Network Engineer

Optimum Communications Inc.; Tyler (TX); On-site; USD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Optimum seeks a highly skilled IP Network Engineer to design, implement, and maintain a complex ISP IP/MPLS network across backbone, aggregation, and access layers.

The role focuses on scalable, reliable, low-latency networks with MPLS, L2VPN, L3VPN and advanced QoS. You will evaluate new equipment, document workflows, and collaborate with teams to deploy new services in a carrier-grade environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience in a related field.
• CCNP (or equivalent); CCIE or higher preferred.
• Experience in Service Provider / ISP environments with commercial or enterprise services.
• Strong routing and switching experience (BGP, OSPF, ISIS).
• Familiarity with MPLS-TE, L2VPN, L3VPN and traffic engineering concepts.
• IPv4/IPv6 knowledge, and ability to write engineering guidelines.

Responsibilities

• Designs and engineers IP Backbone architectures for ISP and commercial services.
• Develops test plans and validates functionality for metro to backbone networks.
• Tests IP service integration (internet, VPN, VoIP, video) over IP/MPLS.
• Determines and validates code for routers and switches across vendors.
• Performs equipment evaluations, pilot testing and scalable network designs.
• Supports deployments with SLA and change-management adherence.
• Collaborates with regions and NOC to exceed demand and uptime targets.
• Provides security design guidance (ACLs, authentication, control plane).
• Acts as escalation point for critical outages in a 24x7 environment.

Skills

IP Routing Protocols

BGP

OSPF

MPLS-TE

QoS Capabilities

IPv4/IPv6

Network Design

Cisco IOS-XR

IOS

Nokia

Python

Bash

Education

Bachelor's degree

CCNP

CCIE

Tools

Cisco IOS-XR

IOS

Nokia

Python

BASH

Job description

Are you looking to Optimize your life? Start your exciting path to a rewarding career today!

We are Optimum, a leader in the fast-paced world of connectivity, and we're seeking driven and enthusiastic professionals to join our team, empower lives, fuel businesses, and drive innovation. Connectivity is now longer a luxury, but a necessity. A career at Optimum means you'll be enabling progress and enhancing lives by providing reliable, high-speed connectivity solutions that keep the world connected. Our successes, now and in the future, are powered by our amazing product, a commitment to our people and culture, and the connections we make in our communities.

If you are resourceful, collaborative, and passionate about delivering consistent excellence, Optimum is for you!

Job Summary

We are seeking a highly skilled IP Network Engineer to design, implement, and maintain a complex service provider (ISP) IP/MPLS network. The ideal candidate should have extensive experience in IP routing and a demonstrated ability to handle complex network projects in a carrier-grade environment.

The Network Engineer will focus on optimizing the performance of high-capacity IP networks by ensuring scalability, reliability, and low latency across backbone, aggregation, and access layers. Responsibilities include planning, designing, and engineering regional multi-state networks with Layer I, II, and III, as well as carrier-class MPLS, L2VPN, and L3VPN services.

The role involves evaluating and validating new equipment and software releases, and documenting procedures for network implementation and workflows. Collaboration with the team to use open-source or standard systems will be essential to accelerate the development and deployment of new services and features in the production network.

The engineer will diagnose, troubleshoot, and document issues related to the support, implementation, and management of a core network environment that includes Cisco IOS-XR and IOS. Timely and accurate resolution of hardware and software network problems is crucial, especially for customer-facing and SLA-driven services.

They will also provide engineering guidelines and network support to Fulfillment and Operations teams for deploying new hardware and services. Working closely with the Application Support team, they will gather new product requirements and define parameters for service activation.

Additionally, performing failure analysis of hardware, software, and application-related issues impacting services is part of the role, with a strong focus on delivering the best experience for all customers in a 24x7 ISP production environment.

Responsibilities

• Performs engineering activities with specific knowledge and skills associated with the following technologies:
  • IP Routing Protocols and technologies such as: OSPF, ISIS, BGP, MPLS-TE, QoS Capabilities
  • IP Backbone capacity management and traffic engineering (TE)
  • Core IP routing technologies and vendors, specifically Cisco and Nokia
  • IPv4 and IPv6 subnetting and address planning for large-scale ISP networks
• Develops and executes detailed network designs, specifications, and architectural plans for IP Backbone architectures in support of ISP and commercial service delivery infrastructure, including BGP, OSPF, RSVP, LDP, and quality of service architectures.
• Creates test plans; tests and validates functionality, management, and performance for existing and new technologies supporting metro, regional, and backbone IP networks.
• Designs and tests for IP service integration, including internet, VPN, VoIP, and video delivery services over IP/MPLS networks.
• Determines, tests, and validates code functionality to be used in the production network for all IP routers and various Ethernet switches across multiple vendors.
• Conducts equipment evaluations, equipment selection, pilot testing, and network designs to ensure reliability and scaled expansion of the network.
• Supports deployments of new IP services, systems, applications, and architectures with strict adherence to SLAs and change management policies.
• Partners with change management for impact identification, network validation, MOP creation and execution of activities in a live production ISP network.
• Defines and compiles methods, procedures, and documentation to support personnel in the installation, maintenance, and removal of network equipment.
• Coordinates with regions to ensure the network is available and configured to exceed market demand and customer growth requirements.
• Applies best practices pertaining to router security design, including authentication, access lists, and control plane protection.
• Acts as an escalation from our NOC for critical network incidents and customer-impacting outages.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and a minimum of 2 years of related experience; or equivalent
• CCNP required or equivalent experience; CCIE plus
• Experience working in a Service Provider / ISP environment supporting commercial or enterprise services
• Experience with routing and switching (BGP, OSPF, ISIS)
• Experience with MPLS-TE, L2VPN, L3VPN, and traffic engineering concepts
• Experience with IPv4 and IPv6
• Experience writing Engineering guidelines and procedures
• Familiarity with fiber optic technology and transport networks
• Scripting languages are recommended (such as BASH, Python, etc.)
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills
• Ability to work in a 24x7 operational environment with on-call rotation
• Proven ability to troubleshoot large-scale outages under pressure and meet SLA commitments

At Optimum, every action and interaction we take part in, is driven by our three Guiding Principles: Do What's Right, Drive One Optimum, and Make It Happen. These aren't just words, they help us build trust, create real community, and embrace new ways of thinking. Our employees are empowered to do the right thing for our customers and co-workers and to recognize and reward these behaviors when we see them. It's all part of the bigger picture of "Be The Difference" where each employee knows they have the power to enact real change, share new ideas, and understand that learning never stop.

If you have the drive to succeed and are ready to embark on a thrilling career, seize this opportunity today, and join our winning team. Together, we'll shape the future of connectivity.

All job descriptions and required skills, qualifications and responsibilities for a particular position are subject to modification by the Company from time to time, in the Company's discretion based on business necessity.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to recruiting, hiring and promoting qualified people of all backgrounds regardless of gender, race, color, creed, national origin, religion, age, marital status, pregnancy, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, military or veteran status, or any other basis protected by federal, state, or local law.

The Company collects personal information about its applicants for employment that may include personal identifiers, professional or employment related information, photos, education information and/or protected classifications under federal and state law. This information is collected for employment purposes, including identification, work authorization, FCRA-compliant background screening, human resource administration and compliance with federal, state and local law.

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We appreciate your interest in this opportunity. Applicants must be authorized to work for ANY employer in the U.S. Please note that at this time, we do not provide visa sponsorship for employment.