Cloud Network Operations Engineer

Job Description:

Cloud Network Operations Monitoring is critical for maintaining the health, performance, and security of cloud-based network infrastructure. Here are the key roles and responsibilities associated with this function:

Network Performance Monitoring

• Real-Time Monitoring: Continuously track network performance metrics, including latency, throughput, and packet loss.

• Alerting and Notifications: Set up alerts for performance degradation or outages to ensure quick responses to issues.

Network Health Assessment

• Health Checks: Regularly conduct health checks of network components (e.g., routers, switches, firewalls) to ensure optimal operation.

• Resource Utilization: Monitor resource usage (CPU, memory, bandwidth) to identify potential bottlenecks.

Security Monitoring

• Intrusion Detection: Monitor network traffic for suspicious activity or potential security breaches.

• Compliance Checks: Ensure network configurations comply with security policies and regulatory standards.

Incident Management

• Issue Detection: Identify and troubleshoot network issues proactively before they escalate into major outages.

• Root Cause Analysis: Conduct post-incident reviews to determine the causes of network failures and develop strategies to prevent recurrence.

Traffic Analysis

• Flow Monitoring: Analyze network traffic patterns to understand usage trends and optimize resource allocation.

• Anomaly Detection: Identify unusual traffic patterns that could indicate a security threat or misconfiguration.

Reporting and Documentation

• Performance Reports: Generate regular reports on network performance metrics and incidents for stakeholders.

• Documentation Updates: Maintain up-to-date documentation of network configurations, monitoring processes, and incident responses.

Capacity Planning

• Trend Analysis: Analyze historical data to predict future network needs and ensure sufficient capacity.

• Scalability Recommendations: Provide recommendations for scaling network resources based on projected growth.

Tool Management

• Monitoring Tools Configuration: Set up and configure monitoring tools to gather the necessary data for analysis.

• Tool Evaluation: Regularly evaluate monitoring tools for effectiveness and explore new solutions to enhance monitoring capabilities.

Collaboration with Other Teams

• Cross-Departmental Coordination: Work with DevOps, security, and application teams to ensure network performance aligns with overall business objectives.

• Knowledge Sharing: Share insights and findings with other teams to support collaborative problem-solving and improvements.

Continuous Improvement

• Feedback Implementation: Incorporate feedback from incidents and performance assessments to improve monitoring processes.

• Training and Development: Stay updated with the latest monitoring tools, techniques, and best practices to enhance team skills.

Cost Monitoring

• Resource Cost Tracking: Monitor costs associated with network resources and identify opportunities for optimization.

• Budget Reporting: Provide insights on spending to help manage budgets effectively.

Job Qualifications:

Educational Qualifications:

• Degree (preferred but not always mandatory):

• Bachelor's Degree in:

• Computer Science

• Information Technology

• Network Engineering

• Related technical field

• Equivalent experience is often accepted in lieu of a formal degree.

• Certifications:

• Cloud platforms:

• AWS: AWS Certified Solutions Architect, AWS Certified Advanced Networking

• Azure: Azure Network Engineer Associate

• Google Cloud: Google Professional Cloud Network Engineer

• Networking:

• Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) or Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP)

• Monitoring Tools:

• Certifications for tools like Splunk, Dynatrace, or SolarWinds can be beneficial.

Technical Skills:

Cloud Platforms:

• Virtual Private Cloud (VPC)
• VPNs, load balancers, and DNS

• Firewalls and security groups

• Deep knowledge of at least one cloud provider (AWS, Azure, Google Cloud, etc.).

• Experience with cloud network services like:
• Familiarity with hybrid cloud environments.

Networking:

• TCP/IP, DNS, DHCP
• Routing and switching protocols (BGP, OSPF)

• VPN technologies (IPSec, SSL)

• Proficiency in:

• Understanding of SD-WAN and cloud networking concepts.

Monitoring Tools:

• Nagios, Splunk, Zabbix

• Cloud-native tools (CloudWatch, Azure Monitor, Google Operations Suite)

• Experience with monitoring and alerting tools like:

• Setting up dashboards and automated alerts.

Troubleshooting and Incident Management:

• Root cause analysis of network and connectivity issues.
• Experience with incident management workflows.

Scripting and Automation:

• Python, Bash, or PowerShell

• Terraform, Ansible, or other IaC (Infrastructure-as-Code) tools.

• Proficiency in automation tools and languages such as:

• Familiarity with CI/CD pipelines.

Security:

• Understanding cloud security best practices (IAM, role-based access).
• Familiarity with tools for DDoS mitigation, intrusion detection, and firewalls

Soft Skills:

1. Problem-Solving: Ability to troubleshoot complex issues under pressure.
2. Communication: Ability to explain technical issues to non-technical stakeholders and collaborate with cross-functional teams.
3. Analytical Thinking: Analyzing logs and performance metrics to predict and address potential problems.
4. Adaptability: Working with rapidly evolving cloud technologies.

Experience:

• Entry-level: Some positions may accept candidates with 1-2 years of experience if they hold relevant certifications and demonstrate strong technical aptitude.

Job-Specific Expectations:

• Regular monitoring of network performance, including real-time traffic analysis.
• Ensuring high availability and uptime of network infrastructure.
• Collaboration with DevOps and cloud teams to implement and maintain scalable solutions.

Additional Skills (Bonus):

• Knowledge of containerization and orchestration (e.g., Docker, Kubernetes).
• Experience with multi-cloud or hybrid environments.
• Familiarity with ITIL frameworks for incident management.
• Know how to drive manual cars
• Works 24/7 including holidays and weekend
• On call as needed
• Willing to extend working hours