Senior Automation Engineer

GDH; Greenbelt (MD); Remote; USD 138,000 - 153,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Remote work

Job summary

GDH is seeking a senior automation engineer specializing in Python and Django API development to design scalable, self-service endpoints for network automation. You will build reliable REST APIs, drive API contracts, and integrate with GitLab, ServiceNow, and Nautobot to streamline enterprise workflows.

The role emphasizes test-driven development, collaboration with DevOps and UX teams, and participation in architecture decisions to uphold engineering standards.

Qualifications

• Proven experience with Python and Django in production environments.
• Strong API design skills including versioning, pagination, idempotency, and robust error handling.
• Experience with test-driven development, including integration tests at the API level.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and maintain Django REST APIs for customer requests and automated workflows.
• Implement integration-test-first TDD with API-level integration tests.
• Define API contracts with schemas, versioning, error handling, and OpenAPI/Swagger docs.
• Model and manage intake data and workflows in Django across models, serializers, and services.
• Integrate APIs with GitLab for request validation, pipelines, and status reporting.
• Connect with ServiceNow and Nautobot, using mocks and contract tests for external dependencies.
• Build scripts and automation using Python, Ansible, YAML for provisioning and onboarding.
• Contribute to CI/CD pipelines with automated test gates and static analysis.
• Collaborate with engineering and UX to align APIs with self-service portals.
• Participate in architecture decisions, code reviews, and mentoring to uphold standards.

Skills

Python

Django

Django REST Framework

API design

Test-driven development

GitLab integration

Nautobot

PostgreSQL

Docker & Kubernetes

Ansible / YAML

Agile / DevOps

Communication

Tools

OpenAPI/Swagger

Job description

Role Summary

We are seeking a senior automation engineer specialized in Python and Django API development to design and implement self-service endpoints that streamline network automation processes. This role involves building scalable, reliable REST APIs to facilitate customer interaction with network-as-code workflows, integrating with enterprise systems, and supporting infrastructure automation. The ideal candidate will leverage sound software engineering principles, test-driven development, and collaborative practices to deliver high-quality solutions.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and maintain Django REST APIs that facilitate customer requests and automate network workflows.
• Implement integration-test-first TDD by creating API-level integration tests before developing internal functionality, ensuring comprehensive coverage.
• Define API contracts, including schemas, versioning, error handling, and documentation using OpenAPI/Swagger standards.
• Model and manage intake data and workflows within Django, maintaining a clear separation of concerns across models, serializers, and service layers.
• Integrate APIs with GitLab for request validation, pipeline trigger, and status reporting, including YAML data modeling and merge request automation.
• Connect with enterprise systems such as ServiceNow and Nautobot, using mocks and contract tests to manage external dependencies effectively.
• Build scripts and automation workflows utilizing Python, Ansible, and YAML for provisioning, server onboarding, and data center automation.
• Contribute to CI/CD pipelines, establishing automated test gates, static code analysis, and confident deployment practices.
• Collaborate across engineering and UX teams to align API offerings with self-service portals, ensuring user-centric design.
• Participate in architecture decisions, code reviews, and mentorship to uphold engineering standards and foster knowledge sharing.

Qualifications

• Proven experience with Python and Django, including Django REST Framework in production environments.
• Strong understanding of API design principles, including resource modeling, versioning, pagination, idempotency, and comprehensive error handling.
• Demonstrated experience with test-driven development, particularly integration tests at the API level supported by unit and contract tests.
• Familiarity with REST API integrations with GitLab, ServiceNow, Nautobot, and other enterprise platforms.
• Knowledge of Nautobot APIs (REST and GraphQL) and IPAM concepts such as prefixes, IP addresses, VLANs, and VRFs.
• Practical experience with relational databases, particularly PostgreSQL.
• Skills in scripting and automation using Python, Ansible, and YAML, with familiarity in networking configuration, VLANs, and Cisco environments.
• Experience with infrastructure as code practices, Docker, Kubernetes, and containerization technologies.
• Strong understanding of networking fundamentals and Cisco network environments.
• Effective communication, collaboration skills, and the ability to work in Agile teams with DevOps practices.
• Relevant education, training, certifications, or equivalent practical experience.

Publishing Pay Range: $100.00 – $111.00 hourly

This is a fully remote role and can be performed from any approved location within the United States.