Network Operations Engineer

On behalf of our client, we are seeking a Network Operations Engineer to be responsible for the day-to-day availability, performance, and resilience of the production network environment. This includes all aspects of the WAN, LAN, network security, cloud-based internet security platforms, and associated network management and monitoring tools. Location: Dusseldorf Onsite: 2 or 3 days per week Employment type: Permanent or long-term freelance contract Language: German fluency In this role you will work closely with internal teams and external service providers delivering Level 1 and Level 2 support, providing senior-level technical expertise, troubleshooting, and operational leadership across the network environment. This is a highly technical role requiring a combination of deep networking expertise, strong problem-solving skills, and a clear sense of ownership and accountability. The successful candidate will also play a key role in the organisation's network refresh programme, supporting the deployment of the latest network standards and technologies into the production environment. Key Responsibilities: Provide advanced technical support and troubleshooting across WAN, LAN, network security, cloud internet security platforms, and network management tools.Ensure effective service restoration, operational sustainability, and continuous improvement of network services.Participate in and, where required, lead Major Incident conference calls, coordinating the appropriate technical resources to support timely resolution.Conduct detailed Root Cause Analysis (RCA) following production incidents and outages, identifying and implementing preventative actions.Manage and coordinate network patching activities to maintain security, stability, and compliance.Assess the technical capabilities, performance, and service delivery of Managed Service Providers.Monitor network availability and performance, identifying opportunities to proactively eliminate recurring incidents and improve service resilience.Support the delivery of the network refresh programme, including the implementation and transition of new network standards into production.Work collaboratively with internal stakeholders, third-party providers, and global technology teams to ensure reliable and effective network operations. Experience & Technical Expertise: Minimum of 8 years' experience in IT Operations, Network Engineering, or similar technical engineering roles.Extensive experience with carrier services, including SD-WAN technologies such as VMware VeloCloud, WAN circuits, MPLS, and point-to-point connectivity.Strong knowledge of enterprise networking technologies and vendors, including Cisco, Aruba, and Infoblox.Proven experience supporting enterprise wireless network environments, ideally within a wireless-first architecture.Experience with cloud-based internet security platforms, such as Zscaler.Strong understanding of network load balancers and enterprise firewalls.Experience with network monitoring and management platforms, including SolarWinds and Riverbed.Experience working within a global 24x7 network support and operations model.Experience operating within both insourced IT environments and hybrid environments incorporating Managed Service Providers is desirable.Relevant professional technical certifications are desirable. Core Competencies: Strong technical networking expertise, particularly across data routing and switching.Excellent analytical and troubleshooting skills, with the ability to diagnose complex network issues and identify root causes.Strong understanding of enterprise network tooling, monitoring, and management platforms.Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.Demonstrable ownership and accountability for network services and operational outcomes.Ability to work effectively with internal teams, third-party providers, and global support functions.Ability to lead technical investigations and coordinate resources during high-priority incidents.Strong focus on service availability, resilience, continuous improvement, and operational excellence.