Principal Network Engineer

Optomi, in partnership with our client, are seeking an experienced Principal Network Engineer for a 6-12 month contract to hire opportunity that is hybrid in Plano, TX. About the Role We’re looking for a Principal Network Engineer with deep expertise in Cisco ACI, Nexus platforms, and modern data center networking. You’ll play a hands‑on, leadership role in designing, building, and maintaining large‑scale, enterprise‑grade network environments across colocation and hybrid cloud infrastructures. Key Responsibilities Design and implement scalable, secure, high-performance network solutions for large data centers. Architect and manage ACI fabrics, Arista VXLAN/EVPN, and hybrid cloud connectivity (AWS, Azure, GCP). Lead deployment and lifecycle management of firewalls, load balancers, and SDN solutions. Drive network automation and compliance through Ansible and infrastructure‑as‑code methodologies. Collaborate closely with cloud, security, and SRE/DevOps teams to align infrastructure with business goals. Provide technical leadership and mentorship, setting standards and best practices across the network team. Troubleshoot complex networking issues and lead root cause analysis efforts. Research and evaluate emerging technologies to enhance reliability, security, and performance. Required Qualifications 10+ years in enterprise networking, with 3+ years in a lead/principal engineering role. Deep knowledge of L2/L3 protocols (BGP, OSPF, IS‑IS). Hands‑on experience with: Cisco ACI and Nexus (2K–9K) Arista VXLAN/EVPN, CloudVision VMware NSX/AVI Strong automation background (Ansible, IaC). Proven ability to design, troubleshoot, and lead complex data center network solutions. Preferred Skills Familiarity with UCS, HyperFlex, VMware, Kubernetes. Experience with hybrid cloud networking (AWS, Azure, GCP). Understanding of overlay technologies (OTV, LISP, BGP EVPN). Relevant certifications (CCNP, CCIE, or equivalent). #J-18808-Ljbffr Optomi