Network Automation Engineer
Posted 4 days ago by Haystack
Negotiable
Inside
Remote
Gloucester, England, United Kingdom
Summary: This role is for a visionary Network Automation Engineer tasked with leading the deployment of innovative greenfield data centres. The engineer will transform traditional network architecture into automated solutions using advanced NetDevOps tools. The position is a high-impact, 6-month contract focused on Infrastructure as Code (IaC) and self-healing networks. The role requires expertise in network automation, particularly with Ansible, Python, and CI/CD pipelines.
Key Responsibilities:
- Design and implement sophisticated Ansible roles and Jinja2 templates for automating Cisco and Fortinet devices.
- Maintain the network "Source of Truth" using NetBox for programmatic access to physical and logical assets.
- Develop custom Python scripts and integrations utilizing REST APIs and Netconf.
- Build and manage NetDevOps pipelines using GitLab and GitHub Actions for network changes.
- Automate networking layers for VMware Cloud Foundation platforms, collaborating with compute teams.
Key Skills:
- Mastery of Network Automation tools, specifically Ansible and Python.
- Deep expertise in Data Centre Fabric technologies, including Cisco NDFC/NX-OS and Fortinet FortiGate Firewalls.
- Proven experience with NetBox and Git-based version control workflows.
- Practical knowledge of CI/CD pipelines and automated testing frameworks.
- Strong understanding of virtualization automation, particularly VMware VCF or NSX-T; Terraform experience is a plus.
Salary (Rate): undetermined
City: Gloucester
Country: United Kingdom
Working Arrangements: remote
IR35 Status: inside IR35
Seniority Level: undetermined
Industry: IT
We're working with a leading global talent consultancy and infrastructure specialist on this exciting opportunity. We are seeking a visionary engineer to lead the charge in deploying cutting-edge greenfield data centres by treating networks as software products. This is a high-impact, 6-month contract where you will transform traditional network architecture into streamlined, automated solutions using an advanced NetDevOps stack including Ansible, Python, and CI/CD pipelines. If you are passionate about Infrastructure as Code (IaC) and building self-healing networks, this is the project for you.
The Role
- Design and implement sophisticated Ansible roles and Jinja2 templates to automate the full life cycle of Cisco and Fortinet devices.
- Maintain the network "Source of Truth" using NetBox, ensuring all physical and logical assets are modeled for programmatic access.
- Develop custom Python scripts and integrations utilizing REST APIs and Netconf to connect complex infrastructure platforms.
- Build and manage robust NetDevOps pipelines using GitLab and GitHub Actions to validate, test, and deploy network changes with precision.
- Automate networking layers for VMware Cloud Foundation (VCF) platforms, collaborating with compute teams via VCF and NSX-T APIs.
What You'll Need
- Mastery of Network Automation tools, specifically Ansible (Roles/Playbooks) and Python for scripting and custom tooling.
- Deep expertise in Data Centre Fabric technologies, including Cisco NDFC/NX-OS and Fortinet FortiGate Firewalls.
- Proven experience with NetBox as a Source of Truth and Git-based version control workflows.
- Practical knowledge of CI/CD pipelines and automated testing frameworks within a networking environment.
- Strong understanding of virtualization automation, particularly VMware VCF or NSX-T; Terraform experience is a significant plus.
What's On Offer
- Competitive day rate (Umbrella) for a high-profile greenfield data centre project.
- Long-term contract flexibility with a 6-month initial term and extension options.
- Remote-friendly working model with occasional site visits to Bristol to see your automation in action.
- The chance to work within a vibrant, forward-thinking team that treats networking as a software product.
Apply via Haystack today!