Summary
✨ AI‑Generated
Join a network engineering team responsible for validating configurations across a globally distributed network platform. You will design and maintain automated test cases using model-driven interfaces and data models, translating network design intent into robust software-based validation within an Agile delivery process.
Highlights
Work at the intersection of software and network engineering on global-scale networking infrastructure. Build automated validation that protects production services, accelerates delivery, and collaborates closely with architects, designers, and technology partners in an Agile environment.
Description
Job Description — Network Automation Engineer
Why This Job Matters
Global Network Fabric (GNF) is a next-generation network platform delivering IP/VPN, Internet, EVPN, and interconnect services at global scale.
The Underlay team owns the automation framework that validates every configuration deployed to this platform,ensuring network integrity from initial design through to production deployment.
This role sits at the intersection of software engineering and network engineering.
You will design, develop, and maintain automated test cases that validate underlay network features using model-driven programmability interfaces (gNMI, gNOI, gNSI, gRPC) and YANG data models.
The automation you build directly protects production services and accelerates delivery of new network capabilities.
We work within an Agile delivery framework, operating in sprints and collaborating closely with network designers, platform architects, and vendor partners to translate design intent into robust automated validation.
We are also actively integrating AI/LLM tooling (including Claude and AI-powered IDEs) into our development workflows to accelerate test authoring, coverage analysis, and network troubleshooting.
What You'll Be Doing
Automation Development
Design and implement automated network test cases using Robot Framework and Python, following Behaviour-Driven Development (BDD) principles.
Develop reusable keyword libraries and automation tasks for gNMI, gNOI, gRPC, and CLI- based device interactions.
Author and maintain Jinja2 configuration templates shared between the test framework and the production provisioning pipeline.
Extend test coverage across network features including routing protocols, services, security, QoS, telemetry, and resilience.
Create YANG-modelled validation payloads using OpenConfig and Cisco-native schemas.
Framework & Tooling
Contribute to the core automation framework: shared libraries, data model validation, template rendering, and telemetry verification utilities.
Maintain and improve CI/CD pipeline configurations (GitLab CI) for automated test execution across multiple lab topologies.
Integrate with traffic generation platforms and active assurance tools for end-to-end service validation.
Develop unit tests (pytest) for framework libraries and keyword modules.
Implement code quality practices including linting, code review, and structured branch management.
Network Engineering Support
Translate High-Level Design (HLD) documents and test case designs into executable automated scripts.
Validate underlay protocol behaviour: IS-IS, MP-BGP, Segment Routing (SR-MPLS, SR-TE), BFD, PCEP, and interface configurations.
Validate service-level behaviour: Internet peering, L3VPN, Management VPN, NNI interconnects, QoS, and EVPN.
Perform lab health checks, baseline configuration management, and device lifecycle operations.
Raise and track vendor defects with reproducible automated test evidence.
Skills & Experience
Essential
Strong Python programming skills with experience in test automation frameworks.
Hands-on experience with Robot Framework (keyword-driven and BDD-style test development).
Working knowledge of gRPC (gNMI/gNSI/gNOI) interfaces and model-driven network programmability.
Experience with YANG data models (OpenConfig and/or vendor-native).
Solid understanding of core IP routing protocols: IS-IS, MP-BGP, MPLS, Segment Routing (SR- MPLS, SR-TE), BFD.
Experience with Cisco IOS-XR platforms (configuration, operational verification, troubleshooting).
Proficient with Git and CI/CD pipelines (GitLab CI or equivalent).
Familiarity with Jinja2 templating for network configuration generation.
Understanding of L3VPN services in a service provider context.
Desirable
Experience with Nornir as a network automation framework.
Experience with network traffic generation tools (Ixia/IxNetwork, Spirent).
Knowledge of EVPN, QoS policy implementation, and streaming telemetry (gNMI subscribe).
Familiarity with Netbox (DCIM/IPAM) as a network source of truth.
Understanding of network security: RPKI, FlowSpec, uRPF, ACL chaining, DDOS mitigation architectures.
