Principal Network Engineer

Request Technology, LLC; Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Request Technology, LLC is seeking an experienced network engineer to design and deploy low-latency, highly resilient infrastructure across global data centers, co-location, and cloud-connected environments in a hybrid on-site/remote model.

You will lead advanced routing design, perform lab validation, and develop Python-based automation to enhance configuration management, testing, and operational efficiency, working with cross-functional teams on strategic network initiatives.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of hands-on network engineering experience in mission-critical, low-latency environments.
• Expertise in low-latency and deterministic network design and analyzing latency/jitter in production.
• Advanced knowledge of routing protocols at scale: BGP, OSPF, MPLS, multicast.

Responsibilities

• Design and evolve low-latency, highly resilient network architecture across data centers, co-location, and cloud environments.
• Lead routing design and implementation across global environments including BGP, OSPF, MPLS, multicast, and hybrid cloud connectivity.
• Conduct research, lab validation, and pre-implementation testing for major network initiatives with engineering teams.
• Lead complex projects from design to execution with migration runbooks and capacity planning.
• Develop Python-based network automation for configuration management, testing, and ops efficiency using API-driven and SSH-based methods.
• Collaborate with infrastructure, security, application, and business teams to align network delivery with technical requirements and budgeting.

Skills

Routing protocols

Low-latency design

BGP/OSPF/MPLS

Python automation

Observability tools

Tools

Prometheus

Grafana

Job description

***We are unable to sponsor as this is a permanent full time role***

***Hybrid, 4 days onsite, 1 day remote***

Responsibilities:

• Design and evolve low-latency, highly resilient network architecture across global data center, co-location, and cloud-connected environments, with a focus on deterministic packet forwarding, scalability, and operational consistency
• Lead advanced routing design and implementation across complex global environments, including BGP, OSPF, MPLS, multicast, hybrid cloud connectivity, traffic engineering, and high-availability network patterns
• Conduct deep technical research, lab validation, and pre-implementation testing for major network initiatives, working closely with engineering and software development teams to evaluate hardware capabilities, identify design constraints, and optimize exchange performance based on findings
• Lead high-complexity strategic projects from design through execution, producing detailed technical designs, migration runbooks, capacity plans, and implementation guidance for large-scale network changes
• Develop and maintain Python-based network automation to support configuration management, change validation, testing, and operational efficiency, with direct experience using both API-driven and SSH-based automation approaches
• Partner across infrastructure, security, application, and business teams to align network design and delivery with technical requirements, operational goals, and broader organizational priorities, including support for budgeting and planning related to network hardware and software investments
• Contribute to monitoring and telemetry strategy by helping define meaningful visibility requirements and supporting the use of tools such as Prometheus, Grafana, or similar platforms where they improve operational insight and troubleshooting

Qualifications:

• 10+ years of hands-on network engineering experience in mission-critical, low-latency environments, with a strong track record operating and evolving high-performance network infrastructure
• Deep expertise in low-latency and deterministic network design, including practical experience analyzing latency, jitter, and end-to-end traffic behavior in production environments
• Advanced knowledge of routing protocols at scale, including BGP, OSPF, MPLS, and multicast (PIM-SM/SSM), with proven experience designing resilient, highly available global networks
• Strong understanding of network hardware and platform capabilities across major vendors, with the ability to evaluate limitations and optimize design decisions through hands-on research and lab validation
• Experience designing and supporting hybrid cloud connectivity, including AWS networking constructs such as Direct Connect, Transit Gateway, VPCs, and route integration
• Proven experience building and maintaining Python-based network automation, including API-driven and SSH-based approaches for configuration management, testing, and operational efficiency
• Working knowledge of observability and telemetry concepts, with exposure to platforms such as Prometheus, Grafana, or similar tools for network visibility and performance analysis
• Strong background in leading technical research, proof-of-concept validation, and pre-implementation design for large-scale network initiatives
• Solid understanding of network security fundamentals, including segmentation, access control, and zero-trust principles as they apply to network design