Team Lead-Senior Network Engineer

Cognizant; Winston-Salem (NC); On-site; USD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical/Dental/Vision/Life Insurance

Paid holidays plus PTO

401(k) plan and contributions

Long-term/Short-term Disability

Paid Parental Leave

Employee Stock Purchase Plan

Job summary

Cognizant is seeking a Team Lead & Senior Network Engineer to oversee network integration, drive architectural decisions, and ensure successful field services delivery in Winston-Salem, NC onsite.

You will lead on-site operations, coordinate with vendors and cross-functional teams, and shape large-scale infrastructure changes while maintaining comprehensive network documentation and standards.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of enterprise network engineering experience in manufacturing environment.
• Proven track record in team leadership and client-facing engagements.
• Strong expertise in network architecture, routing, and switching.
• Experience with Cisco DNA Center, Cisco NAC, and Cisco ISE.
• Familiarity with SolarWinds NMS and ServiceNow ITSM platforms.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
• CCNP or CCIE certification preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead day-to-day operations as the primary single point of contact on-site and provide guidance, direction, and technical oversight.
• Represent in weekly status meetings, architectural council sessions, and stakeholder reviews.
• Coordinate escalations through the defined escalation path.
• Prepare and deliver weekly status reports outlining progress, plans, risks, and issues.
• Lead planning, design, and blueprint development for client’s Fiber and Cable plant infrastructure.
• Attend architectural council meetings to understand networking needs and plan future projects.
• Design and architect large-scale infrastructure changes in collaboration with stakeholders.
• Coordinate with vendors to ensure physical implementations align with architectural plans.
• Develop and maintain comprehensive network architecture documentation and routing configurations.
• Review EOS/EOL equipment and model replacement plans 12–18 months ahead of EOS/EOL.
• Oversee infrastructure upgrade plans and maintain implementation logs.
• Validate property accounting in Cisco DNA Center; maintain Cisco NAC and Cisco ISE Network.
• Implement SolarWinds as a Network Monitoring Tool and integrate with ServiceNow ITSM.
• Apply global standards and templates to Network; troubleshoot issues and escalate as needed.
• Work with vendors, collaborate with AD DHCP teams, and coordinate with engineers and CAD teams.
• Coordinate and communicate material decisions in writing via SPOCs.

Skills

Team leadership

Client-facing

Network architecture

Routing & Switching

Cisco DNA Center

Cisco NAC

Cisco ISE

SolarWinds NMS

ServiceNow ITSM

Communication skills

Tools

Cisco DNA Center

Cisco NAC

Cisco ISE

SolarWinds NMS

ServiceNow ITSM

Job description

Job Description

Team Lead & Senior Network Engineer

Infrastructure & Architecture

Role: The Senior Network Engineer serves as the primary technical and coordination lead for Network Integration. This individual is responsible for overseeing the network infrastructure strategy, driving architectural decisions, and ensuring the successful delivery of all network-related field services.

Location: Winston Salem, NC (Onsite)

Team Leadership & Coordination

• Act as the primary Single Point of Contact day-to-day operations. Provide guidance, direction, and technical oversight to the resources on-site
• Represent in weekly status meetings, architectural council sessions, and stakeholder reviews
• Coordinate escalations through the defined escalation path
• Prepare and deliver weekly status reports outlining progress, plans, risks, and issues

Network Architecture & Design

• Lead the planning, design, and blueprint development for client’s Fiber and Cable plant infrastructure
• Attend architectural council meetings to understand networking needs and plan future projects
• Design and architect large-scale infrastructure changes in collaboration with stakeholders
• Coordinate with vendors to ensure physical implementations align with architectural plans
• Develop and maintain comprehensive network architecture documentation and routing configurations

Infrastructure Lifecycle Management

• Review End-of-Sale (EOS) and End-of-Life (EOL) equipment on a regular basis
• Model suitable replacement plans, targeting 12–18 months ahead of EOS/EOL to accommodate purchasing cycle
• Oversee infrastructure upgrade plans and maintain implementation logs
• Validate property accounting in Cisco DNA Center
• Maintain Cisco NAC and Cisco ISE Network

Standards & Tooling

• Implement SolarWinds as a Network Monitoring Tool for devices
• Integrate SolarWinds with existing ITSM platform (ServiceNow)
• Apply global standards and templates to Network
• Troubleshoot network issues using provided tools and raise to Cisco TAC as needed

Vendor & Cross-Team Collaboration

• Work with vendors for support and hardware dispatch
• Collaborate with Active Directory team for DHCP issues and services
• Coordinate with electrical engineers, MFG engineers, and CAD/Drawing teams as required
• Coordinate and communicate material decisions in writing via SPOCs

Qualification & Skills

• 10+ years of enterprise network engineering experience in manufacturing environment
• Proven track record in team leadership and client-facing engagements
• Strong expertise in network architecture, routing, and switching
• Experience with Cisco DNA Center, Cisco NAC, and Cisco ISE
• Familiarity with SolarWinds NMS and ServiceNow ITSM platforms
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills
• CCNP or CCIE certification preferred

This position is also eligible for Cognizant’s discretionary annual incentive program, based on performance and subject to the terms of Cognizant’s applicable plans.

Benefits

Cognizant offers the following benefits for this position, subject to applicable eligibility requirements:

• Medical/Dental/Vision/Life Insurance
• Paid holidays plus Paid Time Off
• 401(k) plan and contributions
• Long-term/Short-term Disability
• Paid Parental Leave
• Employee Stock Purchase Plan

Disclaimer: The salary, other compensation, and benefits information is accurate as of the date of this posting. Cognizant reserves the right to modify this information at any time, subject to applicable law.

• Applicants must be authorized to work in the US without sponsorship.

Please note, this role is not able to offer visa transfer or sponsorship now or in the future.