Network Engineer

Senior Software Defined Network (SD‑WAN) Engineer

4 days on-site in Englewood, Colorado

$65-$75/hour

Long-term W2 contract with benefits

Ideal candidates will already have hands‑on experience with:

• Nokia / Alcatel (routing, service provider environments)

Role Overview

This role is responsible for the design, implementation, and operational support of the company’s Software Defined Network (SD‑WAN) and uCPE services. You will act as a senior technical resource supporting live customers, leading complex service deliveries, troubleshooting advanced IP and security issues, and collaborating closely with Engineering, Product, Vendors, and Customers. You’ll operate in a 24x7 production environment, support both standard and highly complex customer networks, and help drive continuous improvement across platforms, tooling, and processes.

Core Responsibilities

• Design and deploy uCPE‑based SD‑WAN solutions including Firewall, NAT/PAT, QoS, DHCP, Traffic Steering, BGP, Static Routing, Wireless Backup, Hybrid WAN, High Availability, and LAN/WAN interfaces.
• Provision and manage configurations in the SDN Service Platform.
• Maintain accurate inventory records including IP assignments and CLLI codes.
• Create and validate Bills of Materials (BOMs) ensuring hardware and configuration meet customer requirements.
• Test, turn up, and validate production uCPE and underlay circuits.

Service Delivery & Customer Engagement

• Serve as the primary technical resource during service delivery, partnering with Customer Project Managers.
• Lead acceptance testing for SD‑WAN overlay and Wireless Backup services.
• Interface directly with customers to:
• Resolve service issues
• Execute and validate Change of Service (CoS) requests
• Explain platform functionality and best practices
• Execute test plans, capture results, and collect supporting documentation (photos, speed tests, logs).

Troubleshooting & Operations

• Troubleshoot advanced IP, routing, SD‑WAN, and security issues, including:
• Routing, performance, connectivity, and availability
• Firewall policies, NAT, ACLs, DNS, DHCP
• VPNs and secure overlays
• Perform packet captures, analyze logs and performance metrics, and identify root causes.
• Handle complex, systemic issues through deep‑dive investigations and root cause analysis.
• Maintain and update service tickets, escalate issues appropriately, and meet MTTR targets.
• Coordinate with vendors and providers to resolve off‑net underlay circuit issues.

Engineering, Platform & Continuous Improvement

• Collaborate with Engineering, Product Development, and Vendors to:
• Resolve systemic issues
• Support new features, tools, and platform releases
• Contribute to test plans, acceptance criteria, and documentation for products and features.
• Participate in tooling analysis and integration efforts supporting Operations.
• Exercise independent judgment in incident management, site design, and network activation decisions.
• Provide technical guidance and training to junior engineers.
• Share best practices and help mature operational workflows.
• Support complex customer designs and custom implementations.

Required Knowledge & Expertise

• Expert‑level understanding of IP routing and switching fundamentals.
• Strong experience with SD‑WAN and Network Function Virtualization (NFV/uCPE).
• Deep knowledge of BGP, static routing, traffic flows, and hybrid WAN architectures.

Security & Connectivity

• Firewall policies, NAT, VPN technologies, access control, and secure network design.
• Understanding of customer security requirements and operational impacts.

Operations & Platforms

• Experience working in a 24x7 production operations environment.
• Comfortable executing changes, troubleshooting live traffic, and handling incidents with minimal supervision.
• Ability to support both standard accounts and large, complex enterprise customers.
• 24x7 operational support environment
• Must be available for nights, weekends, and variable schedules as required
• Regular, consistent attendance required

Skill Set Alignment (Internal Framework)

This role maps directly to the following engineering skill categories:

• Routing, Switching & Traffic Engineering
• Network Security & Secure Connectivity
• Operations, Automation & Platforms
• Advanced Troubleshooting & Migration
• Me…