Network Automation Engineer

Network Automation Engineer Overview

• The Network Automation Engineer role focuses on enhancing network automation capabilities to improve efficiency and service delivery.
• Collaborate with engineering leadership to develop scalable automation frameworks and best practices for network operations.
• Support the growth of managed services practices by leveraging automation to reduce client costs and improve operational efficiency.
• Work on automation initiatives across client environments and internal managed services offerings.
• Develop and execute automation workflows, APIs, and infrastructure-as-code solutions.
• Engage in hands-on delivery of network automation projects, including onboarding devices and testing workflows.
• Document designs, configurations, and runbooks to ensure seamless project handoffs.
• Collaborate with senior engineers to scope and lead engagements, contributing to customer-facing projects.

Network Automation Engineer Key Responsibilities & Duties

• Onboard customer network devices into automation platforms, building inventories and configuration templates.
• Build, test, and execute network automation workflows, including compliance checks and upgrades.
• Write and maintain Python and Ansible scripts to support automation workflows.
• Validate changes in lab environments and execute customer change windows with guidance.
• Document designs, runbooks, and configurations to ensure clean handoffs.
• Collaborate with engineering leadership to identify automation opportunities and develop solutions.
• Support network infrastructure projects involving firewalls, SD-WAN, and enterprise networking technologies.
• Track time and deliverables against project plans, flagging scope or schedule risks.

Network Automation Engineer Job Requirements

• Bachelor of Science degree or equivalent practical experience in network engineering or operations.
• 2-4 years of hands-on experience in network engineering, NOC, or network operations.
• Strong networking fundamentals, including BGP, OSPF, VLANs, and switching, plus knowledge of firewalls and SD-WAN.
• Proficiency in scripting or automation tools such as Python, Ansible, REST APIs, and JSON/YAML.
• Familiarity with Cisco, Fortinet, Palo Alto Networks, and HPE Aruba technologies.
• Preferred certifications: CCNA, CCNP, NSE, or Azure networking certifications.
• Experience with network automation platforms like Cisco NSO, NetBox, or Ansible Tower is a plus.
• Understanding of CI/CD pipelines, Git workflows, and DevOps practices is desirable.