Network Lab Engineer

• Lab Validation & Testing
• Receive network use cases from architecture, engineering, or business stakeholders and translate them into structured lab test plans covering functional, performance, resiliency, and failure-scenario testing
• Execute high-touch validation of enterprise networking technologies including switching, routing, wireless, SD-WAN, firewalling, and network automation platforms
• Deliver complete validation packages including:
• Logical and physical topology diagrams
• Device configurations (sanitized and version-controlled)
• Step-by-step test procedures and results
• Pass/fail summaries with root cause analysis for failures
• Go/No-Go recommendations with supporting evidence
• Perform rack and stack of lab equipment when required cable management, power sequencing, console access setup, and physical layer verification
• Design & Documentation
• Produce clear, detailed lab reports that can be handed directly to production engineering teams for deployment
• Maintain up-to-date physical and logical topology documentation for all active lab topologies
• Document configurations using version control (Git) so all tested configs are traceable and reusable
• Build and maintain a library of validated reference architectures and design patterns
• Vendor Collaboration
• Partner with network vendors (Cisco, Arista, Juniper, Palo Alto, Aruba, etc.) to conduct joint proof-of-concept testing and feature validation
• Drive vendor-supported test engagements including bug reproduction, feature requests, and interoperability testing
• Evaluate new hardware and software releases against defined acceptance criteria before recommending adoption
• Manage loaner equipment logistics and coordinate lab access for vendor engineers
• Automation & CI/CD
• Write scripts (Python, Bash, Ansible) to automate repetitive lab tasks device provisioning, configuration push, test execution, and results collection
• Build or maintain CI/CD pipelines (Jenkins, GitLab CI, GitHub Actions) for automated configuration validation and regression testing
• Develop test automation frameworks using tools such as pyATS, Robot Framework, Batfish, or NAPALM
• Integrate lab test results into reporting dashboards or ticketing systems to provide traceability from test run to design decision

Required

• 7+ years of handson enterprise network engineering experience
• Deep expertise in at least two of the following domains: campus switching, data center fabric, SDWAN, wireless LAN, network security, WAN/ISP connectivity
• Strong understanding of routing protocols (BGP, OSPF, EIGRP), switching (VLAN, STP, LACP, VXLAN), and overlay technologies (EVPN, VxLAN, LISP)
• Proficiency with network operating systems across multiple vendors (Cisco IOS/NXOS, Arista EOS, Juniper Junos, or equivalent)
• Ability to read, write, and interpret network configurations at a detailed level
• Experience creating professionalgrade topology diagrams (draw.io, Visio, Lucidchart) and technical documentation
• Scripting capability in Python or equivalent must be able to write working scripts independently, not just modify existing ones
• Familiarity with Gitbased workflows and versioncontrolled config management
• Physical lab skills: rack and stack, cable management, console cabling, power management, and hardware troubleshooting

Preferred

• Experience with network automation tooling: Ansible, Nornir, NAPALM, pyATS, Batfish, NetBox/Nautobot
• Exposure to CI/CD pipelines (GitLab CI, GitHub Actions, Jenkins) applied to network configuration workflows
• Knowledge of infrastructureascode concepts as applied to networking
• Experience in a dedicated network validation or solutions engineering lab environment
• Certifications: CCNP / CCIE (Enterprise or Data Center), JNCIP, ACE, or equivalent professionallevel certification
• Familiarity with structured test methodology frameworks (RFC 2544, RFC 6349, IETF test standards)
• Experience working directly with vendor presales, SE, or TAC teams in a formal lab engagement