Network Engineer
Job DescriptionSenior Network Engineer (Load Balancing / DDI)Location: Phoenix, AZ or Columbus, OHEmployment Type: 12-Month Contract-to-HireIndustry: Financial Services / BankingOverviewA leading financial services organization is seeking a Senior Network Engineer to support enterprise-scale application delivery, load balancing, and DDI (DNS, DHCP, IPAM) initiatives.This role is heavily focused on design and architecture, with hands-on engineering across F5, Infoblox, and cloud platforms (AWS/Azure). You'll play a key role in modernizing application delivery, enabling hybrid cloud strategies, and ensuring high availability and security across critical infrastructure.Key ResponsibilitiesSolution Design & ArchitectureDesign high-availability, scalable, and secure load balancing and DDI architecturesDevelop standardized designs for:Application delivery (L4/L7)Global traffic management (GSLB)DNS (authoritative & recursive)IPAM and DHCP servicesCreate high-level and low-level design documentation aligned with enterprise standardsEvaluate and recommend technology upgrades and architectural improvementsLoad Balancing EngineeringDesign and deploy solutions using:F5 BIG-IP (LTM, DNS/GTM, ASM)Azure Load Balancer, Application Gateway, Front DoorAWS ELB (ALB, NLB, GWLB)Implement:SSL/TLS offloading and re-encryptionTraffic steering, content switching, and persistenceAdvanced health monitoring and policy logic (iRules)Support application onboarding, migrations, and modernization effortsDDI Engineering (DNS, DHCP, IPAM)Design and deploy DDI platforms using:Infoblox (Grid, DNS, DHCP, IPAM)F5 DNS / GTMCloudflare DNS & security servicesArchitect DNS across:On-prem data centersCloud and hybrid environmentsGlobal/external resolution servicesEnsure high availability, low latency, and secure DNS architectureMaintain IPAM integrity and integration with automation toolsCloud & Hybrid IntegrationArchitect and deploy solutions in AWS and AzureSupport:Hybrid application deliveryCloud migrations and re-platformingMulti-region failover and GSLB strategiesEnsure consistency across environments while leveraging native cloud capabilitiesDeployment & ImplementationLead complex implementations, migrations, and upgradesDevelop:Deployment and change plansRollback strategiesValidation proceduresExecute configuration, testing, and cutovers with minimal disruptionEnsure smooth transition to operations with documentation and knowledge transferSecurity, Compliance & ResilienceDesign solutions aligned with enterprise security and regulatory standardsIntegrate with:TLS and certificate managementDDoS protectionTraffic inspection and security toolingSupport audits through technical documentation and design artifactsCollaboration & Technical LeadershipPartner with:Application teamsCloud engineeringSecurity architectureNetwork operationsAct as technical escalation point for complex issuesMentor junior engineers and contribute to best practicesDocumentation & StandardsProduce and maintain:Architecture diagramsDesign specificationsEngineering standards and templatesImplementation and operational documentationContribute to enterprise standards for application delivery and DDIKey DeliverablesHigh-level and low-level design documentationStandardized load balancing and DDI architecturesFully deployed and validated solutionsDNS, DHCP, and IPAM service designsDeployment plans and operational handoff materialsRequired Qualifications7+ years of experience in network engineering or application deliveryStrong hands-on experience with:F5 BIG-IP (LTM, GTM/DNS)Infoblox DDI (DNS, DHCP, IPAM)Experience with AWS and/or Azure networking servicesDeep understanding of:DNS architecture (authoritative & recursive)Load balancing concepts (L4/L7, GSLB)High availability and failover designExperience in enterprise or highly regulated environments (financial services preferred)Preferred QualificationsExperience with Cloudflare DNS / security servicesScripting/automation experience (Python, Ansible, Terraform, etc.)Relevant certifications (F5, AWS, Azure, CCNP, etc.)