Senior Network Engineer – F5 BIG‑IP | ThoughtLabs Belgium | Brussels (Hybrid)

ThoughtLabs Belgium; Brussel Hoofdstad; Hybride; EUR 100 000 - 130 000; Plein temps

Résumé du poste

ThoughtLabs Belgium seeks a Senior Network Engineer specializing in F5 BIG-IP to support a high-profile European Institution project based in Brussels. This hybrid freelance engagement runs November 2026 through December 2027 and centers on robust load balancing, high availability, and advanced security integrations.

You will design, implement, and secure mission-critical application delivery networks, coordinate with cross-functional teams, and ensure interoperability across diverse stakeholder

Qualifications

• Extensive experience as a Senior Network Engineer or F5 specialist in enterprise/institutional environments.
• Deep expertise in F5 BIG-IP design, implementation, administration, and troubleshooting.
• Proven proficiency in load balancing, high availability architectures, and network security features.
• Hands-on experience with SSL/TLS integration, Web Application Firewalls (WAF), and Access Policy Manager (APM).
• Strong foundational background in core IP networking and IT security platforms including Checkpoint and Palo Alto.
• Valid EU citizenship or an active, legally compliant work permit for employment in Belgium.
• Multilingual communication capabilities spanning English, Dutch, and French.
• Demonstrated capability in managing technical incidents and structured IT change management workflows.

Responsabilités

• Design, deploy, and optimize enterprise F5 BIG-IP solutions for European Institution infrastructure.
• Configure LTM, GTM/DNS, HA clusters, and load balancing policies.
• Implement WAF and APM configurations with SSL/TLS offloading for secure authentication.
• Manage SSL/TLS termination, certificate lifecycles, and cryptographic protocols.
• Troubleshoot complex network routing, switching, and security incidents across enterprise environments.
• Coordinate network operations with Checkpoint and Palo Alto security ecosystems.
• Execute structured change management procedures and incident response lifecycles.
• Collaborate with teams in Dutch, French, and English to gather requirements and document procedures.

Connaissances

F5 BIG-IP design

Load balancing

High availability

SSL/TLS integration

WAF

APM

IP networking

Incident management

Change management

Multilingual communication

Outils

Checkpoint

Palo Alto

Description du poste

Position Summary

• ThoughtLabs Belgium is seeking a highly skilled Senior Network Engineer specializing in F5 BIG-IP architecture to support a high-profile European Institution project based in Brussels.
• This hybrid freelance engagement spans from November 2026 through December 2027, focusing on robust load balancing, high availability, and advanced security integrations.
• The ideal candidate brings extensive operational expertise in enterprise routing, switching, and security platforms within complex European institutional frameworks.
• You will play a critical role in designing, implementing, and securing mission-critical application delivery networks while ensuring seamless interoperability across diverse stakeholder environments.
• Active EU citizenship or a valid work permit in Belgium is a strict mandatory prerequisite for consideration on this project.
• Multilingual proficiency spanning English alongside Dutch and/or French is essential to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams and institutional stakeholders.
• You will drive comprehensive incident resolution, proactive change management, and security posture enhancements across all deployed infrastructure domains.

Detailed Job Description

• As a Senior Network Engineer at ThoughtLabs Belgium, you will spearhead the design, deployment, and optimization of enterprise-grade F5 BIG-IP solutions within a major European Institution infrastructure.
• Your core mandate involves configuring advanced load balancing, high availability (HA) clusters, and robust security features to protect critical public sector applications.
• You will integrate and manage SSL/TLS offloading, Web Application Firewalls (WAF), and Access Policy Manager (APM) modules to enforce stringent institutional security baselines.
• Alongside F5 technologies, you will leverage deep IP networking knowledge and secondary IT security platforms including Checkpoint and Palo Alto firewalls.
• The role requires close coordination with project managers, system administrators, and security officers to execute structured change management and rapid incident remediation.
• You will participate in architecture reviews, troubleshoot complex traffic flow anomalies, and document operational procedures in alignment with European framework standards.
• Working in a hybrid setup in Brussels, you will balance on-site collaboration with remote flexibility to deliver reliable, high-performance network services.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and implement enterprise F5 BIG-IP solutions supporting mission-critical European Institution applications.
• Configure and manage local and global traffic management (LTM, GTM/DNS), high availability clusters, and load balancing policies.
• Deploy and tune Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules and Access Policy Manager (APM) configurations for secure user authentication.
• Manage end-to-end SSL/TLS termination, certificate lifecycles, and cryptographic security protocols.
• Troubleshoot complex network routing, switching, and security incidents across enterprise environments.
• Integrate and coordinate network operations with Checkpoint and Palo Alto security ecosystems.
• Execute structured change management procedures, incident response lifecycles, and root cause analysis.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams in Dutch, French, and English to gather requirements and deliver technical documentation.

Required Qualifications & Skills

• Extensive professional experience as a Senior Network Engineer or F5 Specialist within enterprise or institutional environments.
• Deep expertise in F5 BIG-IP design, implementation, administration, and troubleshooting.
• Proven proficiency in load balancing, high availability architectures, and network security features.
• Hands-on experience with SSL/TLS integration, Web Application Firewalls (WAF), and Access Policy Manager (APM).
• Strong foundational background in core IP networking and IT security platforms including Checkpoint and Palo Alto.
• Valid EU citizenship or an active, legally compliant work permit for employment in Belgium.
• Multilingual communication capabilities spanning English, Dutch, and French.
• Demonstrated capability in managing technical incidents and structured IT change management workflows.

Nice-to-Have Skills

• Previous working experience within European Union institutions or international public sector frameworks.
• Advanced F5 certifications such as F5 Certified BIG-IP Administrator or Solution Expert.
• Vendor certifications from Cisco (CCNP/CCIE), Palo Alto (PCNSE), or Checkpoint (CCSE).
• Experience with automated infrastructure deployment using scripting languages like Python or Ansible.
• Familiarity with containerized network functions and cloud-native application delivery architectures.

Application Information

• Salary/Rate: Competitive Freelance Rates
• Deadline: 02/11/2026 (Project Start Date)
• Notice Period: Immediate / Short Notice Preferred
• Contract Duration: 02/11/2026 - 31/12/2027