focus remains on creating spaces where our people can connect with purpose - whether working in the office or through a hybrid approach - by providing clear expectations while respecting the diverse needs of our workforce.

Two Ways of Working:

• Hybrid (Default): Work from a business unit-approved office at least two (2) times per month (for roles below Director-level) or once per week (for Director-level roles and above).Exceptions:

o Member-facing and approved out-of-state roles remain remote.

o Employees living more than 50 miles from their assigned offices are expected to work with their managers on a plan for periodic office visits.

o For employees with medical conditions that may impact their ability to work in-office, we are committed to engaging in an interactive process and providing reasonable accommodations to ensure their work environment is conducive to their success and well-being.

• On-Site: Work from a business unit-approved office an average of four (4) or more days a week.

Physical Requirements:

Office Environment - roles involving part to full time schedule in Office Environment. Based in our physical offices and work from home office/deskwork - Activity level: Sedentary, frequency most of work day.

Please click here for further physical requirement detail.

Equal Employment Opportunity:

External hires must pass a background check/drug screen. Qualified applicants with arrest records and/or conviction records will be considered for employment in a manner consistent with Federal, State and local laws, including but not limited to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regards to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, protected veteran status or disability status and any other classification protected by Federal, State and local laws.