Senior Manager, IT Networks

Telesat; Ottawa; On-site; CAD 100,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading global satellite operator in Ottawa seeks a Network Operations Manager to oversee IT network operations, including a team of engineers. This role involves managing project deliverables, network technology roadmaps, and vendor relationships. Candidates should possess a degree in computer science and significant experience in network management, cloud technologies, and leadership skills. Join a dynamic team committed to innovation in satellite communication solutions.

Qualifications

• Proven significant experience in managing and leading network teams.
• Experience with service level agreements and vendor contracts.
• Ability to attain Canadian CGP and Secret Clearance.

Responsibilities

• Lead and mentor a team of Network Analysts and Engineers.
• Manage on-call rotations to ensure 24/7 operational coverage.
• Drive continuous improvement in incident response and recovery processes.

Skills

Network management

Leadership

Troubleshooting skills

Communication

Firewall experience

Data Center Switching

VPN knowledge

Financial analysis

Agile methodologies

Education

Bachelor's degree in computer science or related field

Tools

Cisco

Palo Alto

Fortinet

Arista

Aruba

Kubernetes

Job description

Telesat (NASDAQ and TSX: TSAT) is a leading global satellite operator, providing reliable and secure satellite-delivered communications solutions worldwide to broadcast, telecommunications, corporate and government customers for over 50 years. Backed by a legacy of engineering excellence, reliability and industry-leading customer service, Telesat has grown to be one of the largest and most successful global satellite operators.

Telesat Lightspeed, our revolutionary Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite network, scheduled to begin service in 2027, will revolutionize global broadband connectivity for enterprise users by delivering a combination of high capacity, security, resiliency and affordability with ultra-low latency and fiber-like speeds. Telesat is headquartered in Ottawa, Canada, and has offices and facilities around the world.

The company’s state-of-the-art fleet consists of 14 GEO satellites, the Canadian payload on ViaSat-1 and one LEO 3 demonstration satellite. For more information, follow Telesat on X and LinkedIn or visit www.telesat.com

Reporting to the Director, IT Operations and Infrastructure, the candidate provides technical, and team leadership required for daily network operations for Corporate IT and Lightspeed Data Centres including Cloud networking.

The candidate will manage the IT Network team consisting of Cloud network engineers, and Enterprise network analysts and engineers. The candidate will oversee priorities, project deliverables, staffing and related network budgets. They will be the senior expert in network technologies and be able to derive roadmaps and collaborate on a technical level with vendors.

The manager will work closely with the IT PMO for project reporting and deliverables, and closely engage with the IT Service Management team on requests and incidents including change requests and incident root cause analysis (RCA).

The manager will be required to help develop operational metrics and presentations on results and trends and be able to explain them to both a technical and non-technical audience.

Main Responsibilities

• Lead and mentor a team of Network Analysts and Engineers, overseeing staffing, workforce planning, and performance evaluations.
• Foster a high-performance culture through coaching, development plans, and clear accountability.
• Manage on-call rotations and support schedules to ensure 24/7 operational coverage and responsiveness.
• Collaborate with the IT PMO to align network engineering deliverables with project milestones and release schedules.
• Partner with project managers to allocate resources effectively and manage work assignments across initiatives.
• Support Lightspeed Operations planning by coordinating staff availability and workload distribution.
• Take ownership of critical network incidents, outages, and escalations, ensuring timely resolution and root cause analysis.
• Drive continuous improvement in incident response and recovery processes in partnership with IT Service Management.
• Design and implement proactive network monitoring systems, performance metrics, and automation strategies to enhance reliability and efficiency.
• Identify and execute cost-saving opportunities and process improvements within network operations.
• Own and maintain the enterprise network architecture and all related documentation.
• Develop and manage a long-term network technology roadmap, including connectivity strategies and cost forecasting.
• Ensure alignment of network infrastructure with business goals and emerging technologies.
• Manage relationships with network vendors and service providers, ensuring adherence to SLAs and performance standards.
• Oversee network device support contracts, renewals, and lifecycle management.
• Review and approve all quotes, requisitions, and purchases related to network infrastructure.
• Lead network budget planning, forecasting, and cost tracking for projects and operations.
• Monitor expenditures and ensure financial accountability across network initiatives.
• Ensure all network changes and implementations comply with Telesat’s Change Management procedures and governance controls.
• Collaborate with internal teams to optimize service delivery processes and turnaround times.

Education & Experience Required

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science or related field.
• Proven significant experience in managing and leading network teams.
• Experience in troubleshooting and resolution of network issues as a member of an Operations team.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills to collaborate with team members and stakeholders.
• Extensive expérience in Firewalls (e.g. Cisco, Palo Alto, Fortinet)
• Extensive Experience in Data Center Switching (e.g. Cisco, Aruba, Arista)
• Experience in VPN Gateways
• Experience in DDI Solutions and Appliances
• Experience in DDOS Protection Solutions
• Experience in Enterprise WiFi solutions (e.g. Cisco, Aruba)
• Experience in Cloud Gateways and Load Balancers
• Previous Enterprise and Data Centre networking experience with in-depth technical knowledge of TCP/IP including IPv6, subnetting and NAT, Routing Protocols (e.g. OSPF, BGP), DDI (DNS, DHCP and IPAM), Other network protocols (e.g. SNMP, ICMP, NTP), and Cloud Networking (e.g. vnets, NSGs, WAF)
• Experience with service level agreements and vendor contracts for telecom services.
• Experience with network monitoring and alerting tools.
• Experience with financial analysis and budgeting for network investment and ongoing operating costs.
• Ability to manage multiple demands with time related constraints in a fast-paced environment.
• Knowledge of Agile and DevOps methodologies.
• Knowledge of Linux-based systems and containerization (Kubernetes) concepts.
• Ability to attain Canadian CGP and Secret Clearance.

Decision Making & Supervision

• Make decisions and recommendations requiring analysis and interpretation within established procedures.

At Telesat, we take pride in being an equal opportunity employer that values equality in the workplace. We are committed to providing the best candidate experience possible including any required accommodations at every stage of our interview process. All qualified applicants that have been selected for an interview that require accommodations, are advised to inform the Telesat Talent team accordingly. We will work with you to meet your needs. All accommodation information provided will be treated as confidential.