Core Networking-Routing & Switching

Network Lead CCT

Role Overview:

We are seeking an experienced Lead Network Engineer to oversee and execute a series of critical Cisco network upgrades across our enterprise infrastructure. This role will be responsible for the technical leadership, planning, implementation, and validation of upgrades to Cisco routers, switches, ACI fabric and associated management platforms in the EBRD Data Centres.

The successful candidate will work closely with stakeholders, third-party vendors, and internal teams to ensure secure, high-availability network services are maintained throughout the upgrade process.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead the end-to-end planning, execution, and quality assurance of Cisco network upgrades across multiple sites.
• Assess current Cisco infrastructure and produce upgrade strategies and implementation roadmaps that meet best practice and ensure we deploy secure, resilient and performant solutions. 
• Conduct detailed surveys, network audits, and gap analysis to define upgrade scopes.
• Define network migration plans to minimize service disruption and align with change control procedures.
• Configure, upgrade, and test the infrastructure in scope.
• Collaborate with other teams, partners and vendors to validate interdependencies and ensure compliance. Teams include but are not limited to infrastructure teams (network/ server/ storage/ database/ monitoring), IT Security, Quality Assurance, ITSM teams, third party partners and vendors,
• Create and update comprehensive technical documentation, including low level designs, configuration standards, network diagrams, migration documents, standard operating procedures and knowledge articles.
• Work with the project team and support partners to raise comprehensive Change Requests
• Lead troubleshooting and incident resolution during and post upgrade activities.
• Provide knowledge transfer and mentoring to junior network engineers and operations staff.
• Ensure all changes comply with network standards, ITIL change management, and industry best practices.
• Manage vendor and service provider engagements where applicable.
• Ensure compliance with IT Security standards.

Essential Skills & Experience:

• Minimum 5+ years’ experience in network engineering design and operations, with a focus on Cisco technologies.
• Proven experience leading network upgrade or transformation projects.
• Strong expertise in designing, upgrading and troubleshooting the following technologies:
  • Cisco switching & routing (Catalyst, Nexus)
  • Cisco ACI Fabrics:
    • ACI Nexus N9K-C9332C spine switches
    • ACI Nexus N9K-C93180YC-FX leaf switches
    • ACI Mangement APIC-SERVER-M3
    • APIC integration with VMWare ESXi
  • Management and orchestration platforms:
    • Cisco Nexus Dashboard (NDO/ NDI)
    • Cisco DCMN/ NDFC
  • BGP routing protocols.
• Hands-on experience with other network monitoring tools (e.g., SolarWinds).
• Excellent understanding of network security and segmentation principles – micro and macro segmentation.
• Strong documentation and communication skills.
• Experience with ITIL change control, project governance, and risk mitigation.

Desirable Experience and Qualifications:

• Cisco certifications such as CCNP Enterprise, CCIE, or equivalent.
• Experience working in regulated or enterprise environments.
• Familiarity with: 
  • Software-defined networking (SDN)
  • Cisco SDA (wired and wireless fabric) inc. Catalyst Center
  • Meraki wired and wireless
  • Palo Alto Prisma Cloud SASE
  • Citrix Netscaler load balancers
  • Checkpoint Maestro firewalls
• WAN, LAN, BGP, OSPF, ISIS, HSRP, VRRP, QoS, EIGRP, STP, VTP, VPN, IPsec, SSL/TLS, DNS, DHCP, NAT
• ITIL Foundation certification is a plus.