Patch & Permasearch

Job Description We are seeking a highly motivated and seasoned Senior Network Engineer to join our client's dynamic team. This role is designed for a veteran networking professional who has a deep foundation in Cisco core routing and switching and has successfully evolved into engineering secure hybrid-cloud environments. The ideal candidate will have at least 10 years of experience, beginning in Network Operations (NOC/Ops) and progressing into high-level Engineering.

You will be the subject matter expert for our core network backbone, utilizing BGP protocols and Palo Alto security integration to bridge our on-premises infrastructure with Azure cloud environments. Responsibilities: Core Network Engineering: Design, implement, and maintain high-availability network architectures using Cisco routers and switches. Advanced Routing Management: Manage complex routing environments using BGP (EBGP/IBGP), OSPF, and static routing to ensure seamless data flow across global sites.

Hybrid Cloud Integration: Lead the design of secure connectivity between on-premises data centers and Azure B2B/B2C environments, focusing on ExpressRoute and site-to-site VPNs. Security Architecture: Deploy and manage Palo Alto VM-Series firewalls and VNAs (Virtual Network Appliances) to secure the perimeter and internal segments. Policy & Performance: Develop and optimize security policies using Palo Alto Panorama and Prisma Cloud, ensuring zero-trust principles are applied to core routing.

Automation: Streamline network deployments using Infrastructure as Code (Terraform, Ansible) to reduce manual configuration errors. Escalation Support: Serve as the final point of escalation for complex routing, switching, and firewall-related outages or performance degradation. Qualifications: Minimum of 10+ years in networking, with a clear career progression from Network Operations into Network Engineering.

Expert-level command of Cisco routers and switches. Must be comfortable configuring and troubleshooting hardware at the CLI level. Mastery of BGP protocols (EBGP and IBGP) is mandatory.

Experience with route reflectors, path selection, and multi-homed environments. Hands-on experience with Palo Alto firewalls (physical and virtual) and Panorama for centralized management. Strong understanding of Azure networking components (VNETs, Subnets, NSGs, and Azure AD integration for B2B/B2C).

CCNP or CCIE (Routing & Switching) is highly preferred. PCNSE is a significant plus. Ability to bridge the gap between traditional infrastructure and modern cloud-native teams, translating complex routing logic into business outcomes.

Nice to Haves: Professional experience in Banking, Financial Services, or a Retail environment. Experience with SD-WAN implementation and management. Scripting experience (Python) for network task automation.

Azure-specific networking certifications (AZ-700). Microsoft Fabric from an ingestion perspective.