Cloud Network Engineer

Penta Research, Inc.; Huntsville (AL); On-site; USD 100,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Penta Research, Inc. seeks a Cloud Network Engineer to design, implement, and operate secure networks spanning on-premise data centers, public clouds, and enclave domains.

You will work largely at customer sites in Huntsville, building scalable, policy-driven architectures that meet stringent security requirements. You will configure SDN/ HW networking, integrate with Kubernetes via CNI plugins, and automate provisioning with Terraform and Ansible while collaborating with security and DevOps

Qualifications

• Network design and secure inter‑domain communication experience.
• Hands-on cloud networking (VPC/VNets) across AWS/Azure/GCP.
• Experience with SDN and hardware‑defined networking.
• Kubernetes networking with CNI plugins (Calico/Cilium/Multus).
• Containerized networking and Istio/Linkerd familiarity.
• Ability to design secure routing across domains and enclaves.
• Strong problem-solving and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Design and deploy restricted networks and secure inter-domain routes.
• Build and manage cloud networking infrastructure across environments.
• Configure SDN platforms and integrate with Kubernetes.
• Ensure reliable routing between on‑prem and cloud data centers.
• Automate provisioning with IaC (Terraform, Ansible).
• Document solutions with runbooks and knowledge bases.

Skills

Network Design

SDN / HW-Defined Networking

CNI & Kubernetes networking

Cloud Networking (AWS/Azure/GCP)

Hybrid Cloud Infrastructure

Container-Mesh (Istio/Linkerd)

Cloud-to-Cloud Routing

Autonomous Work style

Education

Bachelor’s degree in CS/EE/IT or related field

Tools

Terraform

Ansible

Kubernetes

Job description

If you are unable to complete this application due to a disability, contact this employer to ask for an accommodation or an alternative application process.

Full Time Huntsville, AL, US

5 days ago Requisition ID: 1465

Secret Security Clearance Required

About the Role:

We are seeking a highly skilled Cloud Network Engineer to design, implement, and operate secure, high-performance networks that span on-premise data centers, public cloud environments, and enclave-based domains. The ideal candidate will have deep hands-on experience with cloud networking, software-defined networking (SDN), and container-native networking solutions, particularly within Kubernetes environments. This Cloud Network Engineer will spend the majority of their working at the customer sites in Huntsville.

Key Responsibilities

• Design & Deploy Secure Networks
  • Architect and configure restricted computer networks and secure inter‑domain routes.
  • Implement network segmentation, access controls, and policy enforcement across cloud and on-premise resources.
• Build and manage cloud networking infrastructure (AWS, Azure, GCP, etc.).
• Configure and troubleshoot multicast UDP and broadcast UDP traffic for high-throughput applications.
• Software-Defined & Hardware-Defined Solutions
  • Deploy and maintain Software Defined Network (SDN) platforms and hardware‑based network appliances.
  • Integrate network services with Kubernetes using CNI plugins and container‑based networking.
• Connect remote cloud instances to on-premise data centers, ensuring reliable routing and latency optimization.
• Support hybrid cloud architectures and remote enclave connectivity.
• Automation & Monitoring
  • Automate network provisioning and changes using IaC tools (e.g., Terraform, Ansible).
  • Implement robust monitoring, logging, and alerting for network health and security events.
• Work closely with security, DevOps, and application teams to define network access protocols and rules.
• Produce clear documentation, runbooks, and knowledge‑base articles for all network solutions.

Must‑Have Qualifications

Network Design Experience

Proven experience setting up restricted/compliant networks and securing inter‑domain/enclave communication.

Hands-on experience with cloud networking services (VPC, VNets, peering, transit gateways).

Experience with Linux OS

Practical knowledge of multicast UDP and broadcast UDP traffic handling.

SDN / Hardware-Defined Networking

Experience with both software‑defined and hardware‑defined networking technologies.

Direct experience designing, deploying, and troubleshooting networking within Kubernetes clusters.

Secure Routing Across Domains

Ability to create and manage secure routing paths between isolated domains or enclaves.

• CNI Expertise - Experience with one or more Container Network Interfaces (CNI): Cilium, Calico, Multus, or similar.
• Enterprise Software Hosting - Background deploying and supporting enterprise-grade applications in production environments.
• Network Access Policy Development - Experience defining and governing network access protocols, firewall rules, and zero-trust policies.
• Container-Mesh Architecture - Familiarity with container-based network meshes (e.g., Istio, Linkerd) and service-mesh concepts.
• Cloud-to-Cloud Routing - Experience routing traffic between multiple cloud service provider instances.
• Hybrid Cloud Infrastructure - Proven work with hybrid cloud models linking remote clouds to on-premise resources.

Desired Skills & Attributes

• Strong analytical and problem‑solving abilities; comfortable troubleshooting complex network issues.
• Excellent communication skills - able to translate technical concepts for non‑technical stakeholders.
• Proactive mindset with a focus on security, reliability, and scalability.
• Ability to work autonomously and as part of a cross‑functional team.
• Relevant certifications (e.g., CCNA/CCNP, AWS Certified Advanced Networking, Certified Kubernetes Administrator) are a plus.

Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Information Technology, or a related field (or equivalent practical experience).
• 5+ years of professional networking experience, with a focus on cloud and software‑defined environments.