Cisco Network Engineer (Data Center, VXLAN & VMware)

Summary: We are seeking a highly skilled Cisco Network Engineer to design and implement advanced VXLAN EVPN-based data center networks that cater to hyper computing and AI infrastructure. The role involves deploying scalable architectures, optimizing network performance, and integrating with virtualization platforms. Collaboration with various teams is essential to ensure optimal performance across AI workloads. Strong hands-on experience with automation tools is also required.

Key Responsibilities:

• Design, deploy, and manage VXLAN EVPN-based fabric networks supporting AI and high-performance computing workloads.
• Build scalable spine-leaf architectures using Cisco Nexus 9000 or Arista switches, ensuring efficient Layer 2/Layer 3 segmentation and workload mobility.
• Optimize network performance for RoCEv2, GPU Direct, and low-latency traffic flows, ensuring maximum throughput and minimal jitter for GPU-accelerated clusters.
• Configure underlay and overlay protocols including BGP, OSPF, IS-IS, and troubleshoot connectivity and control-plane issues.
• Integrate data center fabric with virtualization platforms such as VMware NSX, KVM, and Hyper-V, as well as Kubernetes-based AI infrastructure.
• Collaborate with compute, storage, and DevOps teams to ensure end-to-end performance across AI training, fine-tuning, inference, and ETL pipelines.
• Participate in performance tuning, benchmarking, and capacity planning for evolving AI workloads and future-proof infrastructure designs.
• Strong hands-on experience with automation and orchestration tools such as Python, Ansible, and Terraform.
• Familiarity with GPU-accelerated workloads and distributed systems in AI/ML and HPC environments.

Key Skills:

• Expertise in VXLAN EVPN-based fabric networks.
• Experience with Cisco Nexus 9000 or Arista switches.
• Knowledge of RoCEv2, GPU Direct, and low-latency traffic optimization.
• Proficiency in BGP, OSPF, IS-IS protocols.
• Experience with VMware NSX, KVM, Hyper-V, and Kubernetes.
• Collaboration skills with compute, storage, and DevOps teams.
• Performance tuning and capacity planning experience.
• Hands-on experience with Python, Ansible, and Terraform.
• Familiarity with AI/ML and HPC environments.

Salary (Rate): undetermined

City: London

Country: UK

Working Arrangements: undetermined

IR35 Status: undetermined

Seniority Level: undetermined

Industry: IT

Detailed Description From Employer:

Cisco Network Engineer (Data Center, VXLAN & VMware)

Location: London, UK

Job Type: Contract

Job Description:

We are looking a highly skilled Cisco Network Engineer to design and implement next-generation VXLAN EVPN-based data center networks that support hyper computing and AI infrastructure.

• Looking for candidate who Design, deploy, and manage VXLAN EVPN-based fabric networks supporting AI and high-performance computing workloads.
• Build scalable spine-leaf architectures using Cisco Nexus 9000 or Arista switches, ensuring efficient Layer 2/Layer 3 segmentation and workload mobility.
• Optimize network performance for RoCEv2, GPU Direct, and low-latency traffic flows, ensuring maximum throughput and minimal jitter for GPU-accelerated clusters.
• Need to configure underlay and overlay protocols including BGP, OSPF, IS-IS, and troubleshoot connectivity and control-plane issues.
• Integrate data center fabric with virtualization platforms such as VMware NSX, KVM, and Hyper-V, as well as Kubernetes-based AI infrastructure.
• Collaborate with compute, storage, and DevOps teams to ensure end-to-end performance across AI training, fine-tuning, inference, and ETL pipelines.
• Participate in performance tuning, benchmarking, and capacity planning for evolving AI workloads and future-proof infrastructure designs.
• Strong Hands-on experience with automation and orchestration tools such as Python, Ansible, and Terraform.
• Familiarity with GPU-accelerated workloads and distributed systems in AI/ML and HPC environments.