Senior Core Engineer (Gauteng) at Teraco

PURPOSE OF THE ROLE

• The role will focus on designing, installing, and maintaining key network assets to ensure maximum uptime and meeting the strategic needs of the business. The Senior Core Engineer will actively be involved in troubleshooting issues, optimizing performance, ensuring network security and stability.  Alongside the existing Engineering team the Senior Core Engineer will be involved in establishing and maintaining internet peering relationships with other networks connected to both NAPAfrica IXP and Africa Cloud Exchange.  

OBJECTIVES

MAIN FUNCTIONS OF THE JOB

• Configure and maintain the switching, IP, fibre and WAN platforms including all supporting environments, which is not a static configuration due to continuous growth.
• Manage day-to-day operations together with the existing engineering team.
• Translate the development of products into performance improvement of the services.
• Design and implement opportunities to extend existing and/or deploy new platforms.
• Maintain insight in all technical aspects of NAP, ACX and interconnect products & services, including engineering, software development and security management.
• Technically advanced customer support, responding to customer enquiries from national and international participants via email and telephone 
• Processing of new customer connections and upgrades with a focus on troubleshooting
• Create network designs that meet customer needs and are scalable, reliable, and secure 
• Install and deploy networks, including routers, switches, and other networking devices 
• Maintain network infrastructure, including firewalls, intrusion detection systems, and VPNs 
• Analyze network performance and make recommendations to improve it 
• Identify and resolve network issues that affect performance, security, or stability 
• Implement and maintain network security measures to protect against external threats 
• Manage network infrastructure to ensure it's configured correctly and performing optimally 
• Provide technical support and assistance to employees
• Contact peers and shepherd peers through the peering process 
• Respond to peering requests, track capacity, and manage upgrades, expansions, and terminations 
• Attend peering forums, and represent the company to the peering community 

Requirements

QUALIFICATIONS AND SKILLS REQUIREMENTS

• 10+ years in a similar role
• Bachelor’s degree (BA) in Information Technology or related fields
• Sound IT background, specialising in the area of networking
• Experience with management of MPLS/VPLS, Ethernet, and IP networks, and understanding of the theoretical and practical aspects, as well as protocols that are required to build and maintain these networks
• Experience with configuring BGP and a good understanding of routing protocols
• Good insight in the structure and relations that make up the internet
• Knowledge of Linux/Unix environment
• Experience in composing detailed, technical documentation
• Understanding of the concept of a route server and Bird configuration experience
• Knowledgeable of VxLAN/eVPN
• Knowledge of local data centers and data centers' procedures as well as hands-on experience of cabling works (fiber) are a plus
• Work experience with ticketing systems and willingness to undertake shift work.

Soft skills

• Solid analytical skills to troubleshoot complex, technical problems
• Able to work in a fast-paced, international environment
• Able to work well under pressure
• Eager to solve problems
• Well-organised
• Able to work independently as well as within a team
• Eager to learn
• Customer-oriented with experience in a customer-facing position
• Good communication skills and willingness to give subject matter presentations to various audiences
• Able to multitask
• Good eye for detail
• Work experience in Customer Service/Support, ideally in the telco industry
• Advanced skills in communication with customers
• Excellent knowledge of English (written and spoken)
• Highly-developed know-how on the functions of the Internet, especially TCP/IP, BGP, network protocols etc., as well as Linux skills. Valid networking certifications are an advantage.