Enterprise Network Lab Engineer

Enterprise Network Lab EngineerAbout the RoleWe are looking for a hands-on Enterprise Network Lab Engineer to own and operate our enterprise network validation lab. This role is the bridge between network architecture and production deployment — you will take use cases from concept through rigorous lab validation and deliver complete, production-ready designs backed by test evidence.You will work closely with network architects, vendors, and engineering teams to validate new technologies, verify platform upgrades, and stress-test configurations before they touch the production network. You are equally comfortable racking gear and writing a Python script to automate test runs.What You Will DoLab Validation & TestingReceive network use cases from architecture, engineering, or business stakeholders and translate them into structured lab test plans covering functional, performance, resiliency, and failure-scenario testingExecute high-touch validation of enterprise networking technologies including switching, routing, wireless, SD-WAN, firewalling, and network automation platformsDeliver complete validation packages including:Logical and physical topology diagramsDevice configurations (sanitized and version-controlled)Step-by-step test procedures and resultsPass/fail summaries with root cause analysis for failuresGo/No-Go recommendations with supporting evidencePerform rack and stack of lab equipment when required — cable management, power sequencing, console access setup, and physical layer verificationDesign & DocumentationProduce clear, detailed lab reports that can be handed directly to production engineering teams for deploymentMaintain up-to-date physical and logical topology documentation for all active lab topologiesDocument configurations using version control (Git) so all tested configs are traceable and reusableBuild and maintain a library of validated reference architectures and design patternsVendor CollaborationPartner with network vendors (Cisco, Arista, Juniper, Palo Alto, Aruba, etc.) to conduct joint proof-of-concept testing and feature validationDrive vendor-supported test engagements including bug reproduction, feature requests, and interoperability testingEvaluate new hardware and software releases against defined acceptance criteria before recommending adoptionManage loaner equipment logistics and coordinate lab access for vendor engineersAutomation & CI/CDWrite scripts (Python, Bash, Ansible) to automate repetitive lab tasks — device provisioning, configuration push, test execution, and results collectionBuild or maintain CI/CD pipelines (Jenkins, GitLab CI, GitHub Actions) for automated configuration validation and regression testingDevelop test automation frameworks using tools such as pyATS, Robot Framework, Batfish, or NAPALMIntegrate lab test results into reporting dashboards or ticketing systems to provide traceability from test run to design decisionAble to leverage AI agents / tools to automate some tasks, testing and analysisRequired Qualification5+ years of hands on enterprise network engineering experienceDeep expertise in at least two of the following domains: campus switching, data center fabric, SDWAN, wireless LAN, network security, WAN/ISP connectivityStrong understanding of routing protocols (BGP, OSPF, EIGRP), switching (VLAN, STP, LACP, VXLAN), and overlay technologies (EVPN, VxLAN, LISP)Proficiency with network operating systems across multiple vendors (Cisco IOS/NXOS, Arista EOS, Juniper Junos, or equivalent)Ability to read, write, and interpret network configurations at a detailed levelExperience creating professional grade topology diagrams (draw.io, Visio, Lucidchart) and technical documentationScripting capability in Python or equivalent — must be able to write working scripts independently, not just modify existing onesFamiliarity with Git based workflows and version-controlled config managementDemonstrated ability to utilize AI agents/tools for the automation of tasks, testing, and analysis.Physical lab skills: rack and stack, cable management, console cabling, power management, and hardware troubleshootingPreferred QualificationsExperience with network automation tooling: Ansible, Nornir, NAPALM, pyATS, Batfish, NetBox/NautobotExposure to CI/CD pipelines (GitLab CI, GitHub Actions, Jenkins) applied to network configuration workflowsKnowledge of infrastructure-as-code concepts as applied to networkingExperience in a dedicated network validation or solutions engineering lab environmentCertifications: CCNP / CCIE (Enterprise or Data Center), JNCIP, ACE, or equivalent professional level certificationFamiliarity with structured test methodology frameworks (RFC 2544, RFC 6349, IETF test standards)Experience working directly with vendor presales, SE, or TAC teams in a formal lab engagementHow You WorkYou are methodical and documentation driven — you do not consider a test complete until the results are written up and the configs are committedYou can take a loosely defined use case and independently structure it into a formal test plan without handholdingYou hold yourself to a high bar for accuracy — a design that passes your lab should work in productionYou communicate clearly across technical and nontechnical audiences — your reports are read by architects, engineers, and managers alikeYou are comfortable pushing back on a vendor if test results do not meet acceptance criteria and can articulate the technical basis for your findingsYou manage your own lab workload, prioritize concurrent test engagements, and communicate schedule risks proactivelyWhat Success Looks LikeIn your first 90 daysYou have stood up at least one end-to-end lab topology independently and delivered a complete validation reportYou understand the existing lab inventory, active topologies, and inflight test engagementsYou have established working relationships with at least two vendor SE teamsAt 6 monthsValidation lab turnaround time is predictable and documented design deliverables are consistently production readyAt least one test workflow is partially or fully automated via scripting or CI/CD pipelineYour lab reports are used as the primary evidence gate before production deployments go through change management