Network Configuration Automation Engineer - Jobs

Network Configuration Automation EngineerZachary Piper Solutions is seeking a Network Configuration Automation Engineer to support a long-term DOD program focused on Navy enterprise network infrastructure, configuration management, network automation, and NetDevOps. This position is 100% onsite in Norfolk, VA. The Network Configuration Automation Engineer will support a large-scale, geographically dispersed enterprise network environment, ensuring network devices maintain consistent, secure, and compliant configurations through network management systems, configuration baselines, automation, Infrastructure as Code, and CI/CD practices.Responsibilities of the Network Configuration Automation Engineer include:Establish, maintain, and enforce approved configuration baselines for enterprise network devices including routers, switches, firewalls, and load balancersMonitor network infrastructure for configuration drift and identify unauthorized or non-compliant configuration changesMaintain configuration backups, version history, and rollback/recovery procedures to support network resiliency and disaster recoveryDevelop and implement automated remediation processes to restore network devices to approved configuration standardsAdminister and optimize Network Management Systems (NMS) including Cisco Catalyst Center, OpenText NNMi, and OpenText Network AutomationSupport network inventory discovery, configuration management, topology monitoring, and network health reporting across the enterpriseIntegrate Nautobot, Infoblox IPAM, and other source-of-truth systems with network management platforms to maintain accurate topology and addressing informationConfigure NMS alerts and monitoring thresholds to identify unauthorized configuration changes, network anomalies, and compliance issuesDevelop compliance and configuration reports for engineering leadership, cybersecurity teams, and audit stakeholdersDevelop network automation playbooks and workflows using Ansible, Terraform, Python, and Jinja2Automate network configuration changes across large numbers of enterprise network devices while minimizing manual intervention and configuration errorsMaintain network infrastructure code within Git-based repositories, including pull requests, peer reviews, version control, and change trackingBuild and maintain CI/CD pipelines using GitLab CI/CD, Jenkins, GitHub Actions, or similar tools to validate and safely deploy network configuration changesImplement automated validation, linting, testing, and dry-run processes before network changes are deployed into productionDevelop automated pre- and post-change validation workflows to verify network health, configuration compliance, and service availabilityReview high-impact network changes for alignment with approved architecture, configuration standards, and change-management requirementsProvide Tier III troubleshooting and escalation support for complex network issues related to configuration discrepancies, failed changes, and software upgradesPerform root cause analysis of configuration-related network incidents and develop corrective and preventative solutionsCoordinate large-scale network patching and configuration campaigns across geographically dispersed network environmentsSupport vulnerability remediation and software lifecycle activities across thousands of network nodesAnalyze large configuration files and network datasets to identify anomalies, inconsistencies, configuration errors, and potential reliability issuesMaintain technical documentation, configuration standards, automation procedures, and network change recordsCollaborate with network engineers, cybersecurity teams, SREs, operations teams, and other technical stakeholders to improve network reliability and automationCoordinate automated network changes across multiple teams and global time zones while maintaining appropriate change-control processesQualifications of the Network Configuration Automation Engineer include:5-10 years of relevant experience with a Bachelor's degree, or 4-8 years with a Master's degree; equivalent experience may be considered7+ years of overall relevant professional experienceActive Secret clearanceStrong hands-on experience with enterprise network configuration management and network engineeringExperience managing configuration baselines, configuration drift, backups, rollback procedures, and automated remediationStrong understanding of enterprise networking including BGP, OSPF, VLANs, VRFs, ACLs, SSH, and SNMPHands-on experience with network automation using Ansible, Terraform, Python, Jinja2, or similar technologiesExperience with enterprise Network Management Systems (NMS) and network monitoring platformsExperience with Cisco Catalyst Center, OpenText NNMi, or OpenText Network AutomationExperience supporting multivendor network environments including Cisco IOS/IOS-XE/IOS-XR, Juniper JunOS, and/or Arista EOSExperience with Git-based configuration management and version controlExperience with CI/CD technologies such as GitLab CI/CD, GitHub Actions, Jenkins, or similar platformsExperience developing or maintaining automated network deployment and configuration workflowsAbility to troubleshoot complex Tier III network and configuration issuesStrong analytical skills with the ability to identify anomalies and errors within large configuration files and network datasetsExperience with network change management, configuration validation, and production deployment proceduresStrong understanding of network security, configuration compliance, and enterprise infrastructure standardsStrong communication, documentation, and cross-functional collaboration skillsAbility to coordinate large-scale configuration changes across geographically dispersed enterprise environmentsPreferred Qualifications of the Network Configuration Automation EngineerExperience with Nautobot or other network Source-of-Truth platformsExperience with Infoblox IPAMExperience with Cisco Catalyst Center/DNA CenterExperience with OpenText NNMi and OpenText Network AutomationExperience with Arista EOS and Juniper JunOSExperience with Docker or containerized automation environmentsExperience with Wireshark and network packet analysisExperience with Infrastructure as Code and configuration-as-code practicesExperience with automated network patching and mass configuration deploymentsExperience with network security, vulnerability remediation, and DISA STIG requirementsCompensation for the Network Configuration Automation Engineer includes:Salary: $95,000-$100,000 depending on experienceBenefits: Medical, Dental, Vision, 401k Plan, Holidays, PTO, sick leave as required by law