Senior Network Automation Engineer (Python & AI)

Russell Tobin; England; Hybrid; GBP 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Russell Tobin is seeking a Network Production Engineer for a hyperscale environment in the United Kingdom. The role requires 7+ years in software or network engineering, strong Python, automation skills, and a solid networking fundamentals foundation.

You will design Python-based automation for network provisioning, build CI/CD-aligned test frameworks, and collaborate across time zones with US teams. A 12-month contract, 40 hours/week, and 1–2 days onsite are expected, with flexible hours until

Qualifications

• 7+ years of experience in software engineering, network engineering, or test automation.
• Solid Python programming and automation development experience.
• Experience with AI-assisted development tools and applying AI to coding/automation.
• Strong understanding of core networking fundamentals and protocols (TCP/IP, IPv4/IPv6, BGP, MPLS, SSH).
• Experience developing automation for network provisioning, deployment and operations.
• Experience with network device configurations from vendors like Arista, Juniper, Cisco, Ciena, Infinera, Nokia.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop Python-based automation, tools and workflows for network provisioning and deployment.
• Build and integrate automation workflows into existing codebases for platform provisioning and config deployment.
• Develop end-to-end test automation frameworks for routers, switches, and network software.
• Explore and use AI tools to improve automation, testing and productivity.
• Integrate automated testing into CI/CD pipelines for continuous network qualification.
• Test and qualify new network platforms in lab environments before production deployment.
• Collaborate with engineers and cross-functional teams to roll out products into production networks.
• Troubleshoot complex networking, software, automation and hardware issues.

Skills

Python programming

Networking fundamentals

Automation

AI-assisted development tools

Linux development

Education

Bachelor's degree in CS/Engineering

Tools

Ansible

Puppet or Chef

Django

SQL databases

Job description

Russell Tobin is seeking a Network Production Engineer for a hyperscale environment in the United Kingdom. The role requires 7+ years in software or network engineering, strong Python, automation skills, and a solid networking fundamentals foundation.

You will design Python-based automation for network provisioning, build CI/CD-aligned test frameworks, and collaborate across time zones with US teams. A 12-month contract, 40 hours/week, and 1–2 days onsite are expected, with flexible hours until