Senior Network Engineer

For more than 50 years, Photronics has been a global leader in photomask technology—powering the innovation behind smartphones, computers, automotive technology, and countless devices used every day. Our success is built on quality, collaboration, and the dedication of our people. Join us and be part of a company recognized for cutting‑edge technology, exceptional service, and strong customer partnerships. Photronics is seeking an experienced Senior Network Engineer to design, manage, and optimize our high-performance global network environment. This role is highly hands‑on and technically deep, with responsibility across routing, switching, firewalls, WAN architecture, automation, and modern observability practices. A key focus of this position is leading a major organizational transition from an outsourced Network Operations Center (NOC) model to a fully internal, self‑sufficient network operations structure. This technical leader will drive large‑scale operational change while ensuring reliability, scalability, and security across a global footprint. If you are a seasoned network engineer who enjoys solving complex problems, building resilient global infrastructure, and leading meaningful operational transformation, this is an opportunity to make a lasting impact. Location: Corporate Headquarters - Brookfield, CT. This is an on‑site position and we are not open to remote candidates at this time. Travel: 10–20% globally for site support and project execution Key Responsibilities Design, configure, implement, and maintain global network infrastructure, including routers, switches, wireless access points, load balancers, and WAN connectivity. Administer and optimize Juniper and Cisco network hardware to ensure high availability, performance, and scalability. Lead architecture planning and hands‑on deployment of a global Layer 2 Ethernet WAN network. Managed Service Transition Leadership Develop and execute the strategy to transition network operations from a third‑party NOC provider to an internal operations team. Create SOPs, runbooks, and training materials to build internal network operations capability. Ensure seamless service continuity with no degradation during the transition period. Firewall & Security Management Manage and troubleshoot Fortinet FortiGate firewalls, including security policies, IPsec and SSL VPN configurations, and incident response. Apply best practices for network segmentation, secure remote access, and threat prevention. Monitoring, Observability & AIOps Design and implement end‑to‑end network monitoring solutions to provide 24/7 visibility across the global network. Develop AIOps‑enabled monitoring strategies to proactively detect, diagnose, and remediate issues. Implement telemetry, distributed tracing, and observability tools to gain deep insight into network performance and behavior. Serve as a Tier 3 escalation point for complex network incidents. Perform advanced packet capture, deep‑dive analysis, and root cause identification to resolve critical issues efficiently. Qualifications Knowledge, Skills & Abilities Deep expertise in enterprise routing, switching, and WAN technologies, including core protocols such as BGP, OSPF, VLANs, STP, and VPNs. Strong hands‑on experience with Fortinet FortiGate firewalls, network segmentation, VPN technologies, and security best practices. Proven ability to design, implement, and optimize monitoring, telemetry, and AIOps‑driven observability solutions. Expert diagnostic and troubleshooting skills, including packet capture and root cause analysis. Proficiency with network automation and scripting tools such as Python, Ansible, and Netmiko. Strong leadership, documentation, and communication skills with the ability to mentor others and partner with both technical and non‑technical stakeholders. Experience 6–8 years of enterprise‑level, hands‑on network engineering and operations experience. Strong preference for experience transitioning network operations from a managed service or outsourced NOC to an internal team. Extensive experience with Fortinet FortiGate firewalls; Fortinet NSE certification strongly preferred. Deep knowledge of Juniper and Cisco platforms, including advanced routing and switching concepts. Proven experience designing and deploying Layer 2 / Layer 3 WAN architectures, including large‑scale Ethernet WANs. Experience with monitoring and automation tools such as SolarWinds, Datadog, Grafana, Prometheus, or similar platforms. Familiarity with automation and scripting (Python, Ansible, Netmiko) and AIOps methodologies. Education Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience. Professional certifications such as CCNP, JNCIP, or Fortinet NSE 4/7 are highly desirable. Competitive salary + bonus potential Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance 401(k) with company match Generous PTO and paid holidays Career development and training opportunities Collaborative, inclusive workplace culture Equal Opportunity Statement We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender, gender identity or expression, or veteran status. We are proud to be an equal opportunity workplace. We are committed to providing reasonable accommodation for team members’ disabilities and religious beliefs or practices. Agency Notice Photronics does not accept unsolicited resumes or outreach from search firms or employment agencies. Please, no phone calls or emails to any employee regarding this opening. Resumes submitted outside of our approved agency engagement process will be considered the sole property of Photronics, and no fees will be paid if such candidates are hired. Only agencies with a valid agreement in place with Photronics and assigned to this role may submit candidates. Seniority level Mid‑Senior level Employment type Full‑time Job function Information Technology Industries Semiconductor Manufacturing #J-18808-Ljbffr Photronics