Associate Engineer, SRE IP Core

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We are Optimum, a leader in the fast-paced world of connectivity, and we're on the hunt for enthusiastic professionals to join our team! We understand that connectivity isn't just a luxury anymore - it's a necessity that empowers lives, fuels businesses, and drives innovation. A career at Optimum means you'll be enabling progress and enhancing lives by providing reliable, high-speed connectivity solutions that keep the world connected. We owe our success to our amazing product, commitment to our people and the connections we make in every community.
If you are resourceful, collaborative, team-oriented and passionate about delivering consistent excellence, Optimum is the Company for you!
We are Optimum!
Job Summary
We are looking for a Network IP Engineer with a "reliability mindset" to join our Core Network team. While this is a "Level 1" position, it is not just a ticket-clearing role, it is a hands-on engineering role focused on the heart of our IP backbone.
You will effectively function as a Network Core Engineer, maintaining and expanding our high-performance infrastructure using primarily Juniper, Cisco and Arista equipment. As a Network SRE, you will also help us transition from manual CLI configurations to automated, resilient, and observable network operations.
Whether you are a rising junior engineer with strong fundamentals or a seasoned pro looking for a stable, high-impact environment, we want to meet you.
Responsibilities
• Core Engineering: Configure, deploy, and troubleshoot IP core infrastructure, focusing on Juniper MX, PTX, or QFX, Cisco Catalyst and Nexus, and Arista 5000 and 7000 Core series routers and switches.• Incident Response: Act as the first line of defense for complex network issues. Investigate routing anomalies, packet loss, and latency issues using a blameless root-cause analysis approach.• Reliability & Automation: Move away from manual changes. Help us build and run Python scripts or Ansible playbooks to automate config push, validation, and network auditing.• Observability: Improve our "eyes on the network" by tuning monitoring tools (e.g., Grafana, Sec One, or other standard NMS) to detect issues before they impact our customers.• Maintenance: Plan and execute network maintenance windows (firmware upgrades, hardware replacements) with a focus on minimizing downtime.
The Stack• Primary Vendor: Juniper Networks (Junos OS)• Secondary Vendor: Arista Networks (EOS)• Tertiary Vendor: Cisco (IOS XE and NX-OS)• Protocols: BGP, OSPF/IS-IS, EIGRP, MPLS, LDP/RSVP, EVPN/VXLAN.• Automation: Python, Ansible, Git.
Qualifications
We are open to candidates with 1-3 years of experience who are eager to learn, as well as experienced engineers looking for a new challenge.
Must-Have Skills:• Junos and/or EOS Fluency: Strong hands-on experience with Juniper and/or Arista command-line interface (CLI). You should be comfortable navigating configuration hierarchies, committing changes safely, and troubleshooting operational commands.• Networking Fundamentals: Deep understanding of the TCP/IP stack, subnetting, and core routing protocols (specifically BGP and OSPF).• Troubleshooting Logic: Ability to trace a packet from A to B and identify where it drops. You understand ping, traceroute, and tcpdump/Wireshark.• Linux/Unix Literacy: Comfortable working in a Linux shell environment.
Nice-to-Have (Bonus Points):• Juniper/Arista Experience: Familiarity with Juniper Cloud Management & AIOps (MistAI) and/or Arista EOS and CloudVision.• SRE/DevOps Skills: Basic scripting in Python or experience with Ansible for network automation.• Certifications: JNCIA or JNCIS (highly preferred), Arista ACE-A, ACE-P or ACE-E (highly preferred), Cisco CCNA/CCNP, or equivalent real-world experience.
At Optimum, we're fueled by our four core pillars: Taking Ownership, Upholding Transparency, Creating Community, and Demonstrating Expertise. Our commitment to empowering employees to take responsibility and embrace proactive problem-solving underpins Taking Ownership. Upholding Transparency is at the core of our culture, with open and honest communication fostering trust among our dedicated team and loyal customers. Creating Community is more than a goal; it's our daily commitment to fostering an environment of collaboration, innovation, and positivity. Demonstrating expertise is a promise we uphold through continuous learning and engagement with our customers to consistently deliver top-quality products and services. These pillars not only shape our culture but define Optimum as a place of excellence, trustworthiness, and thriving community, and we invite you to be a part of our journey.
If you have the drive to succeed and are ready to embark on a thrilling career, seize this opportunity today, and join our winning team, so together, we'll shape the future of connectivity.
All job descriptions and required skills, qualifications and responsibilities for a particular position are subject to modification by the Company from time to time, in the Company's discretion based on business necessity.
We are an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to recruiting, hiring and promoting qualified people of all backgrounds regardless of gender, race, color, creed, national origin, religion, age, marital status, pregnancy, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, military or veteran status, or any other basis protected by federal, state, or local law.
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Pay is competitive and based on a number of job-related factors, including skills and experience. The starting pay rate/range at time of hire for this position in the posted location is $66,830.00 - $109,793.00 / year. The rate/range provided herein is the anticipated pay at the time of hire, and does not reflect future job opportunity.
We appreciate your interest in this opportunity. Applicants must be authorized to work for ANY employer in the U.S. Please note that at this time, we do not provide visa sponsorship for employment.
Nearest Major Market: Long Island
Nearest Secondary Market: New York CIty