Senior Cloud Network Engineer (GCP & Infrastructure Automation)

Hello

Title and Job Description:
Senior Cloud Network Engineer (GCP & Infrastructure Automation)

Location: McLean, VA preferred, Iselin, NJ, Charlotte, NC

Position Summary
We are seeking a highly skilled Senior Cloud Network Engineer to design, implement, automate, and support enterprise-scale cloud networking solutions with a primary focus on Google Cloud Platform (GCP). This role will be responsible for architecting secure, scalable, and resilient network infrastructure across hybrid cloud environments while leveraging Infrastructure as Code (Terraform), automation, and modern DevOps practices.
The ideal candidate is a hands-on networking expert with deep experience in cloud connectivity, routing, security, network automation, and large-scale enterprise environments.
Key Responsibilities
Cloud Network Architecture & Engineering
Design, implement, and support enterprise-scale networking solutions within GCP and hybrid cloud environments.
Architect and manage GCP networking services including:
VPC Networks
Cloud Router
Cloud NAT
Cloud DNS
Private Service Connect
Network Connectivity Center
Cloud Load Balancers
VPN and Interconnect Services
Develop scalable network designs supporting multi-region, high-availability, and disaster recovery requirements.
Support hybrid connectivity between on-premises data centers and cloud environments through VPN, Dedicated Interconnect, and third-party network integrations.
Evaluate and implement advanced routing, segmentation, and traffic engineering solutions.
Infrastructure as Code (IaC) & Network Automation
Develop, maintain, and enhance reusable Terraform modules for cloud networking infrastructure.
Build automated deployment frameworks for:
VPC provisioning
Routing configurations
Firewall policies
Load balancing services
Connectivity services
Integrate Terraform deployments into CI/CD pipelines and Git-based workflows.
Drive network automation initiatives using Python, Terraform, and cloud-native automation frameworks.
Establish infrastructure standards and governance for repeatable cloud deployments.
Network Operations & Incident Management
Troubleshoot complex production network issues across cloud and hybrid environments.
Analyze routing, connectivity, DNS, firewall, performance, and application traffic-related incidents.
Perform root cause analysis and develop permanent corrective actions for recurring issues.
Support critical production incidents and participate in on-call escalation processes as needed.
Ensure reliable operation of cloud networking services through proactive monitoring and operational excellence.
Network Security & Compliance
Design and implement secure network architectures following Zero Trust and security best practices.
Develop and maintain firewall, segmentation, and access control policies.
Collaborate with cybersecurity teams to ensure compliance with enterprise and regulatory standards.
Assess network risks and security impacts associated with infrastructure changes.
Support vulnerability remediation and cloud security initiatives.
Monitoring, Observability & Performance Optimization
Implement and maintain network observability solutions for cloud environments.
Utilize monitoring and diagnostic tools to:
Measure performance
Detect anomalies
Improve network reliability
Reduce operational risk
Analyze network traffic, latency, and utilization trends to drive optimization initiatives.
Develop dashboards, health metrics, and reporting capabilities to improve operational visibility.
Cloud Transformation, Upgrades & Migrations
Lead cloud network migration initiatives from traditional infrastructure to GCP.
Support application onboarding and migration programs.
Plan and execute network upgrades, platform modernization efforts, and infrastructure deployments.
Ensure all changes adhere to enterprise change management and release processes.
Develop implementation and rollback strategies for production changes.
Collaboration & Technical Leadership
Partner with cloud architects, security engineers, platform teams, and application owners to deliver cloud networking solutions.
Provide technical leadership and mentorship on networking best practices and automation.
Contribute to architecture reviews, design discussions, and strategic network initiatives.
Create and maintain technical documentation, operational runbooks, and engineering standards.
Promote automation-first and cloud-native design principles across engineering teams.
Required Qualifications
5+ years of experience in cloud networking, network engineering, or infrastructure engineering roles.
Deep understanding of enterprise networking concepts including:
BGP
OSPF
TCP/IP
Routing and Switching
Load Balancing
High Availability
DNS
Network Security
Hands-on experience designing and supporting GCP networking solutions in production environments.
Strong expertise with Terraform and Infrastructure as Code practices.
Experience with hybrid cloud networking and data center connectivity.
Strong troubleshooting and root cause analysis skills.
Experience supporting production deployments, upgrades, and migrations.
Knowledge of cloud security and risk management principles.
Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
Preferred Qualifications
Experience with multi-cloud environments (GCP, Azure, AWS).
Strong scripting and automation experience using Python, PowerShell, or similar languages.
Experience with CI/CD platforms and GitOps methodologies.
Hands-on experience with Palo Alto, Cisco, or cloud-native security platforms.
Experience with Kubernetes networking (GKE), service networking, and container connectivity.
Relevant certifications such as:
Google Professional Cloud Network Engineer
Google Professional Cloud Architect
HashiCorp Terraform Associate
CCNP Enterprise / CCIE
AWS Advanced Networking Specialty
Experience in highly regulated enterprise environments such as financial services, healthcare, or government.