Principal Network Engineer

Job Title: Principal Network Engineer 

Reports to: Sr Manager, Infrastructure 

Department: IT Infrastructure 

Position Summary 

The Principal Network Engineer serves as the technical leader for enterprise networking services across global data centers, cloud platforms, and corporate locations. This role establishes network architecture standards, leads modernization and migration initiatives, guides operational excellence, and provides technical leadership across routing, switching, firewall, wireless, and cloud connectivity domains.  

The role requires deep enterprise networking experience with strong expertise in data center networking, dynamic routing protocols, firewall technologies, cloud connectivity, and network operations. The Principal Network Engineer will make sound architectural decisions, guide engineers through implementation, identify when specialized expertise is needed, and partner effectively with vendors, security, cloud, infrastructure, and engineering teams.  

Essential Functions/Responsibilities 

• Serve as the technical authority and strategic leader for enterprise network architecture across data centers, cloud environments, and corporate locations. 

• Lead the design and modernization of network infrastructure, including data center migrations, resiliency, high availability, and segmentation initiatives. 

• Define and govern advanced routing standards, including BGP design, route control, traffic engineering, failover behavior, and multi-site connectivity. 

• Architect and guide Cisco Nexus-based data center networking solutions, including spine-leaf fabrics, EVPN/VXLAN, Cisco ACI, and related technologies. 

• Establish secure firewall and network segmentation strategies, including NAT, VPN, perimeter security, and zero-trust network design in partnership with Security teams. 

• Design and support hybrid and multi-cloud connectivity architectures across AWS, Azure, and GCP using Direct Connect, ExpressRoute, cloud exchanges, and partner interconnects. 

• Review and approve major network designs, migration plans, implementation standards, operational procedures, and critical infrastructure changes. 

• Provide technical leadership, mentorship, and escalation support for complex data center networks, firewalls, routing, switching, wireless, and cloud connectivity issues. 

• Drive operational excellence through observability, documentation standards, automation, and continuous improvement of network services. 

• Partner with Infrastructure, Cloud, Security, Compliance, and Engineering teams to support business continuity, disaster recovery, operational readiness, and long-term technology strategy. 

• Other tasks and activities as assigned. 

Required Education/Experience & Skills 

• 10+ years of enterprise network engineering experience, including senior, lead, principal, or architecture-level technical leadership responsibilities.  

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.  

• Deep hands-on experience with enterprise routing, switching, firewall operations, and data center networking, BGP experience, including route filtering, redistribution, route preference, failover design, traffic engineering, and troubleshooting.  

• Professional certifications such as CCNP, CCIE, JNCIP, JNCIE, PCNSE, or equivalent demonstrated experience preferred.  

Physical Requirements 

• General office environment and responsibilities requiring: 

• Extensive use of the computer which involves viewing a monitor and keyboarding for most of the workday. 

• Placing and receiving phone calls. 

• Occasionally moving and lifting objects up to 50 pounds 

• Hybrid role based in the Burlington, MA office. 

• May require up to 10% travel as needed