Proactive Network Engineer

Kinesis Holdings; Cape Town; On-site; ZAR 200,000 - 300,000; Full time

Job summary

A dynamic IT services team is seeking a Proactive Network Engineer to maintain and optimise clients' network infrastructures. The ideal candidate should have strong experience with Cisco, FortiGate, and Juniper devices, along with automation skills in Ansible and Python. Responsibilities include applying firmware updates, conducting tests, and ensuring compliance with best practices. Join us to contribute to network security and performance enhancement.

Qualifications

• Strong experience with patching and maintaining Cisco, FortiGate, and Juniper devices.
• Deep understanding of firewall policies, access control, and network security.
• Familiarity with BGP, OSPF, VLANs, STP, and other routing / switching protocols.
• Experience with network automation tools like Ansible and Python.

Responsibilities

• Apply firmware updates and security patches for key network devices.
• Conduct testing and validation before updates are deployed.
• Create and maintain scripts and automation workflows.

Skills

Automation passion

Analytical abilities

Troubleshooting

Independent work

Excellent communication

Education

CCNA (Cisco Certified Network Associate)

CCNP (Cisco Certified Network Professional)

Tools

Cisco devices

FortiGate devices

Juniper devices

Ansible

Python

Job description

About the Role :

We are looking for a skilled Proactive Network Engineer to join a dynamic IT services team. This role is centered around maintaining, patching, and optimising clients’ network infrastructure to ensure security, stability, and performance.

The ideal candidate will have a passion for automation, strong knowledge of Cisco and FortiGate systems, and a proactive mindset when it comes to network maintenance. You’ll be expected to manage firmware updates, configuration roll outs, and implement changes across multiple vendors while minimising disruption.

Key Responsibilities :

• Apply firmware updates and security patches for Cisco, FortiGate, Juniper, and other key network devices.
• Conduct testing and validation before updates are deployed in live environments.
• Create and maintain scripts and automation workflows using Ansible and Python.
• Ensure best practices for mass configuration changes and network optimisation are followed.

What You will Need :

Certifications (preferred or in progress) :

CCNA (Cisco Certified Network Associate)

CCNP (Cisco Certified Network Professional)

Technical Skills :

Strong experience with patching and maintaining Cisco, FortiGate, and Juniper devices.

Deep understanding of firewall policies, access control, and network security.

Familiarity with BGP, OSPF, VLANs, STP, and other routing / switching protocols.

Experience with network automation tools like Ansible and Python.

Soft Skills :

Strong analytical and troubleshooting abilities.

Ability to work independently and proactively.

Excellent documentation and communication skills.

Bonus Experience :

Background in enterprise or managed service provider (MSP) environments.

Exposure to cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP).

Familiarity with SIEM tools and network monitoring solutions.