Network Engineer — Service Provider Subject Matter Expert
| Position | Network Engineer — Service Provider Subject Matter Expert |
| Location | Dubai |
| Employment Type | Full Time |
Description
We are seeking a highly experienced Network Engineer to join our team as a recognised technical authority in Service Provider IP/MPLS networking. This is a senior, expert-level position requiring a hands-on SP experience across large-scale backbone and edge environments.
The successful candidate will be responsible for designing, deploying, and evolving carrier-grade multi-vendor networks — with deep expertise spanning Segment Routing (SR-MPLS and SRv6), Seamless MPLS, BGP Labeled Unicast (BGP-LU), Next-Generation MVPN multicast, advanced BGP engineering, and network automation. This role will also involve support for industrial OT telecom communications where SP transport underpins critical infrastructure operations.
The position requires someone who can lead complex design and delivery engagements independently, contribute to technical proposals and solution architecture, and serve as a go-to subject matter expert for the broader engineering team.
Requirements
REQUIRED SKILLS
SP Architecture & Network Infrastructure
▪ Design, architect, and deploy carrier-grade IP/MPLS backbone and edge networks across multi-vendor platforms.
▪ Lead the full network lifecycle: requirements gathering, high-level and low-level design, lab validation, staged rollout, and production handover.
▪ Drive network traffic engineering, and performance optimisation across SP core and aggregation layers.
▪ Operate and evolve large-scale SP environments supporting multiple PoPs, and diverse service portfolios.
MPLS, Seamless MPLS & Segment Routing
▪ Deploy and operate MPLS-based services at carrier scale: L3VPN, L2VPN (VPWS, VPLS), and EVPN across the SP backbone.
▪ Architect Seamless MPLS solutions spanning access, aggregation, and core domains — including full inter-domain label stitching, hierarchy, and domain boundary design.
▪ Implement BGP Labeled Unicast (BGP-LU / RFC 3107) for inter-domain prefix transport, label stack engineering, and Seamless MPLS stitching between network domains.
▪ Deploy SR-MPLS including SR-TE policies, Flexible Algorithm (Flex-Algo), TI-LFA fast-reroute, and PCEP/PCE integration for traffic-engineered forwarding.
▪ Manage LDP, RSVP-TE, and SR data-plane co-existence including migration planning from legacy to SR transport.
▪ Configure and troubleshoot inter-AS MPLS VPN architectures: Option A, Option B, Option C etc.
BGP & Advanced Routing
▪ Design and operate complex BGP topologies: iBGP/eBGP, route reflector hierarchies, BGP add-path, and optimal route reflection (BGP-ORR).
▪ Implement advanced BGP policy: communities (standard, extended, large), attribute manipulation, traffic engineering, and BGP PIC edge/core for fast convergence.
▪ Deploy BGP-LS for topology distribution to SDN controllers and PCE; configure BGP-EPE for egress peer engineering and inter-domain traffic steering.
▪ Configure IS-IS and OSPF as SP IGPs with multi-level/area designs, TE extensions, and BFD for rapid failure detection.
Multicast — Legacy & Next-Generation MVPN
▪ Design and operate IP multicast at SP scale: PIM-SM, PIM-SSM, PIM-BiDir, IGMP/MLD, MSDP, and Anycast-RP.
▪ Deploy and support legacy MVPN (Draft-Rosen / RFC 6037) using GRE-based MDT tunnels across the SP core.
▪ Architect and implement NG-MVPN (RFC 6513/6514) using RSVP-TE P2MP LSPs, mLDP P2MP/MP2MP, and SR Tree-SID as multicast transport alternatives.
▪ Configure NG-MVPN with BGP auto-discovery, S-PMSI and I-PMSI tunnel signalling, and inter-AS NG-MVPN variants (Option B and Option C).
▪ Support multicast extranet designs, shared tree optimisation, and bandwidth-efficient multicast delivery for video, IPTV, and financial distribution use cases.
▪ Implement multicast in SRv6 networks: SRv6 Tree-SID, BIER (Bit Index Explicit Replication), and BIER-TE as modern P2MP forwarding alternatives.
Network Automation & Programmability
▪ Develop and maintain automation pipelines using Python, for configuration management, compliance verification, and bulk change deployment across multi-vendor SP environments.
▪ Implement model-driven telemetry using gRPC/gNMI/gNOI for real-time operational state streaming from Cisco IOS-XR, Nokia SR OS, and Huawei platforms.
▪ Work with YANG data models and NETCONF/RESTCONF for programmatic device configuration, state retrieval, and closed-loop assurance.
▪ Integrate with orchestration platforms (Cisco NSO, Nokia NSP, or open-source equivalents) for automated service lifecycle management.
QoS, OAM & Timing
▪ Design and implement end-to-end QoS architectures, and scheduling policies from access edge to core.
▪ Deploy and operate SP OAM tooling: TWAMP, Y.1731, CFM (802.1ag), LSP ping/traceroute, and BFD for sub-50ms failure detection.
▪ Implement precision timing and synchronisation: IEEE 1588v2 PTP, SyncE, and GPS-disciplined timing for latency-sensitive and utility network applications.
OT & Industrial Telecom
▪ Support industrial OT telecom systems integrated over SP transport infrastructure.
▪ Apply network segmentation and security boundary controls between IT and OT domains in line with IEC 62443 and NERC CIP requirements.
▪ Ensure deterministic connectivity, resilience, and timing compliance for critical infrastructure OT communications.
Technical Leadership & Delivery
▪ Lead design reviews and architecture drawings for SP network projects.
▪ Produce high-quality technical deliverables: HLD, LLD, network diagrams, and solution proposals for large-scale SP and critical infrastructure engagements.
▪ Plan and execute FAT, system integration testing, and site commissioning activities.
▪ Perform structured root cause analysis (RCA) on major incidents and drive problems to permanent resolution.
▪ Coordinate with OEM vendors, system integrators, and field engineering teams across distributed project sites.
▪ Mentor junior and mid-level engineers; develop runbooks, engineering standards, and knowledge-base content for the team.
LOOKING FOR
Experience
▪ A minimum of 6 years of hands-on experience in Service Provider IP/MPLS networks in a technical engineering or architecture role.
▪ Proven delivery of large-scale SP backbone, aggregation, and edge network projects from design through to production.
▪ Multi-vendor deployment experience across at least two of: Cisco IOS-XR, Nokia SR OS, and Huawei VRP.
▪ Production-proven expertise in at least three of: Seamless MPLS, BGP-LU, SRv6, NG-MVPN, BIER, SR-TE, or BGP-LS.
▪ Hands-on network automation experience: Python or Ansible scripting for SP tasks, NETCONF/YANG integration, and telemetry pipeline setup.
▪ Experience working in or alongside OT/industrial telecom environments (utility, oil & gas, power, or transport) is a strong advantage.
Certifications
▪ CCIE Service Provider — highly preferred.
▪ Nokia Service Routing Architect (NRS II / SRA) or equivalent Nokia professional certification.
▪ CCNP Service Provider is the minimum acceptable level if an expert-level certification is not yet held.
▪ Automation or DevOps certifications (Cisco DevNet, Python PCEP/PCAP) are a welcome addition.
Education
▪ Bachelor's degree in computer science, Telecommunications, or a closely related field.
▪ Equivalent combination of professional certification and experience will be considered.