Network Automation Engineer ( Cisco Crosswork & Meraki )

IT Associates is seeking a Network Automation & Wireless Solutions Engineer for a remote role that requires travel for site surveys and installations. The engineer will focus on deploying Cisco Crosswork automation platforms and Cisco Meraki solutions to enhance network operations and streamline management.

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