Lead Network Engineer

Randstad Digital; Toronto, London, Winnipeg; Hybrid; CAD 107,000 - 157,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work model (3 days/week on-site

Competitive CAD salary 107k–157k

20%+ total rewards potential including

35-40 hrs/week

Job summary

Randstad Digital in Canada seeks a Senior Engineering Specialist Lead for Network Security Services to set the target-state network security platform and act as final technical authority. You will guide architecture, cloud integration, and security tooling while mentoring engineers and aligning roadmaps with security teams.

The role emphasizes deep network engineering, multi-cloud expertise, and strong vendor engagement, with a hybrid on-site schedule and substantial autonomy.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience designing, integrating, and deploying complex network & security solutions.
• Deep network engineering with LAN/WAN/SD-WAN and cloud networking (AWS/Azure).
• Technical leadership as an IC, defining project architecture without direct report management.
• High autonomy and ownership in delivering initiatives.
• Broad vendor and technology exposure across environments and vendors.
• Influence cross-functional teams through domain expertise and clear communication.

Responsibilities

• Technical Direction & Authority: establish target-state architecture (3–5 year horizon) and serve as final technical decision-maker.
• Architecture & Hands-On Evaluation: design, test, and operationalize enterprise network and security solutions; run PoCs.
• Hybrid & Cloud Integration: architect multi-cloud/hybrid network infra (Azure/AWS), including VPC/VNET, L4/L7 load balancing, private connectivity, DNS.
• Security & Infrastructure Resilience: conduct service health assessments, address systemic risks, oversee LAN/WAN/SD-WAN, Firewalls, WAF, IPS/IDS, DDoS, VPN.
• Mentorship & Quality Standards: drive engineering excellence via design reviews, runbooks, troubleshooting, and upskilling.
• Vendor & Stakeholder Engagement: align roadmaps with enterprise architecture and security teams.

Skills

Technical leadership

Cloud networking

Network engineering

Architecture

Cross-functional influence

Education

CCIE

CCNP

CISSP

Job description

Senior Engineering Specialist Lead – Network Security Services (Network Platform)

About Our Client

Our client is a leading Canadian financial services and insurance enterprise dedicated to building resilient, modern digital infrastructure. Operating at enterprise scale, they provide a stable, forward-thinking environment where technical leaders drive meaningful, organization-wide impact.

Role Overview

This is a highly senior, individual contributor (IC) position designed for a seasoned technical authority. You will set the technical direction and "target state" for the organization’s network security platform without people management responsibilities. You will act as the final approval authority on complex network and cloud architecture, lead proof-of-concept initiatives, and guide engineering teams through technical credibility, mentorship, and vision.

Main Responsibilities

• Technical Direction & Authority: Establish the long-term target-state architecture (3–5 year horizon), evaluate competing technologies, and serve as the final technical decision-maker for the network platform.
• Architecture & Hands-On Evaluation: Design, test, and operationalize enterprise network and security solutions; lead rapid prototyping and proofs of concept (PoCs) for emerging technologies.
• Hybrid & Cloud Integration: Architect and refine multi-cloud and hybrid network infrastructure (Azure/AWS), including VPC/VNET routing, L4/L7 load balancing, private connectivity, and DNS.
• Security & Infrastructure Resilience: Conduct service health assessments, address systemic risks, and oversee technologies across LAN/WAN/SD-WAN, Firewalls, WAF, IPS/IDS, DDoS, and VPN.
• Mentorship & Quality Standards: Drive engineering excellence through design reviews, runbook codification, pair troubleshooting, and technical upskilling across delivery teams.
• Vendor & Stakeholder Engagement: Partner with vendors to finalize hardware/software specifications and collaborate with enterprise architecture and security teams to align roadmaps.

Must-Haves

• 10+ Years of Experience: Proven background designing, integrating, and deploying complex network and security solutions within enterprise environments.
• Deep Network Engineering Foundation: Core expertise across traditional networking (LAN/WAN/SD-WAN, Load Balancers, Firewalls) paired with strong Cloud Networking experience (AWS/Azure).
• Technical Leadership (Non-Managerial): Track record of acting as a technical authority, defining project architecture, and making high-stakes technology choices without direct report management.
• High Autonomy & Ownership: Self-directed approach with proven success converting ambiguous mandates into clear execution paths.
• Broad Vendor & Technology Exposure: Multi-platform experience across different environments, vendors, and design paradigms.
• Influence Through Credibility: Ability to align cross-functional teams, architects, and engineers purely through domain expertise and clear communication.

Nice-to-Haves

• Senior IC History: Prior history in Principal or Director-level individual contributor roles.
• Certifications: Active CCIE, CCNP, CISSP, or equivalent cloud/security accreditation.
• Advanced Cloud-Native Strategy: Specialized expertise in Kubernetes networking, policy-as-code guardrails, and automated IaC/CI/CD deployment patterns.
• Base Salary: $107,000 – $157,000 CAD (Commensurate with experience and location)
• Variable Compensation: Target 10% annual performance bonus
• Work Model: Hybrid (3 days/week on-site)
• Location Options: Toronto, ON | London, ON | Winnipeg, MB
• Work Schedule: 37.5 hours per week

This post is for existing and upcoming vacancies