Senior Network Systems Engineer

About NetApp and the Role

NetApp leads in intelligent data infrastructure, providing unified storage, integrated data services, and solutions enabling organizations to maximize data potential from AI to multicloud environments. As a Senior Network Systems Engineer based in County Cork, Ireland, you will play a pivotal role bridging traditional network operations with modern network automation practices. Your work will ensure high availability and reliability of the global network through automation and hands-on operational expertise.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and deploy automation workflows using Infrastructure as Code to replace manual network configuration, patching, and troubleshooting tasks.
• Manage and optimize the security posture of the network, specializing in Cisco ISE (Network Access Control), Palo Alto firewalls, and Zscaler platforms (ZIA and ZPA).
• Oversee lifecycle management and performance of global wired networks and hybrid data centers, particularly using Cisco Catalyst 9000 series and Nexus switches.
• Utilize telemetry and monitoring tools such as LogicMonitor, SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager, and ThousandEyes to proactively detect and auto-correct network anomalies.
• Act as the highest technical escalation point for complex global network incidents and promote Site Reliability Engineering (SRE) principles, including service level agreements (SLAs), service level objectives (SLOs), and blameless post-mortems within the team.

Requirements

• Proficient in network automation scripting languages like Python and Go, alongside automation tools such as Ansible, Terraform, and Nornir.
• Experience with version control and CI/CD pipelines for network management using Git, GitLab CI, or GitHub Actions.
• Strong background in core enterprise routing and switching, managing Cisco Catalyst and Nexus environments, and integrating hybrid cloud network connectivity in AWS, Azure, or Oracle Cloud Infrastructure.
• Expertise in security operations, particularly with Palo Alto firewall administration and Cisco ISE.
• Committed to operational excellence, rigorous change management, and passionate about reducing manual, repetitive network operations tasks through automation.

Preferred Certifications

• Cisco Certified DevNet Professional or HashiCorp Certified: Terraform Associate for automation and SRE skills.
• Cisco CCNP Enterprise or CCNP Data Center certifications.
• Palo Alto Networks Certified Network Security Engineer (PCNSE) or Zscaler administration certifications for security and edge computing.
• Experience with network automation and Infrastructure as Code is viewed more positively than traditional expert-level certifications such as CCIE.

Additional Advantageous Experience

• Familiarity with Cisco ACI, Network Access Control (NAC), or SDWAN solutions like Cisco vManage.
• Operational experience managing F5 or VMware AVI load balancers.
• Background in networking within manufacturing environments.

Work Environment and Travel

This full-time role is onsite in County Cork, Ireland, with a hybrid working culture emphasizing collaboration and connection. The position involves approximately 10% to 20% travel globally to support data centers, sites, and international teams.

Equal Opportunity Commitment

NetApp is an equal opportunity employer committed to compliance with all applicable laws preventing employment discrimination based on various protected characteristics including age, race, gender, sexual orientation, disability, veteran status, and more.

Application Process

Applications are reviewed exclusively through the company's official channels to ensure fairness and efficiency. Direct contact with employees or recruiters outside this process does not affect application status.

Use of AI in Recruitment

Some stages of the hiring process may involve AI tools to support candidate evaluation, supplementing human decision-making but not replacing it.