Senior Lead Networking Test Engineer

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

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or a related technical field.

• 7+ years of experience in hardware and/or software testing, with at least 5 years focused on enterprise-level storage and server systems.

• 3+ years of experience in a lead or senior technical role, mentoring junior engineers or leading test initiatives.

• Proven experience in a lead or senior technical role, mentoring and guiding other engineers.

• Deep expertise in various storage technologies including NVMe, SAS/SATA SSDs/HDDs, RAID, distributed file systems (e.g., Ceph, Lustre, GPFS), SAN, and NAS.

• Strong understanding of server architectures (x86, ARM, GPU servers), CPU/memory subsystems, PCIe, and power management.

• Strong understanding of server architectures (x86, ARM, GPU servers), CPU/memory subsystems, PCIe, power management, and Baseband Management Controllers (BMC) functionality.

• Proficiency in scripting languages (e.g., Python, Bash) for test automation and data analysis.

• Experience with Linux operating systems (e.g., Ubuntu, CentOS, RHEL) and command-line tools.

• Familiarity with networking concepts (Ethernet, TCP/IP, InfiniBand) and network testing methodologies.

• Experience with test methodologies such as performance testing, reliability testing, stress testing, and fault injection.

• Excellent problem-solving, analytical, and debugging skills.

• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively across diverse teams.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with SDN controllers and orchestration platforms.

• Experience with ESXi

• Familiarity with cloud networking concepts (AWS, Azure, GCP).

• Knowledge of network security principles and testing.

• Relevant industry certifications (e.g., CCIE, JNCIE, CCNP Data Center, Linux Foundation Certified Engineer, Mellanox certifications).

Notes

This job description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties and responsibilities of the position. Employees are held accountable for all duties of the job. Job duties and the % of time identified for any function are subject to change at any time.