Secure Network Leader

Job Summary

Astera Software is seeking a highly experienced Network, Security & Communications Manager to lead the development and maintenance of our network infrastructure and security strategies. This role will involve designing, implementing, and overseeing the secure and scalable network, ensuring high availability of services, including LAN/WAN, wireless, and cloud connectivity.

This leader will be responsible for managing network deployments, lifecycle management, and budgeting while contributing to disaster recovery and business continuity planning. Collaboration with stakeholders across IT and the business will be essential in aligning security capabilities and maintaining relationships with vendors to enhance and upgrade our current environment.

Key Responsibilities:

• Develop and execute strategies for network equipment lifecycle management, including planning for upgrades, replacements, and decommissioning.
• Oversee the deployment of network infrastructure for new locations, ensuring seamless integration with existing systems and adherence to company standards.
• Design, implement, and maintain a robust, secure, resilient, and scalable network infrastructure to support business operations.
• Ensure high availability of network services, including LAN/WAN, wireless, and hybrid & cloud connectivity.
• Manage the IT Network budget for corporate assets, identifying opportunities to improve cost effectiveness of expenses.
• Monitor system performance, provide capacity planning, automate processes, perform refreshes/upgrades, and provide operational and technical support for network and security infrastructure areas.
• Contribute to the development, ongoing maintenance, and execution of an enterprise-wide disaster recovery and business continuity plan.
• Prepare RFPs, contracts, statements of work, and other documentation for network projects.
• Engage proactively with key stakeholders and partners across IT and the business to understand technology direction and align security capabilities accordingly.
• Build and maintain relationships with key vendors to facilitate enhancements and upgrades to the current environment.
• Ensure compliance with all internal policies regarding data protection.
• Collaborate with the Project Management team to define and estimate team contributions, ensuring timely completion of project work with excellent quality.
• Assist in response to external audits, penetration tests, vulnerability assessments, and forensic investigations.
• Contribute to release management, change control, incident, and problem management.
• Implement and enforce network security policies and procedures to protect company assets and data, conducting regular security audits and vulnerability assessments.
• Work closely with services partners to oversee Network Operations Center (NOC) and Operations Support.
• Establish and monitor service level agreements (SLAs).

Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in computer science, computer engineering, information technology, electronics, telecommunications, or a related field. Master's preferred in a relevant field.
• Minimum 8 years of experience in network operations, network design, network project implementation, security infrastructure, and communications, with at least 5 years in a managerial role.
• Experience in network lifecycle management and network deployment management.
• Proven track record of balancing multiple priorities simultaneously, including large-scale production network and security projects, and operations in a multi-site retail environment with minimal downtime and limited impact on systems and applications.
• Strong knowledge of network architecture, protocols, and technologies, including TCP/IP, MPLS, VPN, VoIP, SD-WAN, and cloud networking.
• Expert knowledge of network access methods, including T1, DS3, OC3, Ethernet, and Cellular.
• Expert understanding of Layer 2 switching protocols.
• Expert understanding of routing protocols EIGRP, OSPF, IS-IS, BGP.
• Experience with network security technologies, such as Next Generation Firewalls (NGFWs), Intrusion Detection/Prevention Systems (IDS/IPS), DNS & URL Filtering, Application Control Visibility (ACV), and encryption.
• Experience designing enterprise network/security and data center solutions.
• Advanced experience with routing, core switching, Cisco Nexus, ASA firewalls, Palo Alto Firewalls, VLAN, VPN, WLAN, TCP/IP, DNS, DHCP, monitoring tools, and network topologies.
• Relevant network-related certifications (highly desirable) such as CCNA, CCNP, CCDP, NSE, or equivalent.
• Relevant information/cyber security training/certifications (highly desirable) such as ISO27001, CISSP.
• Relevant cloud-related training/certifications (highly desirable) such as Cloud Architect/Cyber Security under AWS, Azure, Google, Alibaba Cloud.

We Offer:

A challenging opportunity to lead our network and security initiatives and contribute to the success of our organization.

How to Apply:

Please submit your application, including your resume and cover letter, to us.