Lead Network Engineer (Cisco, Cloud & Network Automation)

*Before applying, please note that this position is based in our Maryland office and requires in-office presence two days per week. Only the Maryland compensation range displayed below applies to this role, regardless of a candidate's current location. Remote work beyond this arrangement and alternative office locations are not available. * 

Role Summary

We are seeking a highly skilled Lead Network Engineer to help drive and implement the architecture, scalability, and reliability of our enterprise network infrastructure. This role will lead high-impact network modernization initiatives, connect colocation data centers with multi-cloud environments, and provide technical leadership across design, operations, and incident response.

The ideal candidate brings deep expertise in enterprise networking, hybrid-cloud connectivity, automation, and performance optimization, along with a strong ability to mentor engineers and drive best practices across the network domain.

Responsibilities

Network Architecture & Strategy:

• Design, implement, and maintain scalable, resilient, and secure LAN/WAN, SD-WAN, and hybrid-cloud network architectures
• Develop network standards, reference architectures, and roadmaps that support business growth and technology modernization
• Evaluate and recommend network hardware, software, and service providers to improve performance, reliability, and scalability

Cloud & Hybrid Connectivity:

• Design and manage cloud networking solutions across AWS, Azure, and GCP
• Support and optimize hybrid connectivity using technologies such as AWS VPC, Transit Gateway, Direct Connect, Azure VNet, and ExpressRoute
• Ensure seamless integration between on-premises environments and cloud platforms

Performance & Reliability:

• Establish and mature Site Reliability Engineering (SRE) practices for network operations
• Define, monitor, and improve service-level objectives (SLOs) related to network availability, latency, and capacity
• Proactively identify performance bottlenecks and implement solutions to improve network resilience and efficiency

Automation & Infrastructure as Code:

• Lead network automation initiatives to reduce manual configuration and improve consistency
• Develop and maintain Infrastructure as Code (IaC) solutions using tools such as Terraform, Ansible, and/orPython
• Partner with operations teams to standardize deployment, monitoring, and operational processes

Incident Escalation & Root Cause Analysis:

• Serve as a 3rd tier level of technical escalation for network incidents
• Lead critical incident response efforts, including troubleshooting, coordination, communication, and service restoration
• Conduct root cause analysis and drive post-incident reviews to prevent recurrence

Security & Compliance:

• Implement and maintain network security controls in partnership with Information Security teams
• Manage and audit firewalls, load balancers, segmentation policies, access controls and suricata firewall rules
• Ensure network designs and operational practices align with security, compliance, and risk management requirements

Technical Leadership:

• Mentor and develop junior and mid-level network engineers
• Lead peer design reviews and provide guidance on architecture, troubleshooting, and operational excellence
• Promote engineering best practices, documentation standards, and continuous improvement across the team

Qualifications

Required:

• Bachelor's degree or the equivalent combination of education and relevant experience
• 8+ years of relevant experience

Preferred:

• Deep expertise in core networking technologies and protocols, including: 

o    BGP, OSPF, EIGRP, BFD

o    EVPN/VXLAN, IPSec, MAC-SEC

o    Zscaler, Zero-trust technologies

• Proven experience designing, implementing, and supporting hybrid-cloud networking across AWS, Azure, and/or GCP
• Strong experience with network automation and Infrastructure as Code, including Terraform, Ansible, and Python
• Demonstrated ability to lead complex troubleshooting efforts and resolve high-severity production incidents
• Strong communication skills with the ability to collaborate across infrastructure, cloud, security, and application teams
• Industry certifications such as: 

o    CCNP

o    CCIE

o    AWS Certified Advanced Networking – Specialty

• Experience with SD-WAN, network observability, and modern monitoring platforms
• Familiarity with load balancing technologies and enterprise firewall platforms
• Experience leading technical teams, mentoring engineers, and influencing architecture decisions across organizations

FINRA Requirements

FINRA licenses are not required and will not be supported for this role.

Work Flexibility

This role is eligible for hybrid work, with up to three days per week from home.

Base Salary Ranges

Please review the job posting for the location of this specific opportunity.

Placement within the range provided above is based on the individual’s relevant experience and skills for the role.  Base salary is only one component of our total compensation package.  Employees may be eligible for a discretionary bonus, which is determined upon company and individual performance.

Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

At T. Rowe Price, our associates are our greatest asset. We thrive because our company culture is built on inclusion and because we sustain a work environment where associates can bring their best selves to work every day. The backgrounds, talents, and experiences of our global associates allow us to embrace new ideas and perspectives that move our business priorities forward and enable us to deliver strong client outcomes. Here, you can expect equal opportunity and fair and consistent treatment for all. 

Benefits

T. Rowe Price is an equal opportunity employer and values diversity of thought, gender, and race. We believe our continued success depends upon the equal treatment of all associates and applicants for employment without discrimination on the basis of race, religion, creed, color, national origin, sex, gender, age, mental or physical disability, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, citizenship status, military or veteran status, pregnancy, or any other classification protected by country, federal, state, or local law.