Cisco Network Ops Lead - My IT LLC

Job Title: Cisco Network Ops Lead
Duration: 6+ months
Location: Los Angeles, CA (Onsite)
exp. Level: 12+ Years

Skillset is below: CCNP / CCIE or higher certification preferred.

We are seeking a highly skilled Cisco Network Operations Lead to oversee our network operations team. In this role, you will be responsible for managing and optimizing our Cisco-based network infrastructure, ensuring reliable performance, security, and scalability. You will lead a team of network engineers, providing technical guidance and fostering a collaborative work environment.

Key Responsibilities:

• Oversee 15+ network engineering and architecture team to develop complex solutions to meet ARNG strategic projects and initiatives.
• Provide architecture and technology gap analysis and recommend solutions to improve the operations and security of the DoDIN-A(NG) and DoDIN-A(NG)-S enterprise.
• Manage workload to balance operational and project activities and priorities
• Develop, maintain, and report on CORA and ATO POAMs
• Support CORA coordination
• Maintain Life Cycle management plan and develop Bill of Materials (BOM) / cost estimates
• Develop and maintain standard operating procedures.
• Create and defend system change requests.
• Develop, maintain, and implement a proactive capacity planning model to support business decisions.
• Demonstrated experience supervising network engineers and technicians in the operations and maintenance of DoD networks.
• Review completion and implementation of system additions and/or enhancements and makes recommendations to management and/or clients.
• Evaluate new application, infrastructure, and cloud decisions in existing context of applications, infrastructure, standards, current business strategy and future business strategy.
• Determine system specifications, input/output processes, and working parameters for hardware/software compatibility.
• Provide guidance and work leadership to less-experienced IT staff and may have supervisory responsibilities.
• Serve as liaison with senior clients, participating in meetings to ensure client needs are met.
• Provides problem and incident resolution, including dealing with software and hardware vendor technical support.
• Performs daily system monitoring; verifies the integrity and availability of networking hardware, services, systems, and key processes; reviews system and application logs.
• Documents and conducts changes during ASI windows.
• Provides leadership in on-call troubleshooting and issue resolution as required.
• Develops and maintains installation and configuration procedures.
• Collaborate with the Security team to identify and remediate application and operating system vulnerabilities.
• Acts as a liaison with other groups to provide information sharing pertaining to the needs of the diverse set of computer users supported by the client.
• Maintains network integrity and connectivity while ensuring compliance with policies and maintains system backup and recovery capability.
• Coordinates the acquisition of hardware and software as well as subcontractor services as needed.
• Participate in Change Management process.
• Monitor and manage ticket queues and all work to ensure SLAs are met or exceeded.
• Provide input to Disaster Recovery/COOP plans and execution.
• Create and ensure network diagrams are current.
• Lead the network operations team in the design, implementation, and maintenance of Cisco network solutions.
• Monitor network performance and availability, proactively identifying and resolving issues.
• Develop and enforce network policies, procedures, and best practices to ensure security and compliance.
• Collaborate with other IT teams to support cross-functional projects and initiatives.
• Conduct capacity planning and performance tuning to optimize network resources.
• Mentor and train team members, fostering professional development and skill enhancement.
• Prepare and present regular reports on network performance, incidents, and improvement initiatives to senior management.
• Stay up-to-date with industry trends and emerging technologies to recommend enhancements to the network infrastructure.

Required Qualification

• Bachelor's degree or 10+ years of relevant experience as a Network Administrator / Engineer and 5+ year experience managing a team of 5+ personnel
• Required Experience: 6+ years' experience Cisco and/or Palo Alto Routing, Switching, IDS/IPS, and Firewall technologies and managing team task / activities.
• CiscoCertified Network Engineer(CCNE) Certification.
• Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP) or higher certification preferred.
• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related field (or equivalent experience).
• Minimum 12-15 years of experience in network operations, with a focus on Cisco technologies.

Required Technical Skills

• Understanding of (BGP/OSPF), MPLS, Firewall and IDS/IPS policies, DISA STIGs, CCRI and ATP requirements.
• IT experience supporting large enterprise environment.
• Experience with network monitoring and troubleshooting tools.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work effectively with various stakeholders.

Additional Skills:

• Excellent problem solving, analytical, and decision-making capabilities, including understanding user requirements, troubleshooting technical issues, successfully resolving issues and challenges, and developing creative solutions for process improvement.
• Dependability, in that the individual is consistently at work and on time, follows instructions, responds to management direction, and solicits feedback to improve.
• Must have customer service experience as this position will require candidate to engage with senior military and government leadership. 
• Must be able to present your ideas clearly through briefings, meetings, and interaction with leadership of different skill sets.
• Must be able to provide training sessions as required.
• Must be able to engage with stakeholders to ensure tasks are progressing and meeting timelines.
• Experience with Hardware and Software lifecycle processes
• Excellent communication skills
• Excellent documentation skills
• Strong organizational and collaborative skills
• Strong teamwork and engagement as a project team member.
• Ability to assimilate information rapidly, motivated to self-study new requirements.
• Maintain current industry knowledge of relevant concepts, practices, and procedures.
• Ability to work under time constraints.
• Adapt to changes in requirements and new projects.
• Maintain and upgrade certifications.
• Other duties may be assigned, directed, or requested.