Network Systems Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

We are seeking a Senior Network Systems Engineer to join our Global Network Services team, operating and engineering the enterprise network that underpins NetApp worldwide. This is a deep technical role for an expert in Cisco routing, SD-WAN, and campus networking who can own complex infrastructure end to end - from design and deployment through day-two operations and escalated troubleshooting - across a global, multi-region estate. 

The team is evolving toward a cloud-first, automation-led operating model. While this role is anchored in deep networking expertise, the ideal candidate brings - or is eager to build - automation and infrastructure-as-code skills, and will help modernise how we operate: replacing manual, repetitive work with codified, repeatable engineering. You will be a senior technical voice on the team, mentoring others and setting the standard for engineering quality. 

• Own routing across the global routing estate - design, implement, and operate enterprise routing (BGP, OSPF,), including internet edge, WAN, and inter-site connectivity. 
• Engineer and operate the Cisco SD-WAN environment (Catalyst SD-WAN / Viptela) - policy design, template management, onboarding new sites, and troubleshooting overlay/underlay issues. 
• Lead campus networking across the global office and lab footprint - access/distribution/core, wireless, and network access - delivering reliable, secure, high-performance connectivity. 
• Resolve escalated operational issues (Tier 3/4) - act as the senior escalation point for complex incidents, driving root-cause analysis and permanent resolution. 
• Deliver new site builds, refreshes, and migrations - produce designs, interconnect matrices, and cutover plans; coordinate with vendors and installation partners through delivery. 
• Drive network changes through structured change control - plan, risk-assess, and execute changes with appropriate testing, validation, and rollback. 
• Maintain operational health through observability - use network monitoring and telemetry tooling to detect, diagnose, and pre-empt issues before they impact users. 
• Contribute to standards, runbooks, and documentation - raise the quality bar for how the team designs, operates, and hands off work. 
• Mentor junior engineers and share expertise - act as a technical mentor and multiplier across the team. 
• Support automation and modernisation - partner with automation/SRE colleagues to codify recurring tasks, moving the team from manual operations toward infrastructure as code. 

• Routing 
• Expert-level knowledge of enterprise routing: BGP, OSPF, EIGRP, route redistribution, path selection, and policy-based routing. 
• Hands-on experience operating routing on Cisco platforms (IOS-XE, ASR/ISR, Catalyst 8000) at enterprise scale. 
• Strong grasp of internet edge, WAN, and DIA circuit design, including working with service providers on connectivity and troubleshooting. 

SD-WAN 

• Deep expertise in Cisco SD-WAN (Catalyst SD-WAN / Viptela): control, management, and data plane; vManage/Catalyst Manager, vBond, vSmart. 
• Proven experience with SD-WAN policy design, template configuration, site onboarding, and overlay/underlay troubleshooting. 
• Understanding of transport-independent design across MPLS, broadband, and cellular, with application-aware routing and QoS. 

Networking 

• Expert knowledge of campus LAN architecture: access/distribution/core, Layer 2/Layer 3 design, spanning tree, VLANs, and first-hop redundancy (HSRP/VRRP). 
• Strong experience with Cisco campus switching (Catalyst 9000 series) or Juniper Switching. 
• Expertise in enterprise wireless - design, deployment, and troubleshooting of Cisco wireless (WLC, Catalyst/Meraki or Juniper Mist access points), RF planning, and roaming. 
• Familiarity with network access control and segmentation (Cisco ISE, 802.1X, TACACS+/RADIUS). 

General 

• Significant hands-on experience (typically 8+ years) in enterprise network engineering and operations, including a senior or lead technical role. 
• Demonstrated ownership of complex, high-impact network infrastructure in a global environment. 
• Strong troubleshooting discipline and structured incident-resolution skills under pressure. 
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to work across regions and mentor others. 

Nice to Have 

• The following are not required, but will distinguish a strong candidate - particularly the automation and cloud capabilities that align with where the team is heading. 
• Scripting and automation experience - Python, Ansible, or similar - applied to network configuration or operations. 
• Exposure to infrastructure as code (Terraform) and network-as-code approaches. 
• Experience with workflow automation and orchestration platforms such as n8n - building automated workflows that connect network tooling, APIs, and operational processes. 
• Familiarity with the Model Context Protocol (MCP) and AI-agent integration - connecting AI assistants to network tools, data sources, and operational systems. 
• Familiarity with Git-based workflows and CI/CD concepts for network change. 
• Experience with network observability and telemetry platforms (e.g. ThousandEyes, NetScout, SolarWinds, LiveAction, streaming telemetry). 
• Cloud networking exposure across AWS, Azure, or OCI (transit, peering, cloud connectivity). 
• Interest in AIOps or AI-assisted operations - using modern tooling to reduce toil and improve reliability. 
• Understanding of SRE practices: SLOs, error budgets, and toil reduction. 
• Firewall and security exposure (Cisco ASA/Firepower, Palo Alto). 
• Relevant certifications: CCNP / CCIE (Enterprise Infrastructure), Cisco SD-WAN specialisation, or equivalent. 
• Experience with data-centre networking (Nexus, ACI) and load balancing / GSLB.