Overview

Senior Network Automation Engineer Employment Type: Contract-to-Hire Location: Fully Remote About the Role We are seeking an experienced Senior Network Automation Engineer to join a platform technology team in a senior individual contributor role focused on network automation. This position is responsible for the development, extension, and ongoing support of a production-grade network automation platform that spans multiple network domains and cloud environments. The platform is built on a modern Python backend stack, including FastAPI, async/multi-process services, Kafka, Redis, and PostgreSQL. It integrates with Azure Data Explorer for telemetry and observability and provides operational interfaces through a Vue3 single-page application. Infrastructure is deployed across multiple clouds using Crossplane, and the network layer includes Cisco SD-WAN, Cisco Meraki, Webex, Adtran nCommand, Juniper, Arista, and Nokia (NFM-P/NFM-T). Identity and access management is handled through Auth0, Azure Entra ID, and a role-based access control (RBAC) model. This is a senior-level role requiring genuine depth in both software engineering and network technologies. The ideal candidate will bring professional experience developing production Python services alongside meaningful hands-on knowledge of enterprise or service provider networking. Key Responsibilities Design, develop, and maintain Python backend services using FastAPI, Pydantic, and SQLAlchemy, including async and multi-process service patterns Build and maintain event-driven integrations using Kafka Leverage Redis for caching and state management Develop and extend integrations with network management systems, including: Cisco SD-WAN Cisco Meraki Webex Adtran nCommand Juniper Arista Nokia NFM-P/NFM-T Contribute to telemetry data pipelines and observability tooling using Azure Data Explorer, Grafana, and custom dashboards Maintain and extend the Vue3 front end for operational and engineering tooling Manage infrastructure-as-code using Crossplane across multi-cloud environments Work within and extend the platform's identity and access control model using Auth0, Azure Entra ID, and RBAC Collaborate with network engineers and operations teams to translate domain requirements into platform capabilities Take ownership of deliverables across the full development lifecycle, including design, implementation, testing, deployment, and documentation Required Qualifications Software Engineering Demonstrated professional experience developing production Python services Experience with async frameworks, ORM-based data access, and service-oriented design patterns Experience building or working within event-driven architectures Hands-on Kafka experience is a strong plus Proficiency with PostgreSQL, including schema design and query optimization Working knowledge of JavaScript and front-end development Experience with Vue3 or a comparable modern front-end framework preferred Familiarity with OAuth2/OIDC, RBAC, and enterprise identity providers, including Auth0, Azure Entra ID, or equivalent Experience with infrastructure-as-code in cloud environments Crossplane or Terraform experience preferred Proficiency with Git, CI/CD pipelines, and containerized application deployment Experience with Docker and Kubernetes Networking Meaningful hands-on experience in enterprise or service provider network environments, including design, operations, or engineering Strong working knowledge of BGP, OSPF, MPLS, SD-WAN, and network security fundamentals Familiarity with one or more of the following vendor platforms: Cisco SD-WAN Cisco Meraki Webex Juniper Arista Nokia Adtran Ability to read and interpret device configurations and network telemetry data Advanced networking certification strongly preferred, including CCNP or higher, or equivalent certification from Juniper, Arista, or Nokia CCIE or equivalent is a significant differentiator Preferred Qualifications Experience with Azure Data Explorer, including KQL a