Lead System Engineer - Cisco ACI

Role Overview

We are seeking an experienced Lead System Engineer with deep expertise in Datacenter Networking, Cisco ACI, SD‑WAN, MPLS, WAN technologies, and advanced routing protocols. The ideal candidate will be capable of independently deploying, managing, and troubleshooting complex network infrastructures across heterogeneous environments. This role demands strong technical leadership, hands‑on engineering skills, and the ability to guide junior team members while driving continuous improvement in operations.

Key Responsibilities

Datacenter Networking & ACI

• Plan, design, and implement Cisco ACI architecture, including NDO, NDI, Multipod, and VXLAN.

• Configure and manage VRFs, security zones, routing policies, and automated provisioning templates (Zero Touch Provisioning).

• Participate in ACI implementation planning and lead ACI-related project delivery.

• Review and enhance Datacenter Network standards; recommend new hardware and technology solutions.

• Perform PoC testing for new features, network designs, and products.

WAN / SD-WAN / MPLS

• Design, deploy, and troubleshoot Enterprise WAN & MPLS-based networks.

• Manage and optimize SD‑WAN infrastructure (Cisco/VMware/Other OEMs as applicable).

• Perform WAN routing optimization, link management, and integration of DC and WAN environments.

• Ensure uptime, stability, and SLA compliance across WAN circuits and devices.

Routing & Switching

• Expert-level knowledge of BGP, OSPF, and working knowledge of RIP, EIGRP.

• Strong experience with Cisco Nexus switching, VLANs, trunking, STP variants, and Dot1x.

• Ability to review and recommend improvements in Low-Level Designs (LLDs) and configuration standards.

Operations & Troubleshooting

• Act as the Single Point of Contact (SPOC) during major incidents and technical escalations.

• Lead outage calls; drive root cause analysis and implement permanent corrective actions.

• Troubleshoot production issues using tools like Splunk, NetFlow, logs debugging, packet captures, etc.

• Execute moderate network changes and ensure change success with minimal disruption.

• Review existing operational processes and propose improvements to reduce alarm/noise and escalations.

Leadership & Cross-functional Collaboration

• Mentor and train junior team members; support knowledge-sharing initiatives.

• Work closely with global teams (e.g., Paris NRE Team) for incident handling and approvals.

• Provide improvement plans to reduce escalations and enhance operational efficiency.

• Participate in next-generation network transformation projects.

Documentation & Process Improvement

• Create and maintain technical documentation, SOPs, and process workflows.

• Define improvement plans to lower alarms, reduce escalations, and streamline operations.

• Propose new processes and update existing ones to increase automation and autonomy.

Required Skills & Experience

• 8–14 years of hands-on experience in Datacenter & Enterprise Networking.

• Expert knowledge of:

  • Cisco ACI
  • VXLAN, MPLS, VRF
  • SD‑WAN
  • BGP, OSPF (Expert level)
  • Cisco Nexus switching platforms.

• Strong operational and troubleshooting skills for large-scale production environments.

• Experience with Splunk, Netflow, and debugging network logs.

• Ability to lead critical incidents and communicate with senior stakeholders.

• Experience designing and operating large Enterprise or Service Provider WAN/LAN infrastructures.

• Strong communication, documentation, and leadership skills.

• Scripting experience using Python or Ansible for automation (good to have)