Associate Director of Network Engineering

Job Title: Associate Director of Network Engineering

Location: New Haven, CT(Hybrid 2-3 Days onsite )

Duration: Full-time

Job Description:

Overview

We are seeking an experienced Associate Director of Network Engineering to lead the design, implementation, optimization, and support of enterprise-wide network infrastructure. This is a hands-on leadership role responsible for managing a team of network engineers while actively participating in network architecture, troubleshooting, security, cloud networking, and infrastructure modernization initiatives.

The ideal candidate will bring deep expertise in enterprise networking technologies, including routing, switching, firewalls, wireless networking, SD-WAN, VPNs, and cloud networking, along with proven leadership, project management, and vendor management experience.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead, mentor, and manage the Network Engineering team, providing technical direction and fostering professional development.
• Design, implement, and support enterprise networking solutions across LAN, WAN, SD-WAN, wireless, VPN, firewall, and UCaaS/CCaaS environments.
• Act as the highest level escalation point for complex network incidents, conducting advanced troubleshooting and root cause analysis.
• Ensure network performance, reliability, scalability, and availability through proactive monitoring, tuning, and capacity planning.
• Partner with cybersecurity teams to maintain secure network environments and ensure adherence to corporate security policies and compliance requirements.
• Plan and execute network hardware and software lifecycle upgrades, including routers, switches, firewalls, and wireless infrastructure.
• Architect and support hybrid and cloud networking environments across Azure, AWS, and Google Cloud platforms.
• Collaborate closely with infrastructure, application, cloud, and security teams to deliver seamless end-to-end technology solutions.
• Develop and maintain network architecture documentation, standards, procedures, and detailed network diagrams.
• Manage relationships with vendors, service providers, and technology partners while overseeing support escalations and service delivery.
• Lead strategic infrastructure initiatives, including cloud migrations, office expansions, network refreshes, data center migrations, and digital transformation projects.
• Drive network automation initiatives to enhance operational efficiency and reduce manual processes.
• Evaluate emerging technologies and recommend improvements to support business growth and operational excellence.

Required Qualifications

Experience

• 12+ years of hands-on network engineering experience in large-scale enterprise environments.
• 3-5+ years of leadership experience managing network engineering teams.
• Proven experience leading complex network infrastructure projects and enterprise technology transformations.

Technical Skills

Enterprise Networking

• Extensive experience with enterprise networking technologies, including:
• Cisco
• Fortinet
• Aruba
• Meraki
• Arista

Routing & Switching

• Strong expertise in:
• BGP
• OSPF
• EIGRP
• QoS
• VLANs
• STP
• High Availability solutions

Security & Connectivity

• Hands-on experience with:
• Enterprise Firewalls
• VPN Technologies
• Zero Trust Security Architectures
• Network Segmentation
• Secure Remote Access Solutions

Cloud Networking

• Strong knowledge of Azure networking services, including:
• Azure ExpressRoute
• Azure Firewall
• VPN Gateway
• BGP Routing
• Virtual WAN Hub
• Virtual Networks (VNETs)
• Subnet Design and Management
• Experience supporting AWS and Google Cloud networking environments preferred.

Monitoring & Automation

• Experience with network monitoring and observability tools such as:
• SolarWinds
• LogicMonitor
• Similar enterprise monitoring platforms
• Knowledge of network automation and scripting technologies (PowerShell, Python, Ansible, or similar) is highly desirable.

Unified Communications

• Experience supporting cloud-based:
• UCaaS (Unified Communications as a Service)
• CCaaS (Contact Center as a Service)

Leadership Competencies

• Strong team leadership, coaching, and mentoring abilities.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to effectively manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong stakeholder and vendor management experience.
• Demonstrated ability to drive strategic initiatives while remaining hands-on technically.

Education & Certifications

Education

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Information Technology, Engineering, or a related field.
• Equivalent combination of education and professional experience will be considered.

Preferred Certifications

• Cisco CCNP or CCIE
• Fortinet NSE Certifications
• Azure Network Engineer Associate (AZ-700)
• Aruba Certified Professional
• AWS Advanced Networking Specialty
• ITIL Foundation