Senior Vice President, Network Engineering

Oaktree; North Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 200,000 - 225,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Discretionary bonus

Benefits package

Flexible work arrangement

Job summary

Oaktree is seeking a Senior Network Engineering leader based in Los Angeles or Chicago to own the design and long-term strategy of the firm’s global network across offices and cloud environments. You will lead a hands-on, player-coach team of network engineers and oversee MSP operations while shaping security architecture and governance.

The role requires 10–15 years in IT with 8+ years in network engineering and a strong track record of building scalable enterprise networks, complex budgets,

Qualifications

• 10–15 years in Information Technology with 8+ years of progressive network engineering and architecture experience
• 3+ years leading and managing a network engineering team
• Advanced certifications such as Cisco CCNP/CCIE, Arista ACE, Palo Alto PCNSE, or Azure credentials
• Deep expertise designing and operating global LAN/WAN architectures across regions
• Expert-level knowledge of routing and switching for enterprise scale
• Experience with Meraki cloud-managed wireless across a global footprint
• Palo Alto NGFW experience including firewall architecture and policy governance
• Experience architecting hybrid/multi-cloud connectivity, particularly Azure VNets/ExpressRoute
• Proven track record of managing multi-year technology budgets and vendor contracts
• Experience with TEM services and MSP relationships

Responsibilities

• Own the network strategy, architecture, and multi-year roadmap for global networks
• Lead governance of network documentation, change management, and standards
• Serve as escalation point for complex network incidents and remediation
• Partner with Security to define Zero Trust/SASE strategy across global environment
• Own network budget including hardware refresh, software licensing, and vendor negotiations
• Direct multi-year capacity planning and asset lifecycle for network infrastructure
• Build and mentor a team of network engineers and administrators
• Lead vendor/carrier relationships and contract negotiations
• Represent Network Engineering in executive forums with stakeholders
• Oversee MSP operations to ensure stable, efficient network performance

Skills

Network architecture

Team leadership

Vendor negotiations

Security architecture

Cloud networking

Budget management

Education

Bachelor's degree in CS/IT/Business

Master's degree preferred

Tools

Cisco

Arista

Palo Alto

Azure

Job description

Our Company

Oaktree is a leader among global investment managers specializing in alternative investments, with over $200 billion in assets under management. The firm emphasizes an opportunistic, value-oriented and risk-controlled approach to investments in credit, private equity, real assets and listed equities. The firm has over 1400 employees and offices in 25 cities worldwide.

We are committed to cultivating an environment that is collaborative, curious, inclusive and honors diversity of thought. Providing training and career development opportunities and emphasizing strong support for our local communities through philanthropic initiatives are essential to our culture.

The Technology department at Oaktree Capital Management delivers secure, scalable, and innovative solutions that power the firm’s global investment and business operations. Through strong partnerships across the company, we drive digital transformation, advance operational efficiency, and provide a trusted data foundation to create measurable impact for Oaktree’s teams, clients, and partners.

For additional information please visit our website at www.oaktreecapital.com.

Responsibilities

Based in Los Angeles or Chicago, this position will lead the Network Engineering function within the Infrastructure and Operations team. The SVP, Network Engineering will serve as the firm’s senior technical authority on network architecture and strategy, owning the design, resilience, and long-term roadmap of Oaktree’s global network across all offices and cloud environments, while managing and mentoring a team of network engineers and overseeing MSP operations. This is a player-coach role: the successful candidate will set network architecture strategy and lead the team, while remaining hands-on with the organization's most complex technical challenges.

• Own the strategy, architecture, and multi-year technology roadmap for the firm’s internal and external networks, setting global standards for Cisco, Palo Alto Networks, and Arista platforms.
• Serve as the final escalation point for complex, business-critical network incidents, directing root-cause analysis and long-term remediation across a global team.
• Partner with the Security organization to define and enforce network security architecture, segmentation, and Zero Trust/SASE strategy across the global environment.
• Own the network capital and operating budget, including hardware refresh planning, software and licensing spend, and vendor contract negotiation.
• Direct multi-year capacity planning and asset lifecycle strategy for network infrastructure, ensuring budget forecasts align with firmwide growth and cloud migration initiatives.
• Build, lead, and mentor a team of network engineers and administrators, establishing engineering standards, career development paths, and performance goals.
• Establish governance for network documentation, change management, and configuration standards across the global engineering team.
• Own strategic vendor and carrier relationships, leading contract negotiations, SLAs, and technology roadmap discussions with key partners.
• Represent Network Engineering in executive and cross-functional forums, presenting network strategy, risk, and investment priorities to senior Technology, Security, and Finance stakeholders.
• Implement and direct MSP operations to ensure stable, and financially efficient operation of the network.

Qualifications

• 10-15 years in Information Technology with 8+ years of progressive network engineering and architecture experience, including at least 3 years leading and managing a network engineering team
• Advanced certifications desired, such as Cisco CCNP/CCIE, Arista ACE, Palo Alto PCNSE, or Azure architecture-level credentials.
• Deep expertise designing and operating global LAN, WAN, and enterprise networking architectures across multiple regions and business units.
• Expert-level knowledge of network protocols, routing, and switching, with proven experience setting architecture standards at enterprise scale.
• Experience setting enterprise wireless strategy, including Meraki or comparable cloud-managed wireless solutions, across a global office footprint
• Extensive Palo Alto NGFW experience, including firm-wide firewall architecture, segmentation strategy, and policy governance.
• Deep understanding of network security principles, with a track record of setting security architecture strategy in partnership with CISO and Security leadership.
• Proven experience architecting hybrid and multi-cloud network connectivity at enterprise scale, including Microsoft Azure (VNets, ExpressRoute), gained through leading large-scale cloud migration initiatives
• Demonstrated experience managing multi-year technology budgets and negotiating enterprise vendor and carrier contracts.
• Experience implementing Telecom Expense Management (TEM) Services desired
• Experience implementing and operating managed service provider (MSP) relationships desired.

Personal Attributes

• Strategic self-starter with a proven ability to take initiative and drive change across a large organization.
• Responsible with a strong work ethic and sense of dedication
• Excellent interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills, with the ability to influence and present to senior executives
• Works well under pressure and with time constraints
• Outstanding organization skills with high attention-to-detail
• Possess intellectual curiosity to improve systems and processes.
• Team-oriented with strong integrity and professionalism
• Proven people leader who builds high-performing teams and develops engineering talent
• Must be able to handle highly confidential information and situations with professionalism and tact.
• Strong problem-solving abilities.
• Excellent communication and teamwork skills.

Education

Bachelor’s degree in computer science, information technology, or business administration required; Master’s degree preferred.

Base Salary Range

$200,000 - $225,000

In addition to a competitive base salary, you will be eligible to receive discretionary bonus incentives, a comprehensive benefits package and a flexible work arrangement. The base salary offered will be commensurate with experience and/or qualifications, industry knowledge and expertise, as well as prior training and education.

Equal Opportunity Employment Policy

Oaktree is committed to diversity and to equal opportunity employment. Oaktree does not make employment decisions on the basis of race, creed, color, ethnicity, national origin, citizenship, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, past or present physical or mental disability, HIV status, medical condition as defined by state law (genetic characteristics or cancer), pregnancy, childbirth and related medical conditions, veteran status, military service, marital status, familial status, genetic information, domestic violence victim status or any other classification protected by applicable federal, state and local laws and ordinances. This policy applies to hiring, placement, internal promotions, training, opportunities for advancement, recruitment advertising, transfers, demotions, layoffs, terminations, recruitment advertising, rates of pay and other forms of compensation and all other terms, conditions and privileges of employment. This policy applies to all Oaktree applicants, employees, clients, and contractors. Staff members wishing to report violations or suspected violations of this policy should contact the head of their department or Human Resources.

For positions based in Los Angeles

For those applying for a position in the city of Los Angeles, the firm will consider for employment qualified applicants with a criminal history in a manner consistent with applicable federal, state and local law.