Network Automation Engineer

Introduction


IBM Quantum is an industry-first initiative to build universal quantum computers for business, engineering, and science. This effort spans the entire quantum computing technology stack and explores applications to make quantum broadly usable and accessible. With a worldwide network of Fortune 500 companies, academic institutions, researchers, educators, and enthusiasts, we are committed to driving innovation for our clients in the IBM Quantum Network and the Qiskit Community.

Your role and responsibilities


As our infrastructure continues to expand across multiple environments and global locations, we are growing our network engineering team to support increasing scale, complexity, and operational demands.

We are seeking an Infrastructure Automation Engineer (Network focus) who combines deep networking expertise with strong automation capabilities to help design and implement modern, scalable approaches to managing network and security infrastructure. The ideal candidate will possess an automation-first mindset, be execution focused, comfortable working across domains while maintaining operational awareness.


Your Role and Responsibilities:

• Design and implement scalable, automated solutions for managing enterprise network infrastructure.
• Develop and maintain Infrastructure as Code (IaC) practices for network systems using tools such as Ansible and related technologies.
• Integrate network automation workflows into CI/CD pipelines to enable consistent and repeatable deployments.
• Collaborate with infrastructure, platform, and engineering teams to ensure end-to-end reliability and operational consistency.
• Define and drive adoption of standards, best practices, and reusable frameworks for network automation.
• Build and maintain templated configurations and modular automation components supporting multiple environments and locations.
• Implement validation, testing, and compliance mechanisms to ensure safe and reliable network changes.
• Contribute to network architecture and design discussions with an emphasis on automation and scalability.
• Mentor team members and help drive adoption of modern, software-driven operational practices.

This role plays a key part in enabling consistent, scalable, and reliable network operations across a growing global infrastructure footprint.

You will be part of a team building the infrastructure that powers one of the most advanced computing initiatives in the world. This role offers the opportunity to shape how network infrastructure is designed, operated, and scaled in a cutting-edge, globally distributed environment.

Required education


Bachelor's Degree


Preferred education


Bachelor's Degree


Required technical and professional expertise

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience in Computer Science, Network Engineering, or a related field.
• 7+ years of experience in overall IT network and security engineering, or related infrastructure domains, including hands-on experience with L2/L3 networking, firewalls, DDI systems.
• 3-5 years of demonstrated, solid experience in an enterprise Network Engineering position with a focus on Cisco, Palo Alto, Infoblox technologies.
• Strong hands-on experience implementing network automation using Ansible or comparable automation frameworks, including development of reusable roles, playbooks, and templates.
• Experience working with CI/CD pipelines and integrating infrastructure automation into delivery workflows.
• Strong understanding of Git-based development practices (version control, code reviews, branching strategies).
• Programming or scripting experience (e.g., Python, Bash) with a focus on automation.
• Experience working with APIs and data-driven automation approaches.
  Solid understanding of network reliability, resiliency, and security best practices.
• Working knowledge of network security monitoring / performance management systems is highly desirable.
• Demonstrated ability to design and implement scalable automation solutions for network infrastructure, including abstraction, modularization, and idempotent configuration management.
• Ability to operate independently and lead technical initiatives across teams.

Preferred technical and professional experience

• Experience with Infrastructure as Code tools such as Terraform.
• Familiarity with modern network automation tooling (Netmiko, Nornir, Scrapli) or model-driven networking (NETCONF/RESTCONF).
• Certifications such as Devnet/CCNA/CCNP, PCNSA/PCSAE or equivalent.
• Experience supporting multi-site or global network environments.
• Exposure to cloud networking architectures (IBM Cloud, AWS, Azure).
• Knowledge of secrets management and secure automation practices.
• Strong troubleshooting, analytical, and systems-thinking skills.
• Demonstrated ability to lead technical initiatives and influence cross-functional teams.

ABOUT BUSINESS UNIT

IBM Research is the organic growth engine of IBM and an innovation engine for our customers and partners. As part of this mission, IBM Research anticipates and examines 'What's Next in Computing' to ultimately create and integrate the technologies the world relies upon to solve big challenges and unlock new opportunities. We create and pioneer new markets for IBM, our partners and customers as exemplified in our ongoing quest to reach practical and large-scale quantum computing. Across IBM Research, we realize the power and potential to accelerate discovery with our partners and clients by combining the power of high performance computing, AI, and Quantum, all integrated through the hybrid cloud.


YOUR LIFE @ IBM

In a world where technology never stands still, we understand that, dedication to our clients success, innovation that matters, and trust and personal responsibility in all our relationships, lives in what we do as IBMers as we strive to be the catalyst that makes the world work better.


Being an IBMer means you'll be able to learn and develop yourself and your career, you'll be encouraged to be courageous and experiment everyday, all whilst having continuous trust and support in an environment where everyone can thrive whatever their personal or professional background.

Our IBMers are growth minded, always staying curious, open to feedback and learning new information and skills to constantly transform themselves and our company. They are trusted to provide on-going feedback to help other IBMers grow, as well as collaborate with colleagues keeping in mind a team focused approach to include different perspectives to drive exceptional outcomes for our customers. The courage our IBMers have to make critical decisions everyday is essential to IBM becoming the catalyst for progress, always embracing challenges with resources they have to hand, a can-do attitude and always striving for an outcome focused approach within everything that they do.

Are you ready to be an IBMer?

ABOUT IBM

IBM's greatest invention is the IBMer. We believe that through the application of intelligence, reason and science, we can improve business, society and the human condition, bringing the power of an open hybrid cloud and AI strategy to life for our clients and partners around the world.

Restlessly reinventing since 1911, we are not only one of the largest corporate organizations in the world, we're also one of the biggest technology and consulting employers, with many of the Fortune 500 companies relying on the IBM Cloud to run their business.


At IBM, we pride ourselves on being an early adopter of artificial intelligence, quantum computing and blockchain. Now it's time for you to join us on our journey to being a responsible technology innovator and a force for good in the world.

IBM is proud to be an equal-opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, pregnancy, disability, neurodivergence, age, or other characteristics protected by the applicable law. IBM is also committed to compliance with all fair employment practices regarding citizenship and immigration status.

OTHER RELEVANT JOB DETAILS

IBM offers a competitive and comprehensive benefits program. Eligible employees may have access to:

- Healthcare benefits including medical & prescription drug coverage, dental, vision, and mental health & well being


- Financial programs such as 401(k), cash balance pension plan, the IBM Employee Stock Purchase Plan, financial counseling, life insurance, short & long- term disability coverage, and opportunities for performance based salary incentive programs


- Generous paid time off including 12 holidays, minimum 56 hours sick time, 120 hours vacation, 12 weeks parental bonding leave in accordance with IBM Policy, and other Paid Care Leave programs. IBM also offers paid family leave benefits to eligible employees where required by applicable law


- Training and educational resources on our personalized, AI-driven learning platform where IBMers can grow skills and obtain industry-recognized certifications to achieve their career goals


- Diverse and inclusive employee resource groups, giving & volunteer opportunities, and discounts on retail products, services & experiences

We consider qualified applicants with criminal histories, consistent with applicable law.

This position was posted on the date cited in the key job details section and is anticipated to remain posted for 21 days from this date or less if not needed to fill the role.


IBM will not be providing visa sponsorship for this position now or in the future. Therefore, in order to be considered for this position, you must have the ability to work without a need for current or future visa sponsorship.

The compensation range and benefits for this position are based on a full-time schedule for a full calendar year. The salary will vary depending on your job-related skills, experience and location. Pay increment and frequency of pay will be in accordance with employment classification and applicable laws. For part time roles, your compensation and benefits will be adjusted to reflect your hours. Benefits may be pro-rated for those who start working during the calendar year.