Freelance Core Network Engineer Jobs in Alabama (NOW HIRING)

Principal Engineer, Core Network

Location Requirement: This position operates on a hybrid schedule (3 days in-office, 2 days remote). Candidates must be within 45 minutes of an office and able to regularly commute to work as required. This is not a fully remote opportunity.

The Opportunity

We're looking for a Principal Engineer, Core Network to serve as the lead architect and technical visionary for our global network infrastructure.

In this highly impactful role, you will drive the evolution of next-generation networking technologies - including Segment Routing - while leveraging deep expertise in OSPF, ISIS, BGP, and MPLS to solve complex connectivity challenges at scale.

This is more than a technical leadership position. As a Principal Engineer, you'll play a critical role in shaping network strategy, ensuring stability and performance across enterprise-grade environments, and mentoring engineering talent to elevate the organization's technical capabilities. You'll bridge high-level business priorities with scalable, resilient, and increasingly automated network execution.

What You'll Do

You will be responsible for designing, scaling, optimizing, and modernizing high-availability network infrastructure, including:

• Designing and scaling high-availability service provider or enterprise-grade networks

• Leading the transition to next-generation network architectures, including Segment Routing

• Optimizing core routing protocols including:

  • OSPF

  • ISIS

  • BGP

  to improve overall network performance and stability

• Architecting and maintaining MPLS-based services, including:

  • RSVP-TE

  • LDP

• Serving as the final escalation point during critical, large-scale network outages

• Mentoring both junior and senior engineers to raise the team's collective technical expertise

• Driving automation initiatives to reduce manual configuration efforts and minimize human error

• Performing additional duties as assigned

What You Bring

Minimum Required Education & Experience

• 7+ years of experience in large-scale network engineering and architecture

• Expert-level mastery of Link State routing protocols, including:

  • OSPF

  • ISIS

• Deep expertise in BGP, including:

  • iBGP

  • eBGP

  • Communities

  • Policy Routing

• Advanced knowledge of MPLS, including:

  • L2/L3 VPNs

  • Multicast

  • RSVP traffic engineering

• Strong understanding of:

  • Network Security

  • Quality of Service (QoS)

  • High-Availability Network Design

• Bachelor's or Associate degree in a field related to Computer Networking

Skills & Abilities for Success in This Role

Strategic Foresight

The ability to anticipate how architectural decisions made today will impact business performance and scalability over the next 3-5 years.

Influential Leadership

Confidence navigating complex stakeholder environments and building alignment around major infrastructure investments - even without direct authority.

Decisive Crisis Management

A calm-under-pressure mindset with the ability to lead teams through high-impact outages and restore service quickly and effectively.

Effective Mentorship

A genuine passion for developing engineering talent and helping junior team members grow into senior technical leaders.

Analytical Troubleshooting

A methodical, data-driven approach to solving highly complex networking challenges using logic, analysis, and packet-level insights.

Cross-Functional Communication

The ability to translate technical network concepts into business value for executives, stakeholders, and non-technical partners.

Physical Demands & Working Conditions

The physical demands described below are representative of those required to successfully perform the essential functions of this role. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these essential functions.

• Regularly required to talk and hear

• Required to use hands to type, handle objects, and manage paperwork

• Required to use close vision and maintain focus

• Ability to participate in on-call rotations, including occasional overnight and weekend work

• Ability to travel occasionally

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment
without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran