Network Specialist

Job Title Network Specialist Job Description Location: Pune, India Experience Required: 10+ Years Job Summary: We are seeking a highly skilled and motivated Senior Network Engineer to join our global IT Operations Center (ITOC). The ideal candidate will be responsible for designing, implementing, monitoring, troubleshooting, and optimizing enterprise network infrastructure across global data centers and business locations. This role requires strong expertise in routing, switching, firewalls, VPN technologies, wireless networking, network security, and operational support within a 24x7 environment. The successful candidate will play a critical role in ensuring network availability, performance, security, and continuous improvement through automation and proactive infrastructure management. Key Responsibilities Network Operations & Support Monitor and maintain the health, performance, and availability of global network infrastructure and data center environments. Provide advanced L2 and L3 support for network incidents, service requests, and problem management activities. Troubleshoot complex network connectivity, performance, and security issues across LAN, WAN, WLAN, and VPN environments. Take ownership of critical incidents and ensure timely resolution within defined SLAs. Collaborate with global IT teams, business units, and external vendors for issue resolution and service improvements. Network Administration & Engineering Configure, deploy, and support: Layer 2 & Layer 3 Switches Enterprise Routers Cisco ASA / Firepower Firewalls Wireless LAN Controllers and Access Points VPN Gateways and Remote Access Solutions Load Balancers and QoS Implementations Design, implement, and support secure site-to-site and remote-access VPN solutions. Perform network infrastructure upgrades, firmware updates, security patching, and lifecycle management activities. Execute approved changes following established change management and configuration management processes. Network Monitoring & Performance Management Utilize enterprise monitoring and diagnostic tools such as: Nagios Wireshark PRTG SNMP-based monitoring solutions Proactively identify performance bottlenecks and implement corrective actions. Analyze network traffic patterns and capacity requirements to improve infrastructure efficiency and reliability. Develop and maintain network documentation, topology diagrams, asset inventories, and operational procedures. Network Security & Compliance Implement and maintain network security controls, firewall rules, VPN configurations, and access policies. Monitor network security events and collaborate with cybersecurity teams to mitigate risks. Ensure compliance with corporate security standards, best practices, and regulatory requirements. Participate in vulnerability remediation and security improvement initiatives. Automation & Continuous Improvement Drive automation initiatives to improve operational efficiency and reduce manual effort. Develop scripts and automated workflows for network monitoring, reporting, configuration backup, and routine maintenance tasks. Identify opportunities for process optimization and service enhancements. Contribute to network architecture reviews and infrastructure modernization projects. Required Qualifications Education Bachelor’s degree in engineering, Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related field. Certifications CCNA and CCNP Certification (Mandatory) Additional certifications such as Cisco Security, Fortinet, Palo Alto, or ITIL are highly preferred. Technical Skills Strong understanding of TCP/IP, DNS, DHCP, VLANs, STP, OSPF, BGP, NAT, ACLs, QoS, and VPN technologies. Deep understanding of OSI and TCP/IP networking models. Hands-on experience with Cisco routing and switching technologies. Expertise in Cisco ASA/Firepower firewall administration and troubleshooting. Experience supporting WAN, SD-WAN, MPLS, VPN, and wireless network environments. Proficiency with network monitoring, packet analysis, and troubleshooting tools. Knowledge of network security frameworks and best practices. Experience in automation and scripting using PowerShell, Python, or similar technologies is preferred. Required Competencies Strong analytical and problem-solving skills. Excellent verbal and written communication skills. Ability to work effectively in a global, multicultural team environment. Strong customer service orientation and stakeholder management capabilities. Excellent time management, prioritization, and incident management skills. Ability to perform under pressure in a 24x7 operational environment. Strong documentation and support case management skills. Preferred Experience Experience supporting enterprise-scale global networks and data centers. Experience working in a Network Operations Center (NOC) or IT Operations Center environment. Familiarity with cloud networking concepts (Azure, AWS, or Google Cloud). Exposure to network automation and infrastructure-as-code methodologies. Experience with ITIL service management processes. Why Join Us? Opportunity to work with a global infrastructure supporting mission-critical operation. Exposure to advanced networking technologies and enterprise-scale environments. Collaborative international work culture. Hybrid and flexible working model. Career growth opportunities in network engineering, security, and infrastructure architecture.