Job Description
Req ID: 129192 Region: Americas Country: USA State/Province: Texas City: Austin General Overview Functional Area: Engineering Career Stream: Design - Software Engineering SAP Short Name: SLE-ENG-DSE Job Level: Level 09 IC/MGR: Individual Contributor Direct/Indirect Indicator: Indirect Summary The Senior Lead Networking Test Engineer will be responsible for defining, developing, and executing comprehensive test strategies for our cutting-edge data center network solutions. This role is a blend of hands-on technical expertise, strategic planning, and leadership. You will lead a small team of test engineers, mentor junior members, and collaborate closely with network architects, developers, and operations teams to deliver robust, high-performance, and scalable network solutions for our data centers. This position requires deep expertise in modern data center networking technologies, automation, and a passion for quality assurance. Knowledge/Skills/Competencies Lead the definition and development of holistic test strategies, test plans, and test cases for complex data center network solutions, including Layer 2/3, SDN, DCN, EVPN/VxLAN, and high-performance fabrics (e.g., RDMA/RoCE). Work closely with network architecture and engineering teams to understand design specifications and translate them into effective test methodologies. Identify key performance indicators (KPIs) and scalability metrics for network validation. Hands-on execution of complex network tests, including functional, performance, scalability, stability, and reliability testing. Analyze test results, identify defects, conduct root cause analysis, and work with development teams to resolve issues. Perform deep-dive packet analysis and network protocol debugging using tools like Wireshark, tcpdump, and network analyzers. Design, develop, and maintain advanced test automation frameworks and scripts (e.g., Python, Ansible, Terraform, Robot Framework) to accelerate testing cycles and improve efficiency. Evaluate, recommend, and integrate new testing tools and technologies into our CI/CD pipelines. Drive the adoption of best practices in test automation and continuous integration. Lead and mentor a small team of networking test engineers, providing technical guidance, code reviews, and fostering a culture of excellence and continuous improvement. Act as a technical subject matter expert for network testing within the organization. Drive innovation in test methodologies and processes. Collaborate cross-functionally with network architecture, development, operations, and product teams to ensure comprehensive test coverage and high-quality deliverables. Clearly communicate test progress, risks, and results to stakeholders at all levels. Contribute to documentation, runbooks, and operational guides. Required Qualifications Education: Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Network Engineering, or a related technical field. 8+ years of experience in network engineering, network operations, or network testing roles, with at least 3 years focused specifically on data center networking. 3+ years of experience in a lead or senior technical role, mentoring junior engineers or leading test initiatives. Expert-level understanding and hands-on experience with Layer 2 and Layer 3 networking protocols in large-scale data center environments (e.g., BGP, OSPF, ISIS, MPLS). Extensive experience with modern data center interconnect technologies (EVPN/VxLAN). Strong knowledge of high-performance networking, including RDMA over Converged Ethernet (RoCE) and associated congestion control mechanisms (PFC, ECN, DCQCN). Familiarity with network operating systems like SONiC (preferred), Cisco NX-OS, Arista EOS, and Juniper Junos. Proficiency in at least one scripting language (e.g., Python, Go) for test automation, API integration, and data processing. Experience with network automation tools (e.g., Ansible, Terraform, Netmiko, NAPALM). Experience building and maintaining test frameworks (e.g., Robot Framework, Pytest). Proven experience designing and executing various types of network tests: functional, performance (throughput, latency, jitter), scalability, reliability, and security. Expertise with network testing tools (e.g., IXIA, Spirent, Keysight, TRex, Ostinato, SmartBits). Strong packet analysis and troubleshooting skills using Wireshark, tcpdump, or similar tools. Strong proficiency in Linux/Unix operating systems. Understanding of virtualization (VMware, KVM) and containerization technologies (Docker, Kubernetes). Excep