Principal Network Automation Engineer

Ziply Fiber is a local internet service provider dedicated to elevating the connected lives of the communities we serve. We offer the fastest home internet in the nation, a refreshingly great customer experience, and affordable plans that put customers in charge. 

As our state-of-the-art fiber network expands, so does our need for team members who can help us grow and realize our goals.  

Our Company Values: 

• Genuinely Caring: We treat customers and colleagues like neighbors, with empathy and full attention. 

• Empowering You: We help customers choose what is best for them, and we support employees in implementing new ideas and solutions. 

• Innovation and Improvement: We constantly seek ways to improve how we serve customers and each other.  

• Earning Your Trust: We build trust through clear, honest, human communication. 

Job Summary:

The Principal Network Automation Engineer is responsible for planning, designing, developing, and implementing software-driven solutions to optimize wireline fiber (GPON/XGS-PON) and IP networks, as well as providing guidance and direction to the rest of the team. This role will manage how we can expedite, consistently support, and unify our networks from an automation perspective. The Principal Network Automation Engineer focuses on eliminating manual provisioning and boosting operational efficiency across multi-vendor telecom environments

Essential Duties and Responsibilities: 

The Essential Duties and Responsibilities listed below are a range of duties performed by the employee and not intended to reflect all duties performed:

Software Development & Automation Solutions

·        Lead and contribute to the development of custom code to integrate platform components, fill tooling gaps, and solve potentially unique situations.

·        Perform development, testing, implementation, and review of complex automation solutions related to provisioning, monitoring, and configuring a multi-vendor network and infrastructure environment.

·        Write, maintain, and scale scripts and software tools (using Python, Go) to interact directly with network elements like OLTs (Optical Line Terminals), ONTs, and core routers

·        Employ modern CI/CD pipelines using DevOps tooling to deliver software.

Cross-Functional Partnership & Integration

·        Partner with Tier 3 operations, NOC (Network Operations Center), and field teams to translate complex network requirements into scalable software solutions

·        Establishing system/data integrations to enhance existing or establish new processes.

Quality, Standards & Documentation

·        Provide peer review and guidance on code and perform quality assurance tasks.

·        Responsible for the creation of and contribution to; processes, standards, technical documentation, and design diagrams.

·        Write and maintain technical standards and documentation.

Leadership, Training & Enablement

·        Provide mentorship and training to the Network Automation Team.

·        Provide training to other network domain teams for the adoption of automation capabilities.

Research, Reporting & Continuous Improvement

·        Conduct technical research and maintain viable knowledge of technology trends, new software, and best practices.

·        Automating operational reports e.g., SLA reporting, utilization statistics and network forecasting.

Other Duties

·        Must be available to work regular business hours Pacific Standard Time.

·        Must also be available to work on-call, evenings and weekends as needed.

·        Performs other duties as required to support the business and evolving organization.

Required Qualifications:

• High school diploma or GED.
• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, computer science, business information systems or relevant degree; or equivalent combination of work and experience. 
• Minimum of seven (7) years of experience in software development, with a specific focus on access networks.
• Experience developing and implementing network automation strategies.
• Minimum of five (5) years of experience with using Python, Ansible, REST APIs, Linux, NETCONF, Jinja, or similar tools in a Network Automation environment.
• Experience/familiarity with Netbox. 

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

·        Advanced Python programming skill and experience with one or more other languages such as Java, Go, or JavaScript.

·        Broad knowledge of the concepts, best practices and principles of programming including design, implementation, and testing.

·        Understanding of REST-based API design principles and best practices.

·        Proven ability to understand and codify a manual process into an automated process using workflow-like concepts.

·        Understanding and familiarity with gNMI, Netconf, Ansible, NAPALM, Jinja and other Infrastructure as Code tools.

·        Understanding and familiarity with computing technologies such as Kubernetes, Docker, Linux, containers, virtualization, and cloud technologies (AWS, Google Cloud Platform, Azure, etc.).

·        UI/Frontend development experience is preferred.

·        Knowledge of IP/Ethernet networking fundamentals.

·        Interest and ability to research new and emerging technologies to better solve networking problems.

·        Excellent analytical skills.

·        Strong organizational, multi-tasking and prioritizing skills.

·        Strong written and verbal communication skills

·        Ability to work independently and apply sound judgment and reasoning skills to a variety of situations and collaborate effectively with other personnel to meet deadlines.

·        Ability to translate highly technical information into non-technical terms and user documentation.

·        Strong verbal and written communication, attention to detail and familiarity with compliance concepts. 

·        Ability to work within critical deadlines.

Work Authorization:

Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the US for any employer.  Sponsorship is not available for this position.

Physical Requirements:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Essential and marginal functions may require maintaining physical condition necessary for bending, stooping, sitting, walking, or standing for prolonged periods of time; most of time is spent sitting in a comfortable position with frequent opportunity to move about. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

Work Environment and Additional Information:

Work is performed in an office setting with exposure to computer screens and requires extensive use of a computer, keyboard, mouse, and multi-line telephone system. The work is primarily a modern office setting.

At all times, Ziply Fiber must be your primary employer. Unless otherwise prohibited by law, employees may not hold outside employment nor be self-employed without obtaining approval in writing from Ziply Fiber. In holding outside employment or self-employment, employees should ensure that participation does not conflict with responsibilities to Ziply Fiber or its business interests.

Diverse Workforce / EEO:

Ziply Fiber is an equal opportunity employer. Ziply Fiber will consider all qualified candidates regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, gender, age, marital status, sexual orientation, veteran status, and the presence of a non-job-related handicap or disability or any other legally protected status.

Ziply Fiber requires a pre-employment background check as conditions of employment. Ziply Fiber may require a pre-employment drug screening.

Ziply Fiber is a drug free workplace.