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Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Network Operations Engineer

💰 $85,000 - $125,000

Information TechnologyNetworkingNOCSystems Administration

🎯 Role Definition

Are you passionate about keeping the digital world connected? We're seeking a highly skilled and motivated Network Operations Engineer to join our dynamic Network Operations Center (NOC). In this critical role, you will be the backbone of our IT infrastructure, responsible for the day-to-day monitoring, maintenance, and troubleshooting of our global network. You'll ensure the highest levels of availability, performance, and security for our data, voice, and video services. If you thrive in a fast-paced environment and have a knack for solving complex puzzles, this is the perfect opportunity to make a significant impact on our organization's success.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Network Operations Center (NOC) Technician
  • Junior Network Administrator
  • IT Support Specialist with a networking focus

Advancement To:

  • Senior Network Operations Engineer
  • Network Architect
  • Network Security Engineer

Lateral Moves:

  • DevOps Engineer
  • Site Reliability Engineer (SRE)
  • Cloud Engineer

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Proactively monitor the health and performance of all network infrastructure, including routers, switches, firewalls, load balancers, and wireless access points.
  • Provide Tier 2/3 operational support for network incidents, diagnosing and resolving complex hardware and software issues within strict SLA timeframes.
  • Execute network changes, including device configurations, firmware upgrades, and patching, adhering to rigorous change management policies.
  • Respond to, investigate, and resolve alerts generated by network monitoring systems like SolarWinds, Datadog, or Nagios.
  • Manage and troubleshoot complex dynamic routing protocols, primarily BGP and OSPF, to ensure optimal and resilient data paths.
  • Perform in-depth packet capture and analysis using tools like Wireshark to diagnose elusive network and application performance problems.
  • Implement and maintain secure connectivity solutions, including site-to-site VPNs, remote access VPNs, and client-based access controls.
  • Administer and support firewall policies on platforms such as Palo Alto, Cisco ASA, or Fortinet, ensuring alignment with security best practices.
  • Take ownership of high-priority incidents, driving them to resolution by coordinating with internal teams, vendors, and service providers.
  • Conduct root cause analysis (RCA) for major network outages and service degradations, documenting findings and implementing preventative measures.
  • Manage core DDI (DNS, DHCP, IPAM) services to ensure reliable address allocation and name resolution across the enterprise.
  • Support and troubleshoot network load balancing solutions (e.g., F5 BIG-IP, A10) to maintain high availability for critical applications.
  • Ensure the stability and integrity of campus and data center LAN/WAN environments, including Layer 2 and Layer 3 switching technologies.
  • Configure and manage Quality of Service (QoS) policies to prioritize real-time traffic like VoIP and video conferencing.

Secondary Functions

  • Participate in a 24x7 on-call rotation to provide rapid response for critical network incidents.
  • Create and maintain meticulous documentation for network configurations, logical/physical diagrams, and operational procedures.
  • Liaise with vendors and telecommunication carriers to provision new circuits, manage circuit delivery, and troubleshoot service disruptions.
  • Provide technical guidance, cross-training, and mentorship to junior NOC technicians and team members.
  • Assist in capacity planning and performance tuning exercises to forecast future network needs and prevent performance bottlenecks.
  • Contribute to the development and refinement of automation scripts (Python, Ansible) to streamline repetitive operational tasks.
  • Collaborate with the security team to implement and audit network security controls and respond to potential security events.
  • Support disaster recovery planning and participate in annual DR testing to validate network resiliency.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • Routing & Switching: Deep understanding of enterprise-level routing (BGP, OSPF) and switching (VLANs, STP, LACP, vPC) protocols and technologies.
  • Network Vendor Expertise: Hands-on experience with Cisco (IOS XE/XR, NX-OS), Juniper (Junos), and/or Arista (EOS) hardware and operating systems.
  • Firewall Administration: Proficiency in configuring and troubleshooting next-generation firewalls, particularly Palo Alto Networks, Cisco ASA, or Fortinet.
  • Monitoring & Analysis: Expertise with network monitoring tools (SolarWinds, Nagios, Datadog) and packet analysis software (Wireshark).
  • Load Balancing: Experience with application delivery controllers and load balancers, such as F5 BIG-IP or A10 Networks.
  • Scripting & Automation: Foundational knowledge of a scripting language like Python or Ansible for network automation.
  • Cloud Networking: Familiarity with networking concepts in public cloud environments like AWS (VPC, Direct Connect) or Azure (VNet, ExpressRoute).
  • DDI Management: Solid experience with managing DNS, DHCP, and IP Address Management (IPAM) systems (e.g., Infoblox).
  • VPN Technologies: Strong knowledge of IPsec and SSL VPN configuration and troubleshooting.
  • WAN Technologies: Understanding of various WAN circuits, including MPLS, DIA, and SD-WAN solutions.

Soft Skills

  • Analytical Problem-Solving: Ability to systematically and logically troubleshoot complex, multi-faceted technical issues under pressure.
  • Clear Communication: Excellent verbal and written communication skills to articulate technical issues to both technical and non-technical audiences.
  • Team Collaboration: A strong team player who can work effectively with cross-functional teams (SysAdmins, Security, DevOps).
  • Attention to Detail: Meticulous and precise in executing changes, documenting work, and analyzing data.
  • Time Management & Prioritization: Proven ability to manage multiple high-priority tasks simultaneously and meet deadlines in a fast-paced NOC environment.
  • Ownership & Accountability: A proactive mindset with a strong sense of ownership for the stability of the network.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field or equivalent professional experience.
  • Industry certifications such as Cisco CCNA or Juniper JNCIA are highly valued.

Preferred Education:

  • Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related engineering discipline.
  • Advanced certifications like CCNP Enterprise, JNCIP-ENT, or PCNSA.

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Computer Science
  • Information Technology / Systems
  • Network Engineering
  • Telecommunications

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

  • 3-7 years of direct experience in a Network Operations Center (NOC), data center, or a similar enterprise network support role.

Preferred:

  • Experience working in a large-scale, 24x7 global enterprise or service provider environment with stringent uptime requirements.
  • Demonstrable experience in leading incident response and resolution for critical network events.
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