Networking Operations Lead

Role: Networking Operations Lead Location: Bellevue, WA – Hybrid Contract Job Description: Experienced and highly motivated Operations Lead (OPS Lead) with 6+ years of experience in managing large-scale Network Operations and Infrastructure projects. The ideal candidate should possess strong expertise in Enterprise Networking, Incident Management, and Service Delivery, along with a proven track record of driving innovation, automation, operational excellence, and continuous service improvement. Key Responsibilities: Project & Operations Management Lead end-to-end network operations programs across Data Center, WAN, and Enterprise Network environments. Manage project planning, execution, governance, risk mitigation, and stakeholder communications. Team management including mentoring team members for professional growth Proactive, self-driven and data analytics skill Drive operational excellence through structured process improvements and service optimization initiatives. Monitor project milestones, SLAs, KPIs, and operational health metrics and take corrective actions if needed. Network Operations Leadership Oversee operations involving: Scrum Calls Reviewing Dashboards for data analysis Identify problem pattern and initiate project for its resolution Understand Tools involvement for the enterprise network deployment processes and their support teams Change and Release Management Incident, Problem, and Escalation Management Collaborate with engineering and support teams to ensure high availability and reliability of network services. Innovation & Automation Customer-first approach with a focus on business outcomes. Identify opportunities to automate repetitive operational activities and reduce manual effort. Drive adoption of AI, analytics, process automation, and workflow optimization. Develop innovative solutions to improve customer experience, SLA compliance, and operational efficiency. Take innovations and automation ownership from initiation till benefit realizations. Stakeholder & Customer Management Act as the primary interface for customers, leadership teams, and technical stakeholders. Provide executive-level reporting, business reviews, and operational insights. Build strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders. Have a regular customer connects to review business delivery, challenges and discuss areas need help. Technical Skills Strong understanding of networking protocols and routing Have hands on experience working on networking devices (Switches, Routers, Load Balancers) for at least 3-4 years Preferred to have experience working in the data center in technical capacity Data Analytical Skills and basic understanding of SQL databases and any reporting platforms ITSM Processes (Incident, Change, Problem Management) Knowledge of Cloud Networking (Azure/AWS/OCI/Google Cloud) is preferred. Understanding of network automation tools and AI-driven operational solutions is highly desirable. Skills Mandatory Skills : Cisco DC/Branches Routers & Switches, Device Management, L2 L3 Switching and Routing Protocols Testing, Network Infrastructure, Networking Good to Have Skills : Problem Management, Project Planning, Python