Principal Network Engineer

Principal Network Engineer (Plano, Texas – In‑Office) Upbound Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: UPBD) is a technology‑ and data‑driven leader in accessible and inclusive financial solutions that address the evolving needs and aspirations of underserved customers. The Company’s customer‑facing operating units include industry‑leading brands such as Acima, Brigit, and Rent‑A‑Center that facilitate consumer transactions across a wide range of store‑based and digital channels, including over 2,300 company‑branded retail units across the United States, Mexico and Puerto Rico. Upbound Group, Inc. is headquartered in Plano, Texas. Job Purpose We are seeking a highly experienced Principal Network Engineer with deep expertise in Cisco technologies to lead the design, deployment and management of enterprise‑grade networking solutions. This role requires hands‑on experience across Route, Switch, Security and Data Center disciplines along with modern cloud networking skills in AWS and proficiency in infrastructure automation and Python scripting. The ideal candidate possesses strong experience in both traditional and cloud‑native networking and brings a DevOps‑oriented mindset to drive operational efficiency, scalability and security across a hybrid environment. Key Responsibilities Design and deploy network architectures that meet organizational needs, including software‑defined networks and cloud‑based platforms Architect and manage Cisco‑based infrastructure including Catalyst and Nexus switching, Catalyst routers, ACI fabric, and wireless (Cisco/Meraki) Administer and optimize ACI environments, including policy configuration, fabric management and service integration Lead deployment and lifecycle management of Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE), including policy enforcement, device profiling and 802.1X authentication Design and support AWS Advanced Networking solutions including VPCs, Transit Gateways, Direct Connect and hybrid connectivity Develop and manage infrastructure‑as‑code (IaC) frameworks using tools such as Terraform, Ansible and CloudFormation Write and maintain Python scripts to automate network provisioning, configuration management and monitoring Monitor network performance and troubleshoot issues to ensure high availability and reliability Collaborate with cross‑functional teams (Cloud, Security, DevOps, App Teams) to ensure reliable and secure connectivity Own high‑level troubleshooting and root cause analysis for critical incidents across on‑premises and cloud environments Maintain comprehensive documentation, network diagrams and standards for existing and future‑state architecture Mentor junior engineers and provide technical leadership for strategic initiatives Required Qualifications Bachelor’s degree in computer science, Information Security or a related field 10–15 years of hands‑on experience with Cisco enterprise technologies, including: Routing & Switching (OSPF, BGP, VRF, HSRP, STP) Cisco Nexus (5K/7K/9K), Catalyst Series Cisco ACI (EPGs, Contracts, BDs) Cisco Meraki Networking (MX, MS, MR) Cisco ISE, SDA (fabric design, segmentation, policy sets) Deep knowledge of AWS networking services, including: VPC, Subnets, Security Groups, Transit Gateway, Direct Connect Cloud‑native services: DNS, load balancing, proxies and VPN Proficiency with Python and experience building automation scripts/tools for networking use cases Solid experience with infrastructure as code (e.g., Ansible, Terraform, Git) Strong understanding of Layer 2/3 protocols, network security and performance tuning Experience with monitoring and telemetry tools (NetFlow, SNMP, Syslog, etc.) Excellent written and verbal communication skills; able to influence technical decisions and drive projects forward Preferred Qualifications Cisco certifications: CCNP, CCIE (R&S or DC) or equivalent AWS certifications: AWS Certified Advanced Networking Experience with SD‑WAN and SASE architectures Relevant certifications or professional training in cybersecurity architecture, IAM or Zero Trust Network Access Exposure to network policy frameworks and automation APIs (ACI, Meraki, AWS) Compensation & Benefits Full health benefits – Medical, Dental, Vision 401(k) match, 6%/3% DTO (discretionary time off) Health savings account (HSA) with company contribution College tuition reimbursement program (STEM degrees) Unlimited use of LinkedIn Learning Sponsorship Applicants must be authorized to work for any employer in the U.S. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment visa at this time. Equal Opportunity Upbound is an equal opportunity employer committed to ensuring that all employment decisions are made on a non‑discriminatory basis, and without regard to actual or perceived race. Upbound Group is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. #J-18808-Ljbffr