Senior Network Test Engineer

Network Routing and Switching Engineer is responsible for testing and certifying network hardware to ensure optimal performance, reliability, and compliance. This role is crucial for maintaining the integrity and efficiency of the organization's network infrastructure.

The successful candidate should have hands-on experience in functional testing, with the ability to identify automation opportunities and develop automated test solutions. Mid-level Python and Ansible skills are required to create, maintain, and enhance test automation workflows, improve test coverage, and increase operational efficiency.

A combination of networking expertise, Linux proficiency, automation skills, Kubernetes operations, and eBPF observability to design, test, automate, and operate modern enterprises and cloud-native network infrastructures at scale.

This individual's focus will be on lab testing and certifications with particular focus on the campus/branch/WAN-MAN/Data Center/Low latency/limited interoperability with network appliances (firewalls/load balancers).

Key Responsibilities:

• Test and certify network hardware to ensure optimal performance, reliability, and compliance.
• Develop automated test solutions and identify automation opportunities.
• Develop and design testing for various network hardware, including routers, switches.
• Conduct performance tests to evaluate the functionality, speed, and reliability of network hardware.
• Rapid certification of patches/SMU/codes, with particular focus but not limited to Risk/CVE driven events and rapid need for targeted & expedited certifications to ensure the given patch/SMU/code can be safely applied on production devices.
• Support interoperability with IP appliances like F5/A10/Fortinet/SRX Load balancers and firewalls.
• Develop automation using Python, Ansible, APIs, and Infrastructure-as-Code techniques.
• Identify and diagnose any hardware malfunctions, performance issues, or compatibility problems during testing.
• Document and present recommendations and findings to the wider teams, including testing results and certifications.
• Work on engineering standards and create best practice network documentation utilizing knowledge of industry and technical trends.
• Provide guidance to the wider teams related to platforms and designs.
• Evaluate vendor offerings and collaborate with internal and external peers towards innovating.
• Be responsible for the software and hardware testing of all future code releases and drive decisions about testing improvements.
• Create and update standards and configuration templates, track bugs and vulnerabilities, and provide expert level support of the production environment.
• Heavily engage with vendors to research, understand and communicate industry trends and upcoming products & features of interest and benefit to the BUs.
• Work with vendors, coordinate testing, and evaluate PoC.
• Possess ability to quickly and effectively interpret data.
• Perform very complex implementations with little or no guidance and/or oversight from a project manager.
• Work independently and within a global testing team environment.
• Prioritize effectively with good time management skills.
• Move quickly and multitask in a fast-paced environment.
• Manage stakeholders and provide reports and overviews to both technical and non-technical senior management.

Required Skills:

• 8+ years of experience with extensive experience with LAN/WAN network design, engineering, and code/feature certification/validation.
• Strong hands-on experience in functional testing and automated test solutions.
• Good knowledge of Python and GitHub.
• Mid-level Python and Ansible skills.
• Python automation programming on a daily basis.
• Ansible playbooks authoring.
• Good foundation in Linux administration, networking, and automation.
• Excellent knowledge of IP Routing, BGP, OSPF, and Layer 2 protocols like Spanning-tree.
• Demonstrate knowledge of working with protocols such as OSPF, BGP, IGMP and PIM.
• Cisco Platforms such as Catalyst and Nexus.
• Knowledge of certification of new code and bug scrubs on IOS/XE/NXOS and limited XR.
• Understanding of network protocols and network platforms such as Cisco/Arista to design and troubleshoot new implementations.
• Good protocol level understanding/Wireshark.
• Proficiency with tools such as tcpdump, Wireshark, and Git.
• CCIE or at a minimum CCNP level experience.
• Experience with testing design and certification of products in LAB environments is highly desirable.
• Ability to develop automation using Python, Ansible, APIs, and Infrastructure-as-Code techniques.
• Cloud-native networking concepts, including Kubernetes architecture, container networking (CNI), and operational tools such as kubectl.
• Experience with Cisco/Arista Switching Platforms and Catalyst switches.
• Strong knowledge of Switching and Switching mechanisms like CEF, TCAM.
• Multicast: IGMPv2/3, PIM-SM, Static RP, RP-Anycast, MSDP.
• IP Routing Platforms, ISR4k, ASR1K, Catalyst.
• Experience with Tools such as IXIA and/or Spirent to test and certify various designs and troubleshoot networks issues.
• Ability to work independently and within a global testing team environment.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including business writing and presentation skills.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, strong logical and analytical skills.
• Deep sense of ownership/accountability and proactive approach.
• Ability to prioritize effectively with good time management skills.

Desired Skills:

• Some proficiency in the ROBOT Framework.
• Experience integrating Ansible with ROBOT framework for seamless automation.
• Experience with Arista Platforms such as 7280, 7504, 7060 etc.
• Experience developing strategies with multiple vendors.
• Experience creating design documents for each certification which includes engineering guidelines.
• Familiarity with eBPF-based networking and security, particularly platforms such as Cilium.
• Experience with MAB/Port Security/NAC/802.1x/QoS/IPSec.
• Understanding of new protocols being deployed intra and inter Data Center.
• AWS or Azure cloud equivalent.
• Data Center power and cooling, cabling 10/25G/40G/50G/100G.
• Cloud computing, virtualization industry standard and trends, server technologies.
• Router hardening technologies, DDoS mitigation, routing protocol encryption, SSH implementation, out-of-band network design, 802.1x, NAC, IPSec.
• L2 and L3 QoS.
• Experience working with F5/A10/Fortinet/SRX load balancers and firewalls.
• Experience in financial services or enterprise environments.