Network Engineer (Financial Services)

Cornerstone Global Partners; Hong Kong; On-site; HKD 450,000 - 900,000; Full time

Job summary

Inspire, assisting a leading Chinese securities firm with a strong Hong Kong presence, seeks an experienced Network Engineer. You will design, implement, and operate mission-critical network infrastructure to support high-frequency trading, data analytics, and core business operations.

The role requires hands-on expertise with Fortinet FortiGate, Palo Alto Networks, F5 BIG-IP, and Cisco environments; you will monitor performance, optimize latency, and ensure security across global networks.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related field.
• Minimum of 4 years hands-on experience as a Network Engineer in financial services or high-availability environments.
• Strong Cisco IOS/NX-OS knowledge, switching and routing expertise (VLAN, STP, BGP, OSPF).
• Experience configuring Fortinet FortiGate and Palo Alto firewalls; F5 BIG-IP LTM experience.
• Proficient in network monitoring tools and automation basics; documentation-focused.

Responsibilities

• Design, implement, and optimize network infrastructure for high availability and security.
• Manage routers, switches, firewalls, LB, and wireless systems for offices and data centers.
• Configure and monitor Fortinet FortiGate, Palo Alto, and F5 BIG-IP devices.
• Administer Cisco environments; troubleshoot BGP/OSPF/MPLS/Vrf and related protocols.
• Monitor performance with SolarWinds/PRTG; perform root-cause analysis and fixes.
• Develop DR plans and ensure compliance with financial regulations; document configurations.

Skills

Cisco IOS/NX-OS

Routing & Switching

Network Security

Load Balancing

Troubleshooting

Documentation

English & Mandarin

Education

Bachelor’s degree in CS/IT

Tools

Fortinet FortiGate

Palo Alto Networks

F5 BIG-IP

SolarWinds

PRTG

Job description

Inspire is working with a leading Chinese Securities firm (known for their stability) with a strong presence in Hong Kong and across global financial markets.

Role Overview

To design, implement, maintain, and optimize the firm's mission critical network infrastructure, ensuring maximum availability, security, and performance to support high frequency trading, data analytics, and core business operations. The successful candidate will be a key technical resource in a stable, low turnover environment, contributing to strategic projects and day to day operational excellence.

Key Responsibilities

Design & Implementation:

Plan, deploy, and configure network hardware and software, including routers, switches, firewalls, load balancers, and wireless systems for new office setups, datacenter expansions, and cloud connectivity.

Network Security Management:

Configure, manage, and monitor next-generation firewalls (primarily Fortinet FortiGate and Palo Alto Networks) to enforce security policies, VPNs (site-to-site & remote access), and threat prevention.

Performance & Availability:

Manage F5 BIG IP load balancing solutions for application delivery, global server load balancing (GSLB), and traffic optimization to ensure high availability of trading and business applications.

Core Network Operations:

Administer and troubleshoot complex Cisco networking environments (Catalyst/Nexus switches, ASR/ISR routers) utilizing protocols such as BGP, OSPF, EIGRP, MPLS, and VRF.

Monitoring & Optimization:

Proactively monitor network performance using tools (e.g., SolarWinds, PRTG, etc.), analyze traffic patterns, and implement optimizations to reduce latency and improve reliability.

Incident & Problem Management:

Serve as a Tier 2/3 escalation point for network-related incidents. Conduct root cause analysis and implement permanent fixes.

Disaster Recovery & Compliance:

Contribute to the development and execution of network disaster recovery plans. Ensure network configurations comply with internal security policies and relevant financial industry regulations.

Documentation:

Create and maintain detailed technical documentation, including network diagrams, standard operating procedures (SOPs), and configuration records.

Vendor Management:

Liaise with telecommunications carriers, hardware/software vendors, and service providers.

Qualifications & Experience

Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related field.

Minimum of 4 years of hands-on experience as a Network Engineer, preferably within the financial services, fintech, or a similarly demanding, high-availability environment.

Expertise in Cisco Networking:

Strong practical knowledge of Cisco IOS/NX-OS, switching (VLAN, STP), and routing (BGP, OSPF).

Firewall Expertise:

Proven experience in configuring and managing Fortinet FortiGate and Palo Alto Networks firewalls.

Load Balancing:

Hands on experience with F5 BIG-IP LTM (Local Traffic Manager) administration and troubleshooting.

Solid understanding of core networking concepts (TCP/IP, DNS, DHCP, QoS, SNMP).

Highly Desirable:

Professional Certification:

One or more relevant certifications such as CCNA/CCNP

Personal Attributes

Stability & Reliability:

Demonstrated history of long term commitment and consistent performance in previous roles.

Analytical & Problem-Solver:

Excellent troubleshooting skills with a methodical approach under pressure.

Proactive & Detail-Oriented:

A self-starter who anticipates issues and maintains meticulous attention to configuration and documentation.

Team Player & Communicator:

Strong interpersonal and communication skills (verbal and written in English; Mandarin/Cantonese is required) to collaborate with regional and global IT teams and business stakeholders.

Committed to Excellence:

Passion for technology and a drive to maintain a best in class network infrastructure.

What We Offer

• A prestigious and stable work environment in a well-established Chinese securities firm.