Service Assurance L3 Engineer

Role : Service Assurance L3 EngineerBand : B3Experience : 8-12 YearsLocations : Pune / HyderabadIndustry : Network Operations, Service Assurance, Telecom/ISP Managed ServicesRole Overview : We are seeking an experienced Service Assurance L3 Engineer to lead L3 NOC operations across large-scale enterprise networks. The ideal candidate will possess strong expertise in routing, switching, WLAN technologies, load balancers, and network performance management. This role requires hands-on technical capability, incident leadership, stakeholder communication, vendor coordination, and operational governance.Key Responsibilities : L3 Network Operations :- Lead and manage L3 service assurance activities for Managed Routers, Switches, Access Points, WLCs and related network components.Provide advanced troubleshooting and root cause analysis across : 1. Cisco XE/XR & Junos MX Routers2. Cisco, Juniper & HPE Switches3. Cisco & Aruba Wireless (APs, WLC 9800 series)4. Cisco DNAC & F5 Load Balancers- Guide and mentor L1 & L2 teams on complex incident analysis, escalation handling and best practices.Service Assurance & Operations Management :- Ensure SLA/KPI adherence, operational discipline and compliance with all SOPs.- Manage incident lifecycle including prioritization, restoration, communication and RCA documentation.- Lead shift handovers with clear communication of ongoing issues and planned activities.- Handle customer queries, escalations and provide timely updates.Architecture, Migration & Project Support :- Participate in architecture planning, solution design and migration for new network initiatives.- Support installation, configuration, upgrades and maintenance for technologies within the tower.- Conduct capacity planning and performance tuning for continuous improvement of network stability.Operational Governance :- Create and maintain SOPs, DR plans, backup/recovery procedures, operations manuals and shift rosters.- Review and optimize tower performance to enhance efficiency and reduce recurring issues.- Prepare weekly operational and performance reports for internal stakeholders and client leadership.- Lead automation and service improvement initiatives (SIP) to enhance operational effectiveness.Vendor & Ecosystem Management :- Work with OEMs and vendors (Cisco, Juniper, HPE) for RMA, technical escalations and product support.- Coordinate cross-functional teams for inter-company routing, WAN/LAN resolutions and change activities.Technical Expertise Required : Network Technologies :i. Deep knowledge of Routing & Switching (Cisco, Juniper, HPE)ii. Strong experience with Wireless LAN (Cisco & Aruba)iii. Working knowledge of IP/MPLS WAN & LANiv. Expertise in traffic flow analysis, packet tracing and inter-domain routingProtocols :i. Routing : OSPF, EIGRP, BGPii. LAN/WLAN : STP, VTPiii. Infra Services : QoS, DHCP, NTP, SNMP, SSH, IPSeciv. Good understanding of network security principlesTools : i. Ticketing/ITSM : ServiceNow, Unified Desktopii. Reporting Tools : Excel, Power BI, & Certifications :i. Bachelors degree in Telecom / Computer Science / Engineeringii. Certifications preferred : a. CCNA / CCNP (or equivalent)b. ITIL FoundationMust-Have Skills : - Proven experience leading L3 NOC operations- Strong understanding of enterprise networks (Routing, Switching, WLAN, MPLS)- Experience handling critical incidents, change management and vendor escalations- Ability to coach/guide L1 & L2 teams- Excellent communication, leadership, and customer-handling skills- Strong reporting and documentation skills (ref:hirist.tech)