Principal Engineer, Network (Network Services)

Job Description

Job Description

About CENIC:

Join the team that connects California to the world — advancing education and research statewide by providing the world-class computing network essential for innovation, collaboration, and economic growth. Our organization operates the California Research and Education Network (CalREN), a high-capacity computer network with more than 8,000 miles of optical fiber. The network serves over 20 million users across California, including the vast majority of K-20 students, together with educators, researchers, and individuals at other vital public-serving institutions.

**We are looking for Network Engineers at various levels: mid-career > senior > technical expert > and leadership roles! Please see our career center for other positions available.**

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Principal Engineer, Network plays a strategic leadership role in designing, implementing, and evolving CENIC’s multiple networks, including CalREN, Pacific Wave, and the Western Regional Network. This position supports the organization through senior-level technical expertise, complex problem-solving, long-term planning, and mentorship. The Principal Engineer, Network works across teams and with external partners to ensure the ongoing reliability, performance, and scalability of CENIC’s backbone and member-facing infrastructure.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY: None

LOCATION: Hybrid. La Mirada, CA

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

Network Planning and Design

• Lead the design and evolution of optical and Layer 2/3 backbone and access networks to support growing bandwidth, service, and resilience needs

• Create, publish, and maintain comprehensive written strategic and tactical goals and project plans for CENIC networks

• Evaluate and plan for the adoption of emerging network services, technologies, and protocols

• Set engineering direction through the authorship and enforcement of architectural standards, design templates, and configuration policies

• Conduct traffic and capacity analyses to inform long-term infrastructure decisions

• Keep up-to-date with emerging trends and technologies in the networking industry and the larger research & education community

• Occasional travel to conferences to advocate for and connect with the community

Technical Leadership

• Serve as a senior technical authority and architectural decision-maker for CENIC’s backbone and member-serving networks and services

• Translate organizational strategy into technical roadmaps that align with long-term infrastructure and service goals

• Lead the evaluation and adoption of emerging technologies to ensure network resiliency, scalability, and relevance

• Represent CENIC in high-level external engagements, technical alliances, and initiatives within the wider research & education community

• Proactively identify systemic challenges or risks and drive coordinated solutions across departments

• Partner with the NOC, Security, and Program Management teams on design, deployment, and troubleshooting efforts

Mentorship and Internal Support

• Serve as a technical resource and mentor for engineers across the team

• Assist with technical reviews, training, and knowledge sharing

Automation and Tooling

• Identify and implement opportunities for automation of provisioning, monitoring, and configuration workflows

• Contribute to the selection and improvement of network visibility and performance tools

REQUIRED EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE:

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or related field with at least 10 years of advanced network engineering experience (ISP, research & education, enterprise-scale backbones)

• Deep mastery of IP (BGP, OSPF, IS-IS), MPLS (Segment Routing), VPN services (L2VPN, IPVPN), and traffic engineering concepts

• Proven track record designing and operating large-scale IP and optical networks (100G+)

• Familiarity with the configuration, operation, and evaluation of major vendors, such as Cisco, Juniper, Arista, and Nokia

• Demonstrated ability to guide others: mentor engineers, lead peer reviews, and drive adoption of best practices

• Strong communication skills for engaging collaborators, senior leadership, and external stakeholders

• Background in research & education, public sector, or nonprofit backbone networks

• Experience in capital planning, vendor selection, or managing high-impact network rollouts

Preferred SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or related discipline with 12 years or more of experience, or a combination of education and experience.

• Experience with DWDM networks, such as Cisco NCS2006 and/or NCS1010 platforms

• Understanding of network automation concepts for configuration, monitoring, and testing, and familiarity with tools such as Python, NSO, and Netbox

• Experience designing and implementing IP peering connectivity with other cloud, content, and service providers

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

This position operates in a professional office environment with standard office equipment, including computers, telephones, photocopiers, and filing cabinets.

WORK HOURS:

The regular workweek is Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Evening and weekend work may be required based on CENIC’s business demands.

WORK AUTHORIZATION:

Documented Proof of identity and legal eligibility to work in the United States.

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.

CENIC does not offer STEM OPT training opportunities and cannot complete Form I-983.

WHY WORK AT CENIC?

Company Culture: Small teams and a collaborative environment provide the opportunity to make a large impact in a small organization.

Community Engagement: We work with research and education institutions in the largest state economy in the United States. Your work has meaning.

Generous Health Benefit Package: We value our employees' wellness. We offer a variety of medical, dental, and vision benefits.. We have you covered with life, short-term, and long-term insurance. We also offer pet insurance at a discount.

Paid Time Off: We offer liberal vacation, sick leave, and 15 paid holidays.

Investment in Your Future: CENIC contributes to your 403(b) even if you don't. We also offer matching contributions. Pre-tax and Roth options are also available.

Direct applicants only. No recruiters.

CENIC is an equal opportunity employer – Vets/disabled