Network Engineer ( Cisco Crosswork & Meraki )

IT Associates is looking for a Network Automation & Wireless Solutions Engineer to design, implement, and operationalize advanced network solutions. The role involves deploying Cisco Crosswork automation platforms and Cisco Meraki cloud-managed networking to enhance network operations and streamline management, with travel required for site surveys and installations.

Responsibilities:

• Deploy and operationalize the Cisco Crosswork product family to enable network automation, orchestration, and assurance capabilities across the enterprise infrastructure
• Configure and maintain Cisco NSO for service orchestration and device lifecycle management
• Develop and customize service models and device templates to automate provisioning and configuration management across multi-vendor environments
• Install and configure CDG to collect telemetry, configuration, and operational data from network devices
• Integrate CDG with Crosswork applications for real-time visibility and analytics
• Implement Crosswork Network Controller for intent-based networking and segment routing policies
• Leverage the Optimization Engine for traffic engineering, bandwidth optimization, and path computation
• Deploy Change Automation for closed-loop network changes with pre/post validation
• Configure Health Insights for KPI monitoring, anomaly detection, and proactive alerting
• Design and architect Cisco Meraki cloud-managed solutions including MR (Wireless Access Points), MS (Switches), and MX (Security Appliances)
• Ensure proper network segmentation, security policies, and SD-WAN configurations through the Meraki Dashboard
• Configure and manage the Meraki Dashboard for centralized visibility, monitoring, alerting, and policy enforcement
• Establish organizational structures, network templates, and tagging strategies for scalable management
• Conduct wireless site surveys to assess RF environments, identify coverage requirements, and validate AP placement
• Develop predictive wireless designs and post-deployment validation reports
• Create comprehensive documentation including architecture diagrams, as-built configurations, operational runbooks, and troubleshooting guides for all deployed solutions
• Integrate Crosswork and Meraki platforms with existing monitoring, ticketing, and CMDB systems
• Develop API-based automations and workflows to enhance operational efficiency

Requirements:

• Hands-on experience deploying and operationalizing Cisco Crosswork product family (NSO, CDG, Network Controller, Optimization Engine, Change Automation, Health Insights)
• Proficiency in Cisco NSO including service modeling and template development for automated provisioning
• Strong understanding of network automation concepts and API integrations
• Experience with Ansible for network automation, playbook development, and infrastructure-as-code practices
• Experience with telemetry collection and network analytics
• Expertise in architecting and deploying Cisco Meraki solutions (MR, MS, MX product lines)
• Proficiency with Meraki Dashboard administration, template management, and API integrations
• Experience configuring SAML authentication and SSO integration for Meraki Dashboard access
• Experience with Meraki SD-WAN, Auto VPN, and security policy configuration
• Understanding of cloud-managed networking principles and best practices
• Strong foundation in network protocols (BGP, OSPF, MPLS, Segment Routing, VLANs, QoS)
• Understanding of network security principles and best practices
• Familiarity with Linux/Unix environments for platform deployment
• Ability to work independently in a remote environment
• Willingness to travel to client sites for surveys, installations, and meetings as required
• Strong documentation and communication skills
• Collaborative mindset to work closely with project managers and cross-functional teams
• Experience with Ekahau Pro or equivalent tools for wireless site surveys and predictive design
• Knowledge of RF fundamentals, channel planning, and wireless troubleshooting
• Ability to conduct pre-deployment surveys and post-installation validation