Network Operations Engineer II

Job Title: Network Operations Engineer II – (Optical and IP Engineer) Job Overview: The Network Operations Engineer II is an experienced technical role responsible for troubleshooting, restoring, and maintaining the health of Optical and IP networks in a 24x7 operational environment. This role serves as the primary escalation point for Network Operations Engineers I and works closely with Engineers III and Team Leads to resolve complex incidents and improve operational processes. This role combines hands-on execution with independent judgment. Engineers II are expected to own incidents from detection through restoration, perform in-depth multi-vendor troubleshooting, execute scheduled network changes, and mentor junior engineers, escalating only the most complex, cross-domain, or high-risk issues. Scope: • Serve as the second-level escalation point for optical and IP network incidents and alarms. • Independently troubleshoot and restore service for complex incidents across optical transport and IP routing domains. • Own incidents end-to-end, including stakeholder communication, vendor engagement, and post-incident follow-up. • Plan and execute scheduled maintenance activities and network changes within change management procedures. • Author and improve runbooks, procedures, and knowledge-base content. • Mentor and guide Network Operations Engineers I. Roles and Responsibilities: Incident Management & Advanced Troubleshooting • Receive and resolve escalations from Network Operations Engineers I, providing technical direction during active incidents. • Perform in-depth troubleshooting of optical (DWDM, CWDM) and IP (IPv4/IPv6, MPLS, BGP, OSPF) networks, including analysis of optical power levels, OSNR, BER/FEC counters, routing tables, protocol adjacencies, and traffic paths. • Isolate faults across layers and domains (fiber, optics, transport, routing) and drive incidents to restoration. • Act as incident owner for major service-impacting events on shift, coordinating technical resources and providing timely updates to Team Leads and stakeholders. • Escalate highly complex, architectural, or cross-organizational issues to Network Operations Engineers III, Engineering, or the Team Lead with clear diagnostic findings. Ticket, Case & Problem Management • Ensure accurate, detailed documentation for all cases worked, and review ticket quality for Engineers I. • Open and manage cases with vendor TACs (e.g., Cisco, Juniper, Ciena, Nokia, Infinera), supplying logs, diagnostics, and technical detail to accelerate resolution. • Perform root cause analysis (RCA) for significant incidents and contribute to post-incident reports and corrective action tracking. • Identify recurring issues and trends, and recommend preventive or corrective actions. • Validate service stability after restoration and confirm SLA adherence. Maintenance & Change Execution • Plan, prepare, and execute scheduled maintenance activities and network changes, including method-of-procedure (MOP) review, pre/post checks, and rollback planning. • Participate in change review processes and assess operational risk of proposed changes. • Support turn-up, testing, and acceptance of new circuits, services, and network elements. • Coordinate with field technicians, colocation facilities, ISPs, and service providers during maintenance and restoration activities. Mentorship, Process Improvement & Collaboration • Mentor, shadow, and train Network Operations Engineers I, leading knowledge-transfer sessions. • Author, review, and maintain runbooks, procedures, and knowledge-base articles. • Recommend improvements to monitoring, alarm correlation, and NOC tooling to reduce noise and improve detection. • Identify opportunities for scripting or automation of repetitive operational tasks. • Lead shift handoffs and produce clear, complete shift-turnover documentation. • Collaborate with Engineering, Planning, and other operational teams to resolve systemic issues. Required Qualifications & Skills • Associate's or Bachelor's degree in a technical field, or equivalent practical experience. • 3–5 years of experience in network operations, with hands-on experience supporting optical and/or IP networks in a NOC or carrier environment. • Solid working knowledge of IP routing and switching (TCP/IP, BGP, OSPF, MPLS, IPv4/IPv6, LLDP). • Working knowledge of optical transport technologies (DWDM, CWDM, fiber types, optics, amplifiers, patch panels) and the ability to interpret optical performance data. • Hands-on experience with multi-vendor equipment (e.g., Cisco, Juniper, Ciena, Nokia, Infinera) and their CLIs and management systems. • Proven ability to troubleshoot complex incidents independently and make sound decisions under pressure. • Experience working with vendor TACs, carriers, and service providers. • Strong documentation, written, and verbal communication skills, including communicating with non-technical stakeholders. • Ability to work effectively in a 24x7 shift-based operational environment. Preferred Qualifications • Professional-level certifications such as CCNP, JNCIS/JNCIP, Nokia NRS II, or equivalent; vendor optical certifications (e.g., Ciena, Nokia, Infinera) a plus. • Experience with fiber testing tools (OTDR, power meters, light sources) and interpreting results. • Scripting or automation experience (e.g., Python, Ansible) for operational tasks. • Experience with ITIL-based incident, problem, and change management processes. • Familiarity with NOC monitoring, alarm correlation, and ticketing platforms. • Prior experience mentoring or training junior engineers. Physical Demands & Work Environment • Ability to perform office-related tasks, including prolonged sitting or standing. • Capability to move within an office environment and effectively use a computer. • Must have strong communication skills for effective collaboration and coordination. • Occasional repetitive motions of the wrists, hands, and/or fingers may be required. • Availability to work rotating shifts, including nights, weekends, and holidays as required in a 24x7 environment. Salary Range 50,640.00 - 63,300.00 EUR (Annual) Please note that the salary information provided herein is base pay only (gross); it does not include other forms of compensation which may or may not apply to this specific position, namely, performance-based bonuses, benefits-related payments, or other general incentives - none of which are guaranteed, may be subject to specific eligibility requirements, and are wholly within the discretion of Astreya to remit. Further, the salary information noted above is a range that consists of a minimum and maximum rate of pay for this specific position. Where an applicant or employee is placed on this range will depend and be contingent on objective, documented work-related considerations like education, experience, certifications, licenses, preferred qualifications, among other factors.