Global Network Operations Manager

Location: Neenah, Wisconsin; must be able to commute. Source specifies 2–3 days onsite per week; final work arrangement requires confirmation.
Duration: Expected six-month contract, with a potential conversion opportunity after six months
Hours: 40 hours per week
Start: As soon as possible

Position overview

Lead the engineering, modernization, and operational performance of a global enterprise network spanning corporate locations, manufacturing environments, data centers, and Google Cloud Platform (Google Cloud Platform).

This strategic technical leadership role oversees SD-WAN transformation, secure cloud connectivity, network automation, data center optimization, and factory-edge networking. The position also leads distributed engineering teams and partners with business and technology leaders to improve reliability, security, and service delivery.

Responsibilities

• Own the lifecycle and 24/7 operational performance of enterprise WAN, SD-WAN, LAN, Wi-Fi, and Google Cloud Platform networking environments.

• Advance Intent-Based Networking (IBN) and AIOps through policy-driven automation and closed-loop assurance.

• Optimize connectivity among enterprise sites, factory-edge environments, and Google Cloud Platform using Cloud Interconnect, Cloud Router, Shared VPCs, SASE, and ZTNA.

• Deliver EVPN-VXLAN leaf-spine data center fabrics and optimize on-premises infrastructure during cloud migrations.

• Lead Network as Code practices using Terraform, Ansible, Python, and Git/GitOps.

• Partner with manufacturing and OT security teams on shop-floor segmentation and protection using the Purdue Model, industrial firewalls, and plant-floor compute nodes.

• Lead and mentor global network engineers; establish operational standards, SLOs, SLAs, observability metrics, and NOC escalation paths.

• Manage carrier, telecom, colocation, and hardware vendor relationships, contracts, and service commitments.

Required qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Network Engineering, or a related field.

• At least five years of related enterprise network engineering experience.

• Proven experience leading enterprise SD-WAN transformations using platforms such as Cisco, Fortinet, or Palo Alto Networks, along with SASE/ZTNA deployments such as Prisma.

• Deep knowledge of Google Cloud Platform networking, including Shared VPCs, Cloud Interconnect, Cloud Router, and VPC Service Controls.

• Experience designing EVPN-VXLAN leaf-spine topologies, micro-segmentation, and hybrid/on-premises network optimization during cloud migrations.

• Proficiency with Terraform, Ansible, Python, and Git/GitOps automation pipelines.

• Expert knowledge of BGP, OSPF, MP-BGP, VXLAN overlays, and enterprise IPv4/IPv6 addressing.

• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills, including presenting complex network concepts to executive leadership.

• Native or bilingual proficiency in English.

Preferred qualifications

• Master’s degree in a relevant field.

• At least 10 years of progressive IT experience.

• At least three years of technical leadership or engineering management experience overseeing distributed global teams.

• Manufacturing/OT network security experience, including IEC 62443, industrial firewalls, and plant-floor LAN/Wi-Fi.

• Experience with Digital Experience Monitoring and observability tools such as ThousandEyes, Dynatrace, or Wireshark.

• Google Cloud Platform Professional Cloud Network Engineer or CCIE certification.

• Hands-on expertise with Cisco ACI and Cisco Catalyst Center.

• Experience managing Cisco Voice/Unified Communications architectures.

• Proficiency with Palo Alto Networks NGFW and security management platforms.