Layer 7 Application Engineer (Phoenix)

We are seeking an experienced Layer 7 Application Engineer to improve the speed, stability, and reliability of business-critical applications and the enterprise networks that support them. This engineer will investigate complex performance issues across applications, infrastructure, network services, and hybrid cloud connections, translating packet-level evidence into practical corrective actions.

The strongest candidates combine advanced application-layer troubleshooting with deep packet and protocol analysis. They are comfortable tracing traffic through large Cisco-based environments and diagnosing issues involving software-defined WAN, direct internet connectivity, and private cloud connections.

This is a contract-to-hire position, on-site 5 days per week.

Key Responsibilities

• Capture and analyze network traffic to isolate application delays, connection failures, retransmissions, packet loss, and other performance problems.
• Diagnose application-layer issues involving web traffic, APIs, name resolution, encrypted sessions, and authentication workflows.
• Trace end-to-end traffic paths across campus, data center, internet, and cloud environments to identify where service degradation occurs.
• Troubleshoot performance within Cisco routing, switching, SD-WAN, and Direct Internet Access environments.
• Investigate latency and connectivity concerns affecting Azure ExpressRoute and other hybrid-cloud services.
• Coordinate with application, network, cloud, infrastructure, and operations teams to validate root cause and implement lasting improvements.
• Provide technical support during high-impact incidents and produce clear root-cause findings, timelines, and follow-up actions.
• Establish performance baselines, review recurring trends, and recommend changes that improve availability and the end-user experience.
• Create troubleshooting guides, operating procedures, and technical documentation that strengthen team response capabilities.

Required Qualifications

• Professional experience diagnosing application and network performance problems in a large enterprise environment.
• Advanced packet-capture and protocol-analysis skills using Wireshark, tcpdump, or comparable tools.
• Strong knowledge of Layer 7 technologies and services, including REST APIs, DNS, TLS/SSL, and common authentication flows.
• Working expertise in TCP/IP, routing, switching, latency analysis, packet loss, and traffic-flow troubleshooting.
• Hands-on experience supporting Cisco enterprise networks; exposure to SD-WAN and Direct Internet Access architectures.
• Experience troubleshooting Azure ExpressRoute or comparable private hybrid-cloud connectivity.
• Ability to explain complex technical findings clearly and collaborate across multiple technology teams.
• Experience contributing to incident response and formal root-cause analysis.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in banking, financial services, or another highly regulated enterprise.
• Familiarity with application performance monitoring, network performance monitoring, or observability platforms.
• Scripting or automation experience with PowerShell, Python, or a similar language.
• Relevant Cisco, Azure, networking, cloud, or performance-engineering certifications.