Lead Network Operations Engineer

Ledgent Technology; California; On-site; USD 126,000 - 154,000; Full time

Job summary

Ledgent Technology in La Mirada, CA is seeking an experienced Network Operations Manager to lead a night/shift team onsite. You will mentor Network Operations Engineers and Administrators, enforce NOC processes, and drive incident resolution with quality.

This role requires deep expertise and leadership in large-scale networks. The ideal candidate holds CCNP/JNCIP (CCIE/JNCIE preferred), 5+ years in network operations, and a four-year degree in CS/IT or equivalent.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in network operations and engineering at CCNP/JNCIP level or equivalent; 10+ years at CCIE/JNCIE level preferred
• Deep knowledge of BGP, OSPF or IS-IS, MPLS (Segment Routing or LDP), L2VPN and IPVPN services (EVPN or similar), and traffic engineering in a large-scale production environment
• Hands-on experience with DWDM optical line systems and DCI deployments
• Experience operating large-scale IP and optical networks in a 24x7 production environment
• Strong vendor-agnostic knowledge of current networking hardware platforms, including equipment installation, upgrades, and hardening
• Four-year degree in computer science, information technology, or related field, or equivalent work experience preferred
• Experience in a research and education network environment or comparable large-scale, mission-critical network is preferred

Responsibilities

• Direct supervision and mentorship of Network Operations Engineers and Network Operations Administrators assigned to the shift
• Own shift-level accountability for team performance, incident response quality, and adherence to NOC processes and procedures
• Conduct weekly reviews of all ticket updates, providing structured feedback
• Ensure all supervised personnel are aware of and operating in accordance with current NOC processes and procedures
• Lead documentation of shift turnover and handoff to the incoming shift
• Serve as the primary escalation point on shift
• Conduct regular one-on-one meetings for staff development and performance
• Track and report on shift- and NOC-level metrics and trends
• Collaborate with CENIC across departments to drive network improvements

Skills

Network operations

Leadership

Mentorship

Incident management

Education

BSc in CS/IT or equivalent

Tools

DWDM systems

BGP/OSPF/IS-IS routing

Network monitoring tools

Job description

Must sit onsite in La Mirada

Target salary is $140k

Supervisory Responsibility

• Direct supervision and mentorship of Network Operations Engineers and Network Operations Administrators assigned to the shift, including task delegation and workload management
• Own shift-level accountability for team performance, incident response quality, and adherence to NOC processes and procedures
• Conduct weekly reviews of all ticket updates, providing structured feedback and ensuring documentation standards are met
• Ensure all supervised personnel are aware of and operating in accordance with current NOC processes and procedures, both established and evolving
• Lead the documentation of shift turnover, ensuring an accurate, complete, and actionable handoff to the incoming shift - including open incidents, ongoing work, and any items requiring follow-up
• Serve as the primary escalation point on shift and elevate to senior management or engineering as required
• Conduct regular one-on-one meetings with shift staff to support professional development, address performance, and identify continuous improvement opportunities
• Track and report on shift- and NOC-level metrics, KPIs, and operational trends to support continuous improvement to improve network reliability, workflow efficiency and transparency, and engineer accountability
• Cross-departmental collaboration across CENIC to drive business needs and network improvements to better serve our member institutions

Education & Experience

• 5+ years of experience in network operations and engineering at a CCNP/JNCIP level or equivalent; 10+ years at a CCIE/JNCIE level preferred
• Deep working knowledge of BGP, OSPF or IS-IS, MPLS (Segment Routing or LDP), L2VPN and IPVPN services (EVPN or similar), and traffic engineering in a large-scale production environment
• Hands‑on experience with DWDM optical line systems and DCI deployments
• Demonstrated experience operating large-scale IP and optical networks in a 24x7 production environment
• Strong vendor‑agnostic knowledge of current networking hardware platforms, including experience with equipment installation, upgrade, and hardening
• Prior leadership experience in a NOC or network operations environment preferred
• Four-year degree in computer science, information technology, or a related field, or equivalent work experience preferred
• Experience in a research and education network environment or a comparable large-scale, mission‑critical network is preferred
  

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, age, ancestry, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, disability, medical condition, genetic information, pregnancy, or military or veteran status. We consider all qualified applicants, including those with criminal histories, in a manner consistent with state and local laws, including the California Fair Chance Act, City of Los Angeles' Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance, Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance, and San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance.