Senior Network Engineer

About AARNet

Australia’s Academic and Research Network (AARNet) was established in 1989 and is widely regarded as the founder of the Internet in Australia and renowned as the architect, builder and operator of world-class network infrastructure for research and education. 

As Australia’s National Research and Education Network (NREN). We connect over one million users — researchers, faculty, staff, students, hospitals, vocational training providers, schools and museums — across Australia.

We are an organisation of innovators, doers, and courageous thinkers. We don’t settle for the status quo; instead, we anticipate the future needs of our customers and build solutions today. If you share our imagination, foresight, and drive to shape the future, why not come and join us?

https://www.aarnet.edu.au/

Role Purpose

This position is a senior member of the Network Operations team which is responsible for the on-going availability and performance of the AARNet network. Broad duties include implementing new network designs and projects; operating, managing and maintaining existing network infrastructure; and documenting the network. The position frequently assists Customers, both external and internal, with network installations, faults, difficulties and performance issues.

The individual in this role will also provide technical advice and mentoring to the wider Operations team, as well as the supervision of other Network Engineers.

Due to change-control policy, this position is frequently required to work outside of normal business hours. Some travel to other locations may also be required.

Key Accountabilities

At AARNet, all employees are accountable for:

• Actively promoting safe work practices in the workplace during all activities consistent with AARNet’s policies and comply with all WH&S legislation, policies and procedures.
• Actively contributes to a safe and supportive working environment that is inclusive of all staff through celebrating their nationality, cultural background, LGBTI status, abilities, gender and age.

In this role, your main responsibilities are:

Implement new network infrastructure and provision new services:

• Determine and order new equipment, software and services as required
• Install, configure and test new equipment and related software
• Configure and test new physical and virtual connections, circuits and networks
• Provision and test new services
• Document new and existing network installations, configurations, related information/data and test results

Operate, manage and maintain the network

• Monitor and measure the network to ensure optimum availability and performance and to achieve service level agreements
• Detect, investigate, diagnose (troubleshoot) and rectify complex network faults, difficulties and performance issues
• Organise the order, replacement and return of faulty hardware under warranty or service contract
• Maintain the network with hardware and software updates and upgrades

Provide support and assistance

• Support, assist and advise Customers; the Network Operations Centre and other AARNet staff with network related faults, problems, difficulties, network design and planning, implementation and other network related requirements
• Liaise and communicate with external suppliers, providers and partners
• Be part of an on-call roster to respond to faults and provide support after hours

Leadership

• Manage performance and workload of other Network Engineers in the team
• Support ongoing training and development other Network Engineers in the team

About you in the role

You will celebrate diversity, inclusion, belonging and welcome all people regardless of lifestyle choices, ethnicity, faith, sexual orientation or gender identity.

Your directorate: Operations

You’ll report to: Network Engineering Manager

Your expertise, experience & qualifications

• A degree in a relevant discipline or equivalent work experience
• At least 5 years’ experience working as a network professional in a carrier-grade, data communication network environment
• Demonstrable, continuous experience working with Juniper and Cisco routing and switching equipment, related operating systems, BGP, OSPF and MPLS
• Extensive knowledge of Juniper and Cisco routing and switching equipment and related operating systems, including features, functionality and capability
• Strong knowledge of Melanox data centre switching infrastructure
• Strong, comprehensive knowledge and extensive use of BGP and OSPF routing protocols
• Knowledge of MPLS, VPLS, VLAN, Q-in-Q, Spanning Tree, IPv6, Multicast
• Highly skilled at configuring and using Juniper and Cisco operating systems
• Highly skilled at detecting, identifying, diagnosing, troubleshooting and fixing/restoring network faults, difficulties and performance issues
• Skilled at using e-mail, trouble-ticket and workflow systems
• Some knowledge and use of scripting languages
• A current security clearance or the ability to obtain one

Even better

Although not essential to the role, it would be even better if you had any of the following experience/skills:

• Good technical drawing/writing and other documentation skills
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills (verbal and written)
• Ability to work independently and in team and cross-team environments
• Excellent problem solving skills and ability to work under time pressure

Benefits at AARNet

AARNet is committed to diversity and providing equal opportunity to all. We’re a great place to work if you want to make a difference.

AARNet provides a host of other benefits in line with our HR policies which include:

• Competitive remuneration;
• 17% superannuation; 
• Flexible work options including a hybrid work model;
• Focus on wellbeing – year-round initiatives and social engagement activities;
• Ethical Leadership: A sector leader in cyber security, social responsibility, and equal opportunity;
• Options to purchase additional Annual Leave; 
• 2 days paid Women’s Wellness Leave per month; 
• 24 weeks paid Parental Leave – Primary Carer; 
• Welcome back to AARNet superannuation payment – on unpaid Parental Leave for Primary Carer; 
• 4 weeks paid Birth Trauma Leave; 
• 24 weeks paid - Adoption Leave; 
• 16 weeks paid Parental Leave – Secondary Carer; 
• 5 days paid – First Nations Cultural Leave; 
• 2 days paid Family Wedding Leave; 
• 24 weeks paid – Foster Carer Leave; 
• 5 days paid – Fertility Leave; 
• 8 weeks paid – Gender Affirmation Leave; 
• Strong Equal Opportunity focus;  
• Modern office environment: Hotdesking system and new facilities;
• Support your success: A culture and company structure that allows your career to grow with access to leading edge technologies;
• An opportunity to give back to the academic and research sector.