Senior Staff Network Engineer, Product Software

Who are we?

Equinix is the world’s digital infrastructure company®, shortening the path to connectivity to enable the innovations that enrich our work, life and planet. 

A place where tech thinkers and future builders turn bold ideas into breakthrough experiences, we welcome your unique perspective.

Help us challenge assumptions, uncover bias, and remove barriers—because progress starts with fresh ideas. You’ll find belonging, purpose, and a team that welcomes you—because when you feel valued, you’re empowered to do your best work.

Job Summary

We are seeking a Principal Network Integration & Service Validation Engineer to lead end-to-end validation of network overlay services from customer portal request through orchestrator workflow, generated device configuration, control-plane convergence, data-plane forwarding, observability, and production-readiness sign-off. This role combines service-provider networking depth with strong QA discipline, automation mindset, and cross-functional leadership. 

Responsibilities

• E2E validation strategy for network services across multi-metro and observability platforms. 

• Create test architecture covering portal inputs, orchestration workflows, service models, template rendering, device configuration, route propagation, label stack behavior and service health visibility

• Validate orchestrator translation: service model, device templates, config rendering, pre-checks, approvals, rollback plan, and idempotency

• Validate network device configuration: PE, CE-facing handoff, spine/core reachability, RR control-plane state, labels, route policies, and observability hooks

• Validate control-plane correctness: RR-client relationships, route reflection behavior, RD/RT policy, EVPN route types, ISIS metrics, LSP flooding, loopback/SID advertisement, and ECMP path selection

• Validate data-plane correctness: CE-to-CE traffic flow, MAC/IP learning, VLAN handoff, root/leaf restrictions, VRF isolation, overlapping IPs, label stack behavior, and egress PE service delivery

• Lead observability validation using telemetry, logs, SNMP/gNMI, flow data, synthetic probes, graphs/data, SLA metrics, alarms, and service inventory reconciliation

• Validate monitoring: alarms, counters, flow records, telemetry, portal status, service health, SLA metrics, and post-deployment dashboards

• Record evidence: test cases, logs, screenshots, command outputs, defects, retest results, and final sign-off

• Partner with product, portal, orchestration, network engineering, NOC/SRE, and customer teams to define release gates and production readiness

• Create reusable test templates, automation frameworks, evidence standards, defect taxonomy, and traceability from requirements to test results

• Mentor junior engineers and drive troubleshooting during integration, certification, staging, and production incidents

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in service-provider, cloud networking, data center, telecom, or large enterprise network validation roles

• Strong hands-on understanding of ISIS, ISIS-SR, BGP, MP-BGP, EVPN, MPLS/SR label forwarding, route reflectors, RD/RT policy, and route convergence

• Deep experience validating L2VPN/L3VPN services such as EPL, EVPL, EPLAN, EPTREE, EACCESS, IPWAN, and L3VRF

• Strong troubleshooting skills using CLI, packet capture, route/label tables, telemetry, and observability dashboards

• Experience testing orchestration platforms, intent-based workflows, network controllers, service activation systems, or device template pipelines

• Ability to design QA strategy: test plans, test cases, traceability matrix, automation scope, regression suite, defect severity, exit criteria, and release sign-off

• Experience with vendor platforms such as Cisco, Juniper, Nokia, Arista, or equivalent service-provider routers/switches

• Ability to explain complex networking concepts clearly to QA, development, product, and business stakeholders

The targeted pay range for this position in the following location is / locations are:

United States - Dallas Infomart Office DAI : 136,000 - 204,000 USD / Annual

Our pay ranges reflect the minimum and maximum target for new hire pay for the full-time position determined by role, level, and location. The pay range shown is based on our compensation structure in place at the time of posting and may be updated periodically based on business needs. Individual pay is based on additional factors including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education and/or training.

The targeted pay range listed reflects the base pay only and does not include bonus, equity, or benefits. Employees are eligible for bonus, and equity may be offered depending on the position.

Equinix Benefits

As an employee, you become important to Equinix’s success. We ensure all your benefits are in line with our core values: competitive, inclusive, sustainable, connected and efficient. We keep them competitive within the current marketplace to ensure we’re providing you with the best package possible. So, wherever you are in your career and life, you’ll be able to enhance your experience and bring your whole self to work.

Employee Assistance Program : An Employee Assistance program is available to all employees.

US Benefits: - Insurance: You may enroll in health, life, disability and voluntary plans that are designed for you and your eligible family members. - Retirement: You and Equinix may contribute to a retirement plan to help you plan for your financial future. - Paid Time Off (PTO) and Paid Holidays: You will receive an accrued amount of PTO each pay period along with various paid holidays for you to rest and recharge. Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific plan or program terms.

Equinix is committed to ensuring that our employment process is open to all individuals, including those with a disability.  If you are a qualified candidate and need assistance or an accommodation, please let us know by completing this form .

Equinix is an Equal Employment Opportunity and, in the U.S., an Affirmative Action employer.  All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to unlawful consideration of race, color, religion, creed, national or ethnic origin, ancestry, place of birth, citizenship, sex, pregnancy / childbirth or related medical conditions, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital or domestic partnership status, age, veteran or military status, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, political / organizational affiliation, status as a victim or family member of a victim of crime or abuse, or any other status protected by applicable law. 

We use artificial intelligence in our hiring process. Learn more here .

This posting is a new position within our organization.