Senior Network Automation Engineer Jobs in Silver Spring, MD

Position Summary:

The Sr. Network Engineer possesses expert-level knowledge in the design, implementation, and troubleshooting of enterprise networking infrastructure across LAN, WAN, and Software-Defined Networking (SDN) domains. Core areas of expertise span enterprise campus, branch routing and switching, SD-WAN, SD-Access, SD-Branch, and next-generation network security integration. The Sr. Network Engineer operates in a professional services capacity delivering complex multi-site and multi-domain network solutions to enterprise customers across a variety of vendor platforms, with Cisco as the primary technology track. The Sr. Network Engineer shall support, mentor, and enable junior engineers while performing high-level design and configuration tasks with limited or no supervision.

Primary Position Tasks:

• Design, implement, and support complex enterprise LAN and WAN solutions spanning traditional routed/switched infrastructure and modern Software-Defined Networking architectures across multiple vendor platforms.
• Lead SD-WAN deployments including controller/orchestrator onboarding, zero-touch provisioning (ZTP), policy development, traffic segmentation, and QoS configuration (e.g., Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN, Meraki, Palo Alto Prisma, Juniper Session Smart).
• Design and deploy SD-Access or equivalent campus fabric solutions including policy-based segmentation, network access control integration, and intent-based automation (e.g., Cisco SDA with Catalyst Center and ISE).
• Execute WAN circuit migrations and cutovers - including MPLS-to-SD-WAN transitions - and campus LAN modernization projects with minimal customer impact.
• Design and implement SD-Branch solutions that converge WAN connectivity, LAN switching, security, and wireless functions at the branch edge.
• Support, troubleshoot, install, and configure complex enterprise routing, switching, and SDN infrastructure in Cisco-primary and multi-vendor environments.
• Assess, document, and report on enterprise networks to drive LAN/WAN modernization, SDN adoption, and infrastructure refresh initiatives.
• Maintain industry certifications as required to retain strategic OEM partnerships.
• Review and approve new opportunity statements of work (SOWs) and level of effort (LOE) estimates related to the growth of our Modern Infrastructure practice.
• Collaborate closely with design engineering resources when scoping larger LAN, WAN, and SDN-related projects and programs.
• Articulate modern network service capabilities and deployment methodologies - including SDN, cloud networking, and automation in internal and customer-facing capacities.
• Assist pre-sales with customer engagements, technical presentations, and solution demonstrations when applicable.
• Assist in developing, improving, and automating delivery methodologies.
• Other business duties as assigned.

Minimum Education/Certification/Experience Requirements:

Education/Certification/Experience Requirements:

• 7+ years of related experience in a field or professional services role, with significant focus on enterprise LAN/WAN design and deployment.
• Current professional-level networking certification required (Cisco CCNP Enterprise preferred; JNCIP, ACCP, or NSE7 also considered); CCIE or equivalent expert-level certification strongly preferred. Additional OEM certifications valued (PCNSE, JNCIP, NSE7, ACCP, etc.).
• Deep hands-on expertise with enterprise routing and switching platforms across one or more major vendors (e.g., Cisco Catalyst/ASR/ISR, Juniper EX/MX, Aruba CX, HPE).
• Demonstrated expertise in enterprise WAN design and implementation, including MPLS, DIA, broadband aggregation, and multi-WAN failover architectures. MPLS VPN (L3VPN/L2VPN) and carrier interconnect experience preferred.
• Strong proficiency in enterprise routing protocols: BGP (iBGP/eBGP, route policy, communities), OSPF, and EIGRP across multi-site environments.
• Solid foundation in enterprise LAN technologies: VLANs, STP variants (RSTP/MST), LACP, chassis stacking/virtualization, and campus network design.
• Experience with WAN QoS design and implementation, including traffic classification, marking, queuing, and shaping policies.
• Experience with enterprise network security technologies, including next-generation firewalls (e.g., Cisco Firepower, Palo Alto, Fortinet).
• Hands-on experience with at least one SDN platform spanning WAN, campus LAN, or branch domains is required; deeper, hands-on deployment experience in the following areas is preferred:
• Experience with centralized/cloud network management and intent-based automation/cloud-managed platforms (e.g., Cisco Catalyst Center/DNA Center/Meraki, Juniper Mist/Marvis, Aruba Central) for unified LAN/WAN/wireless visibility and control preferred.
• Experience with WAN observability and synthetic monitoring tools (e.g., Cisco ThousandEyes, IPSLA, NetFlow/sFlow analytics) for path visibility and SLA validation preferred.
• Experience with SASE and cloud-delivered security architectures (e.g., Cisco Umbrella/Secure Access, Palo Alto Prisma Access, Zscaler, Cloudflare One) preferred.
• DMVPN and FlexVPN design and migration experience, particularly in legacy WAN-to-SD-WAN transition engagements, preferred.
• Experience with cloud network connectivity and design (AWS Direct Connect, Azure ExpressRoute, GCP Interconnect) and cloud-integrated SD-WAN deployments preferred.
• Experience with network programmability, automation, and scripting (Python, Ansible, Terraform, NETCONF/RESTCONF, or equivalent) preferred.
• Previous Technical Lead, Senior Engineering, or Principal Engineer experience in a VAR or professional services environment preferred.
• Top Secret clearance preferred or able to obtain desired

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Ability to communicate effectively (written and verbal) with both technical teams and non-technical stakeholders, including executive-level customer contacts.
• Ability to produce professional customer-facing deliverables including HLDs, LLDs, implementation plans, and change control documentation.
• Ability to run projects autonomously or as part of a large engineering team alongside project managers.
• Strong time management skills with the ability to manage multiple concurrent customer engagements without sacrificing quality.

Special Requirements:
This position will operate from the location specified above, with up to 50% travel to customer and partner sites (regional and national within U.S.). The incumbent must be able and available to travel via plane and car for extended periods of time, as required by business initiatives.

Basic Qualifications:

• U.S. Citizenship Required

Red River offers a competitive salary, excellent benefits and an exceptional work environment. You can review our benefit offerings here. If you are ready to join a growing company, please submit your resume and cover letter (optional).

EOE M/F/DISABLED/Vet

Red River is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment. Discrimination or harassment based upon any protected characteristics as defined by state or federal law is wholly inconsistent with our company values and will not be tolerated.

In order to ensure reasonable accommodation for individuals protected by Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Vietnam Veterans Readjustment Act of 1974, and Title I of the American's with Disabilities Act of 1990, applicants that require accommodation in the job application process may contactaccommodation@redriver.com. PLEASE NOTE: This contact channel is reserved for use by individuals with disabilities who require special accommodations in order to submit an expression of interest in a position within Red River.

Red River does not accept unsolicited resumes from individual recruiters or third-party recruiting agencies in response to job postings or otherwise. Placement fees will not be paid to any recruiter unless Red River hasan active agreement in place with the recruiter and such a request has been made by the Red River Talent Acquisition team and such candidate was submitted to the Red River Talent Acquisition Team via our ApplicantTracking System. Any unsolicited resumes or other data submitted to Red River in violation of this policy may be used by Red River without obligation to pay any fees of any kind to the recruiter.