TI
Enterprise Network Lab Engineer
Tranzeal Inc.
🇺🇸 United States
On-site
5 months ago
- Python
- SD-WAN
- Git
- Cisco
- Arista
- Juniper
- Aruba
- CI/CD
- Bash
- Ansible
- Jenkins
- GitLab CI
- GitHub Actions
- Test Automation
- Robot Framework
- Fabric
- Network Security
- BGP
- OSPF
- EIGRP
- iOS
- Visio
- Lucidchart
- IaC
- CCNP
- CCIE
- Change Management
5 months ago
Function: IT Infrastructure / Enterprise Networking
Location: Santa Clara
About the Role
We are looking for a hands-on Enterprise Network Lab Engineer to own and operate our enterprise network validation lab. This role is the bridge between network architecture and production deployment — you will take use cases from concept through rigorous lab validation and deliver complete, production-ready designs backed by test evidence.
You will work closely with network architects, vendors, and engineering teams to validate new technologies, verify platform upgrades, and stress-test configurations before they touch the production network. You are equally comfortable racking gear and writing a Python script to automate test runs.
What You Will Do
- Lab Validation & Testing
- Receive network use cases from architecture, engineering, or business stakeholders and translate them into structured lab test plans covering functional, performance, resiliency, and failure-scenario testing
- Execute high-touch validation of enterprise networking technologies including switching, routing, wireless, SD-WAN, firewalling, and network automation platforms
- Deliver complete validation packages including:
- Logical and physical topology diagrams
- Device configurations (sanitized and version-controlled)
- Step-by-step test procedures and results
- Pass/fail summaries with root cause analysis for failures
- Go/No-Go recommendations with supporting evidence
- Perform rack and stack of lab equipment when required — cable management, power sequencing, console access setup, and physical layer verification
- Design & Documentation
- Produce clear, detailed lab reports that can be handed directly to production engineering teams for deployment
- Maintain up-to-date physical and logical topology documentation for all active lab topologies
- Document configurations using version control (Git) so all tested configs are traceable and reusable
- Build and maintain a library of validated reference architectures and design patterns
- Vendor Collaboration
- Partner with network vendors (Cisco, Arista, Juniper, Palo Alto, Aruba, etc.) to conduct joint proof-of-concept testing and feature validation
- Drive vendor-supported test engagements including bug reproduction, feature requests, and interoperability testing
- Evaluate new hardware and software releases against defined acceptance criteria before recommending adoption
- Manage loaner equipment logistics and coordinate lab access for vendor engineers
- Automation & CI/CD
- Write scripts (Python, Bash, Ansible) to automate repetitive lab tasks — device provisioning, configuration push, test execution, and results collection
- Build or maintain CI/CD pipelines (Jenkins, GitLab CI, GitHub Actions) for automated configuration validation and regression testing
- Develop test automation frameworks using tools such as pyATS, Robot Framework, Batfish, or NAPALM
- Integrate lab test results into reporting dashboards or ticketing systems to provide traceability from test run to design decision
What You Bring
Required
- 7+ years of handson enterprise network engineering experience
- Deep expertise in at least two of the following domains: campus switching, data center fabric, SDWAN, wireless LAN, network security, WAN/ISP connectivity
- Strong understanding of routing protocols (BGP, OSPF, EIGRP), switching (VLAN, STP, LACP, VXLAN), and overlay technologies (EVPN, VxLAN, LISP)
- Proficiency with network operating systems across multiple vendors (Cisco IOS/NXOS, Arista EOS, Juniper Junos, or equivalent)
- Ability to read, write, and interpret network configurations at a detailed level
- Experience creating professionalgrade topology diagrams (draw.io, Visio, Lucidchart) and technical documentation
- Scripting capability in Python or equivalent — must be able to write working scripts independently, not just modify existing ones
- Familiarity with Gitbased workflows and versioncontrolled config management
- Physical lab skills: rack and stack, cable management, console cabling, power management, and hardware troubleshooting
- Experience with network automation tooling: Ansible, Nornir, NAPALM, pyATS, Batfish, NetBox/Nautobot
- Exposure to CI/CD pipelines (GitLab CI, GitHub Actions, Jenkins) applied to network configuration workflows
- Knowledge of infrastructureascode concepts as applied to networking
- Experience in a dedicated network validation or solutions engineering lab environment
- Certifications: CCNP / CCIE (Enterprise or Data Center), JNCIP, ACE, or equivalent professionallevel certification
- Familiarity with structured test methodology frameworks (RFC 2544, RFC 6349, IETF test standards)
- Experience working directly with vendor presales, SE, or TAC teams in a formal lab engagement
- You are methodical and documentation driven — you do not consider a test complete until the results are written up and the configs are committed
- You can take a loosely defined use case and independently structure it into a formal test plan without handholding
- You hold yourself to a high bar for accuracy — a design that passes your lab should work in production
- You communicate clearly across technical and nontechnical audiences — your reports are read by architects, engineers, and managers alike
- You are comfortable pushing back on a vendor if test results do not meet acceptance criteria and can articulate the technical basis for your findings
- You manage your own lab workload, prioritize concurrent test engagements, and communicate schedule risks proactively
What Success Looks Like
In your first 90 days:
- You have stood up at least one endtoend lab topology independently and delivered a complete validation report
- You understand the existing lab inventory, active topologies, and inflight test engagements
- You have established working relationships with at least two vendor SE teams
- Validation lab turnaround time is predictable and documented design deliverables are consistently productionready
- At least one test workflow is partially or fully automated via scripting or CI/CD pipeline
- Your lab reports are used as the primary evidence gate before production deployments go through change management
Enterprise Network Lab Engineer · Tranzeal Inc.