Network Operations Manager

Accountabilities

• Network Engineering and Technical Leadership: Serve as the senior technical authority and final escalation point for complex routing, switching, network security, and network diagnostics.

• Design, review, and approve advanced network architectures and configurations, considering infrastructure requirements, hardware and software technologies, business continuity, disaster recovery, and system integration.

• Personally investigate and resolve critical network incidents, lead major incident response, and conduct root-cause analysis to prevent recurring issues.

• Oversee the architecture, standards, and lifecycle management of data center network infrastructure, including Cisco Nexus, Firepower, and SD-WAN environments such as Meraki and Cisco Viptela.

• Establish and maintain engineering standards, configuration baselines, technical documentation, and quality assurance processes.

• Evaluate technical feasibility, deployment strategies, resource requirements, and cost estimates for network projects.

• Proactive Network and Client Improvement: Lead regular assessments of customer network environments to identify security vulnerabilities, reliability risks, capacity constraints, and performance issues before they cause service disruptions.

• Use monitoring platforms, ticket trends, and assessment data to identify recurring problems and implement permanent solutions rather than relying on reactive support.

• Forecast network capacity requirements and align infrastructure planning with evolving business needs.

• Collaborate with Service Delivery Managers, Technical Account Managers, and Enterprise Solutions Architects to translate technical findings into clear, practical, and cost-effective recommendations.

• Monitor hardware and firmware lifecycles, security vulnerabilities, and configuration changes across managed environments, coordinating timely remediation.

• Ensure that network recommendations prioritize customer needs, business outcomes, service reliability, and long-term value.

• Team Management and Development: Recruit, onboard, coach, and develop Network Engineers and Senior Network Engineers through technical mentoring, performance management, and certification planning.

• Establish clear team expectations, conduct regular one-to-one meetings and performance reviews, and promote accountability through structured management practices.

• Manage team workloads, project priorities, resource allocation, and cross-functional collaboration.

• Oversee network change management, reviewing and approving proposed changes, maintenance windows, and rollback procedures.

• Coordinate the team's 24/7 on-call rotation and escalation procedures, ensuring appropriate coverage for major incidents and after-hours support.

• Communicate operational status, technical risks, and project outcomes effectively to senior leadership, internal teams, and customers.

• Operations, Compliance, and Vendor Management: Define, monitor, and report on network operations KPIs and service performance indicators.

• Manage relationships with network vendors and telecommunications carriers, including technical escalations, procurement, and licensing decisions.

• Ensure compliance with applicable security, regulatory, and contractual requirements, including HIPAA, PCI, and NIST standards.

• Maintain the confidentiality and security of sensitive company and customer information while ensuring adherence to internal policies and professional standards.

Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in Information Systems, Computer Science, or a related technical discipline.

• At least 10 years of professional experience in networking or telecommunications within a service provider, managed service provider (MSP), or enterprise environment.

• Minimum of 3 years of experience as a Senior Network Engineer or in an equivalent position, acting as the primary escalation and network architecture resource for complex environments.

• At least 2 years of experience leading engineering teams as a manager, team lead, or technical lead, with direct responsibility for work allocation, mentoring, and performance.

• Previous experience in an MSP or multi-client service environment is strongly preferred.

• Expert knowledge of enterprise networking fundamentals, including complex routing and switching, high-availability architecture, advanced network security, internet services, protocols, and network diagnostics.

• Advanced proficiency in at least three of the following areas: core routing, core switching, network security, network diagnostics, and application load balancing.

• Strong network architecture, troubleshooting, and analytical capabilities, including the ability to assess technical problems, evaluate alternative solutions, understand business impact, and implement cost-effective improvements.

• Demonstrated experience proactively identifying and resolving network performance, security, and reliability issues.

• Proven ability to lead, mentor, motivate, and hold engineering teams accountable while maintaining hands-on technical involvement.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to explain technical risks and recommendations to non-technical stakeholders and senior executives.

• Strong organizational and prioritization skills, with the ability to manage multiple projects, incidents, and team responsibilities simultaneously.

• Familiarity with current networking technologies, infrastructure tools, applications, and vendor ecosystems.

• Preferred Certifications: CCNP Enterprise or Security certification, with CCIE considered a significant advantage. Fortinet NSE, Meraki CMNA/ECMS, or equivalent vendor certifications are also valued. ITIL Foundation or a similar IT service management qualification is preferred.

• Technical Platforms and Tools: Experience with Cisco ISR/ASR routers, Catalyst and Nexus switches, Firepower and ASA firewalls, Cisco Viptela and Meraki SD-WAN, Meraki networking and wireless solutions, Fortinet, FortiCloud, FortiClient, Sophos, SonicWall, and Ubiquiti UniFi devices.

• Familiarity with VMware virtualization platforms, with Platform9 experience considered an advantage.

• Knowledge of Windows Server environments and services, including Active Directory, DNS, and DHCP.

• Experience with network monitoring and service management tools such as Auvik, Autotask PSA, and IT Glue, or comparable platforms.

• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, Visio, and standard collaboration tools.

• Ability and willingness to learn and support additional networking platforms as required.

Benefits:

• Remote work: Fully remote position, with preference for candidates located in or near Las Vegas, Nevada.

• Health coverage: Medical, dental, and vision insurance.

• Retirement planning: 401(k) retirement savings plan with employer matching contributions.

• Paid time off: Paid vacation and holidays.

• Professional development: Access to career growth opportunities and ongoing technical training.

• Certification support: Opportunities for professional certifications and continued technical education.

• Leadership opportunities: Direct responsibility for developing engineering talent and influencing network operations strategy.

• Collaborative culture: Work closely with an engaged senior leadership team in an environment that values employee contributions, continuous learning, and operational improvement.

• Technical impact: Lead enterprise networking initiatives and manage complex infrastructure supporting multiple customer environments.

• Work schedule: Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time, with availability for major incident escalations and oversight of the team's 24/7 on-call rotation.

• Travel: Occasional travel for data center activities, customer site visits, and special projects.