Senior Network Software Engineer

Based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, DQE Communications delivers fast, reliable fiber-optic Internet and data network services to businesses and carriers across Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Maryland. Since our start in 1997 as a small dark fiber provider in the Pittsburgh area, we’ve grown into one of the region’s leading network service providers. Our fiber footprint and product offerings continue to expand, but our focus remains the same, providing secure, dependable connectivity and building lasting relationships with our customers.

At DQE, our culture is built around three core values: Service, Trust, and Urgency. We take pride in providing reliable service to our customers, earning trust through integrity and accountability, and acting with urgency to deliver results that make an impact. When you work with DQE, you get more than a provider, you get a team that cares about your business and works hard to find the best solution for you.

Job Summary: DQE Communications is seeking a Senior Network Software Engineer to design, build, and automate the next generation of our carrier network infrastructure. This role blends advanced networking expertise with modern software engineering practices to develop internal applications, automation platforms, and operational tooling that improve the reliability, scalability, and efficiency of our ISP network.

Working alongside Network Engineering, Network Operations, Product Management, and Service Delivery, you'll architect software solutions that automate network provisioning, improve observability, streamline troubleshooting, and reduce operational complexity.

This position is ideal for someone who has a strong networking foundation but has evolved into a software-first engineer who enjoys building production-quality applications and automation platforms that directly impact business operations.

Key Job Responsibilities:

• Design and develop internal applications using Python and modern software engineering practices.
• Design and enhance the platforms that provide visibility into the network by developing monitoring dashboards, scalable telemetry pipelines, and observability solutions.
• Build tools that improve operational awareness, accelerate incident response, and enable proactive network management.
• Build Develop REST APIs and integrations with network devices and operational platforms.
• Participate in full software development lifecycle including architecture, development, testing, deployment, and maintenance.
• Develop CI/CD pipelines supporting internal applications.
• Perform code reviews and maintain engineering standards.
• Write automated tests.
• Utilize Gitbased workflows.
• Develop reusable automation libraries and tooling.
• Develop automation for Juniper and Nokia routing platforms.
• Integrate telemetry from BGP, MPLS, OSPF, SNMP, gNMI, NetFlow and streaming telemetry.
• Support network architecture initiatives.

• Strong software development experience using Python, with the ability to build and maintain productionquality applications, APIs, and automation tools.
• Experience designing and implementing network automation solutions using modern scripting, APIs, and infrastructure automation frameworks.
• Solid understanding of service provider networking concepts, including TCP/IP, routing and switching, BGP, OSPF, MPLS, Metro Ethernet, and network telemetry.
• Experience developing software that integrates with network devices, management platforms, and operational systems through REST APIs, SNMP, gNMI, NetFlow, or similar technologies.
• Knowledge of modern software development practices, including Gitbased version control, CI/CD pipelines, automated testing, and Agile development methodologies.
• Experience developing applications within Linux environments and familiarity with containerized technologies such as Docker or Kubernetes.
• Strong analytical and troubleshooting skills with the ability to diagnose complex issues spanning software, automation, and network infrastructure.
• Ability to translate operational challenges into scalable software solutions that improve efficiency, reliability, and observability.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to work effectively across Network Engineering, Network Operations, Product, and Service Delivery teams.
• Demonstrated commitment to modern software engineering practices, including the effective use of AIassisted development tools, to improve development velocity, code quality, and operational reliability.

• 7+ years of software development experience with Python
• 2+ years of handson networking experience in an enterprise, service provider, or network operations environment
• 2+ years of experience as a tech lead, team lead, or engineering manager, with direct responsibility for mentoring engineers and owning a platform’s technical direction
• Preferred: networking certifications such as JNCIS, CCNP, or equivalent (JNCIA, Network+, or CCNA acceptable with strong handson carriernetwork experience)

• Healthcare
• Dental / Vision
• 401k
• Life Insurance
• Paid Time Off
• Holidays