Senior Network Engineer (Py)

Blackcanyonconsulting; Bethesda (MD); Hybrid; USD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision coverage

401k plan with employer contribution

Paid holidays and vacation

Tuition reimbursement

Job summary

Black Canyon Consulting seeks a Senior Network Engineer to support the National Center for Biotechnology Information in Bethesda, MD. This role focuses on designing high-performance networks using advanced technologies like Arista EOS, F5 BIG-IP, and more. Candidates should have over 10 years of experience, strong skills in network automation with Python, and excellent communication abilities.

We offer competitive benefits including medical coverage, 401k with employer contributions, and a salary range of $110,000 - $160,000.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of hands‑on experience in network engineering.
• A CCIE or similar advanced networking certification is a plus.
• Strong experience with Arista EOS/CloudVision and F5 BIG‑IP.
• Expertise in protocols like BGP, OSPF, VxLAN, and EVPN.
• Proficiency in Python scripting and network automation.

Responsibilities

• Design and implement cutting‑edge, high‑performance network architectures.
• Leverage deep knowledge of Arista's Extensible Operating System (EOS).
• Configure and maintain F5 BIG‑IP platforms, including virtual servers.
• Use Python to automate network management and streamline operations.
• Act as a technical leader, mentoring team members and resolving complex issues.
• Evolve legacy networks for cloud‑native environments.

Skills

Arista EOS and CloudVision

F5 BIG-IP

BGP

OSPF

Python scripting

VxLAN

EVPN

TACACS+

Radius

Job description

Overview

Black Canyon Consulting (BCC) is searching for a Senior Network Engineer to support our work for the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) at the National Library of Medicine (NLM), an institute of the National Institutes of Health. This opportunity is full time and onsite at the NIH-NCBI in Bethesda, MD with option for some remote work.

Ready to build the future of hybrid onprem and cloud networking? We're seeking a Senior Network Engineer with a passion for designing and deploying high-performance networks. If you have deep expertise with AF5 LTM and GTM, BGP and OSPF routing protocol, Arista EOS and CloudVision, and a proven track record of modernizing legacy infrastructure, you're exactly who we're looking for. In this role, you won't just maintain networks; you'll be a technical leader, driving innovation and shaping our network architecture. You'll work with the latest technologies like Spine-and-Leaf, VxLAN, EVPN, and BGP, and use your Python scripting skills to automate everything you can. This is your chance to be a key contributor to a critical scientific mission to improve health and advance medical breakthroughs.

Duties & Responsibilities:

• Architect and Deploy: Design and implement cutting‑edge, high‑performance network architectures, with a focus on Spine‑and‑Leaf designs.
• Master Arista: Leverage your deep knowledge of Arista's Extensible Operating System (EOS) and CloudVision platform.
• Manage F5: Configure and maintain F5 BIG‑IP platforms, including virtual servers, pools, and iRules.
• Automate Everything: Use Python and other Linux tools to automate network management and streamline operations.
• Lead the Way: Act as a technical leader, mentoring team members, handling complex issues, and serving as a subject matter expert.
• Modernize and Support: Evolve our legacy networks for cloud‑native environments and provide expert support to resolve complex network issues.
• Load Balanced Application Delivery: Implement load balancing strategies (e.g., round robin, least connections) to optimize application performance and ensure high availability.
• High Availability: Setting up and manage Arista and F5 device clusters in active/standby or active/active configurations to provide failover capabilities.
• AAA (Authentication, Authorization, and Accounting): Strong knowledge of AAA frameworks for network access control. Hands‑on experience configuring and managing TACACS+, Radius for device administration security in Cisco ICE.
• Network Hardware Lifecycle Management: Responsible for all network device patching, including security fixes and OS updates. Track device vendor support timelines and manage end of life transitions to updated hardware models.
• Network Monitoring: Monitor network traffic and alerts for proactive management and capacity planning. Provide up to date network metrics to all technical teams for better product development and troubleshooting.

Required qualifications:

• 10+ years of hands‑on experience in network engineering.
• A CCIE or similar advanced networking certification is a plus.
• Strong experience with Arista EOS/CloudVision and F5 BIG‑IP.
• Expertise in protocols like BGP, OSPF, VxLAN, and EVPN.
• Proficiency in Python scripting and network automation.
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to work independently.

Benefits and Salary

We attract the best people in the business with our competitive benefits package that includes medical, dental and vision coverage, 401k plan with employer contribution, paid holidays, vacation, and tuition reimbursement.

We offer a competitive salary commensurate with experience and location. The targeted range for this position is $110,000 - $160,000.

If you enjoy being a part of a high performing, professional service and technology focused organization, please apply today!