Network Lead

Job Description - Network Specialist (Wireless, SD-WAN, CCIE) – Willing to Travel Abu Dhabi

· We are looking an experienced and highly skilled Network Specialist with a CCIE Enterprise certification to join with our client.

· Minimum 10+years of experience with in-depth expertise across enterprise network infrastructure, including Cisco Campus SD-Access, Cisco Wi-Fi 7, Cisco ACI, Infoblox, F5 load balancing, advanced routing protocols, and strong cloud networking experience.

· CCIE Enterprise certification (Active).

· Proven expertise in Cisco Campus SD-Access, Identity-Based Network Access Control (Cisco ISE NAC) and Cisco Wi-Fi 7 wireless solutions.

· Hands-on experience with Cisco ACI (fabric, policies, contracts, tenants).

· Proficiency with Infoblox for DNS, DHCP, and IPAM.

· Strong hands-on experience with F5 Load Balancers (LTM, GTM).

· Deep understanding of routing & switching protocols (BGP, OSPF, EIGRP, STP).

· Experience with network automation tools like Ansible, Python, and Terraform.

· Architect and implement enterprise network solutions using Cisco SD-Access, aligning with best practices for scalability, segmentation, and security.

· Lead WiFi 7 wireless network design and optimization efforts, including site surveys, RF planning, and capacity forecasting.

· Develop and maintain high-availability network designs, incorporating redundancy, failover, and disaster recovery strategies.

· Ensure zero-downtime architecture through HA, fast failover, and redundant paths to support mission-critical operations.

· Deploy and manage Cisco ISE to enforce 802.1X-based NAC policies, device profiling, and posture assessment for wired and wireless endpoints.

· Integrate ISE with Active Directory, MFA, and security logging tools to support strong authentication and compliance reporting.

· Define and maintain security policies for employee, contractor, and guest access, and respond to NAC-related security events in real time.

· Work closely with InfoSec teams to implement zero trust access and dynamic VLAN assignment based on user identity and posture.

· Design, deploy, and manage Cisco ACI fabric, including tenant configurations, endpoint groups (EPGs), bridge domains, and policies.

· Collaborate with application and data center teams to align ACI policies with workload requirements.

· Troubleshoot ACI-specific issues and monitor health scores and fabric performance.

· Administer and optimize Infoblox DDI solutions for IP address management, DHCP scopes, DNS zones, and record management.

· Ensure IPAM hygiene, manage network blocks, and provide detailed IP documentation.

· Integrate Infoblox with automation/orchestration tools where applicable.

· Configure and manage F5 BIG-IP LTM and GTM appliances, including iRules, SSL offloading, and application health monitoring.

· Work with application teams to deliver high-performing and secure web applications.

· Ensure traffic is efficiently balanced across backend systems with minimal downtime.

· Implement, monitor, and troubleshoot complex routing protocols including BGP, OSPF, EIGRP, and route redistribution scenarios.

· Support Layer 2/3 infrastructure, VLAN segmentation, spanning tree optimization, and link aggregation (LACP).

· Perform routine health checks, traffic analysis, and infrastructure upgrades.

· Design and support hybrid cloud connectivity, including VPNs, Direct Connect (AWS), and ExpressRoute (Azure).

· Collaborate with cloud engineers to extend enterprise networks into AWS, Azure, or GCP.

· Implement cloud-native networking constructs like VPCs, security groups, NSGs, and virtual appliances.

· Implement segmentation, access control policies, and network ACLs to protect critical assets.

· Collaborate with security teams to monitor for threats and vulnerabilities in the network layer.

· Ensure compliance with organizational standards, industry regulations, and audit requirements.

· Use enterprise-grade tools like Cisco DNA Center, Thousand Eyes, and ACI monitoring tools for real-time network analytics.

· Proactively resolve issues impacting low-latency trading systems, batch processing jobs, or real-time transactions.

· Maintain KPIs and SLAs in line with financial system requirements.

· Maintain audit-ready documentation of network configurations, change logs, and policies.

· Ensure all changes follow ITIL change management practices with rollback procedures.

· Develop SOPs and BCP/DR runbooks for all critical network operations.

· Work closely with cross-functional teams including IT security, infrastructure, cloud, and application teams.

· Participate in technical workshops, change advisory boards, and project planning meetings.

· Lead and/or support network-related projects from concept to completion, ensuring on-time delivery.

· Preferably immediate joiner