Senior Network Engineer

About this role

<p>The Takealot Group, a leading South African online retailer, is looking for a highly talented Senior Level <strong>Network Engineer</strong> to join our team.</p> <p>We are a young, dynamic, hyper growth company looking for smart, creative, hard-working people with integrity to join us!&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Think you’ve been challenged before? Think again!</strong></p> <ul> <li><strong>Scale</strong>: 4 million happy shoppers shop online on takealot.com. Show them what you can do.</li> <li><strong>Learn</strong>: We work with the best of the best, and then some. Code alongside industry leaders and upskill in record time.&nbsp;</li> <li><strong>Grow</strong>: Expand your career in the fast-growing Takealot Group: takealot.com, TFS and Mr D. We like to promote from within: Here’s your chance.&nbsp;</li> </ul> <p><strong>Who’s who in the tech space</strong></p> <p>This position reports to the <strong>Engineering Manager&nbsp;</strong></p> <p><strong>Your mission, should you choose to accept it:</strong></p> <ul> <li>Design, install, and rebuild networking infrastructure, configuring LAN, WAN, Wireless, and Security hardware and services in accordance with standards and project or operational requirements.</li> <li>Lead network installation, support, and maintenance using Cisco and Huawei technology.</li> <li>Configure, manage, and support Fortinet firewalls, including policy management, VPNs, and security hardening.</li> <li>Design, deploy, and maintain SD-WAN solutions, ensuring optimal routing, redundancy, and performance across sites.</li> <li>Apply strong working knowledge of networking protocols and functions (e.g. BGP, OSPF, MPLS, VLANs, STP, QoS) to design and troubleshoot complex network environments.</li> <li>Develop and maintain installation and configuration procedures, standards, and documentation.</li> <li>Contribute to and continuously improve networking standards and best practices.</li> <li>Research and recommend innovative approaches and emerging technologies for network services.</li> <li>Identify approaches that leverage existing resources and provide economies of scale.</li> <li>Perform daily network monitoring, verifying the availability of all hardware, networking resources, and key processes, and reviewing logs proactively.</li> <li>Provide senior-level support and act as an escalation point for complex issues raised by various functional areas. Investigate and troubleshoot advanced network problems.</li> <li>Mentor and provide technical guidance to junior network engineers.</li> <li>Coordinate and manage vendor tasks, deliverables, and relationships.</li> <li>Travel to offices and warehousing locations as required.</li> <li>Have a valid driver's license and your own reliable transport.</li> <li>Be contactable after hours and able to respond to critical incidents outside normal working hours.</li> </ul> <p><strong>The skills we need:</strong></p> <ul> <li>Solutions-oriented, can-do attitude and high energy.</li> <li>Demonstrates a passion for optimal systems and simple procedures.</li> <li>Strong analytical and critical thinking, using data to make informed decisions.</li> <li>Ability to disaggregate and structure solutions to ambiguous problems.</li> <li>Ability to interview and interact professionally with internal and external people.</li> <li>Capability to present ideas succinctly, in writing and verbally.</li> <li>Versatile and with the appetite to learn by doing.</li> </ul> <p><strong>Qualifications &amp; Experience:</strong></p> <ul> <li>Bachelor’s Degree or Advanced Diploma in Information Systems, Computer Science, or a Network Engineering related field and a minimum of 5 years of network engineering experience in a software/technology environment is required.</li> <li>In the event that a candidate does not have a bachelor’s degree or an advanced diploma (in Information Systems, Computer Science, or a Network Engineering related field), an equivalent experience requirement must be met, which equates to a minimum of 8 years of network engineering experience in a software/technology environment.</li> <li>At least a CCNP certification is required.&nbsp;</li> <li>At least 5 years experience in a senior or lead network engineering role.</li> <li>Strong hands-on experience with Cisco and Huawei networking equipment (switches, routers, wireless).</li> <li>Solid experience configuring and troubleshooting Fortinet firewalls (2FA, MFA).</li> <li>Practical experience designing and implementing SD-WAN solutions.</li> <li>Strong understanding of core networking protocols and functions (routing, switching, security, QoS).</li> <li>Excellent understanding of TCP/IP and network communications.</li> <li>Excellent understanding of LAN, WAN, QOS and Routing Protocols.</li> <li>Excellent understanding of Wireless networking.</li> <li>Has experience with Network Monitoring Tools and technologies (Zabbix, Nagios, SNMP).</li> <li>Advanced experience with Web application firewalling (WAF).</li> <li>Advanced experience with BGP Peering.</li> <li>Advanced experience with scripting, network automation.</li> <li>Has experience with dealing with external vendors and suppliers.</li> <li>Can build and configure, not just monitor.</li> </ul> <p><strong>Let’s talk about life @ Takealot Group</strong></p> <ul> <li><strong>The power is in your hands</strong>: We offer a market-related, Total Remuneration Package that allows full flexibility according to your needs. Go on, be the master of your own destiny.</li> <li><strong>Free </strong>takealotMORE subscription</li> <li><strong>No doors</strong>: We aren’t fans of stuffy offices or siloed work environments. See someone you like? High five, collab, and make something great.</li> <li><strong>Remote working</strong>: Love water cooler chats and working from home? Takealot.com offers a remote or hybrid working model for the best of both worlds.</li> <li><strong>Mentorship programme</strong>: We aren’t kidding when we say the people with the bes