Lead Network Engineer

Social Discovery Group (SDG) is the 3rd largest social discovery company in the world, uniting 60+ brands with 500 million users. We solve the problems of loneliness, isolation, and disconnection by transforming virtual intimacy into the new normal. Our portfolio includes online communication platforms focusing on AI, game mechanics, and video streaming - Dating.com, DateMyAge, Cupid Media, Dil Mil, Kiseki, and others. 

SDG invests in IT startups around the world. Our investments include Open AI, Patreon, Flo, Clubhouse, Woebot, Flure, Astry, Coursera, Academia.edu, and many others.

We bring together a team of like-minded people and IT professionals specializing in the creation and development of globally impactful social discovery products. Our international team of 1200 professionals and digital nomads works all over the world. 

Our teams of digital nomads work remotely from Cyprus, Malta, the USA, Armenia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Montenegro, Poland, Latvia, Serbia, Spain, Portugal, UAE, Israel, Turkey, Thailand, Indonesia, Japan, Hong Kong, Australia and many other locations. 

In August 2024, we achieved Great Place to Work US Certification™! This achievement reflects our core belief that a truly exceptional workplace is built on trust, pride, and camaraderie—not just great perks.

We are seeking a Lead Network Engineer to join our Customer IT Infrastructure team.

Your main tasks will be:

• Team Leadership & Development:
  - Lead, mentor, and develop a team of 2 network engineers, providing guidance and support to ensure professional growth and skill enhancement.
  - Manage project timelines, allocate resources effectively, and facilitate clear team communication.
  - Promote a positive team culture and drive continuous improvement initiatives.
  - Conduct performance reviews, set goals, and develop career paths for team members.
  - Monitor and manage team workloads, ensuring efficient distribution of tasks.
•  Process Optimization:
  - Identify opportunities for process improvements and implement best practices to enhance team productivity and service quality.
  - Develop and refine standard operating procedures (SOPs) for network operations and troubleshooting.
  - Streamline workflows to improve service delivery and reduce operational costs.
• Network Design & Implementation:
  - Design and deploy scalable and reliable network solutions to support business requirements.
  - Configure and install a variety of network devices and services, including routers, switches, firewalls, and load balancers.
• Network Maintenance:
  - Perform regular network monitoring and maintenance tasks, such as firmware upgrades, patch management, and security updates.
  - Collaborate with the IT team to develop and implement backup and recovery plans for network systems.
• Troubleshooting & Issue Resolution:
  - Diagnose and resolve complex network-related issues promptly to minimize downtime.
  - Conduct root cause analysis and implement corrective actions for recurring issues.
  - Provide on-call support for network emergencies and critical incidents.
• Documentation & Knowledge Sharing:
  - Maintain comprehensive and up-to-date documentation of network configurations, procedures, and topology.
  - Ensure network diagrams and documentation are accessible to relevant stakeholders.
• Collaboration & Stakeholder Management:
  - Work closely with system administrators, security teams, and other IT professionals to ensure seamless integration of network and system components.
  - Engage with vendors to evaluate new products, technologies, and solutions that align with organizational needs.
• Capacity Planning & Optimization:
  - Assess and plan for network capacity to accommodate future growth and evolving technology requirements.
  - Provide recommendations for hardware and software upgrades to optimize network performance.
• On-call Support:
  - Respond promptly (within 15 minutes) to on-call alerts to assess situations and initiate resolution steps to ensure minimal impact on business operations.

We expect from you:

• Expertise with Cisco Network Equipment:
  - Extensive hands-on experience working with Cisco enterprise and data center networking hardware, including Catalyst, Nexus, and Firepower series.
• Advanced Knowledge of Networking Protocols:
  - VXLAN EVPN (Multipod): In-depth understanding of VXLAN-based network virtualization and EVPN deployment in multi-pod architectures.
  - Firepower/ASA: Strong experience in configuring and managing Cisco Firepower and ASA security appliances for threat protection and secure connectivity.
  - Routing Protocols: Proficiency in dynamic routing protocols such as BGP and OSPF, including advanced configurations and troubleshooting.
  - First-Hop Redundancy Protocols: Expertise in redundancy and high availability protocols such as VRRP, HSRP, and GLBP.
  - Spanning Tree Protocols: Advanced knowledge of STP variants like MSTP and RSTP to optimize and secure Layer 2 network topology.
  - Quality of Service (QoS): Deep understanding of QoS principles, including traffic marking, queuing mechanisms, policing, and shaping strategies.
  - Tunneling Protocols: Experience in deploying GRE, L2TP, and DMVPN for secure and resilient network connections.
  - Cryptographic Protocols: Familiarity with various encryption protocols and standards to secure data in transit.
  - TCP/UDP: Strong grasp of TCP/IP and UDP protocol behavior, ensuring efficient and reliable data transport.
  - Switching Technologies: Proficiency in stacking technologies, LACP, and virtual Port-Channel (vPC) configurations for optimized bandwidth and redundancy.
• Deep Understanding of IP Routing and Ethernet Switching:
  - Expert-level knowledge of Layer 2 and 3 technologies, including VLANs, trunking, inter-VLAN routing, and multicast routing.
• Network Automation Skills:
  - Proficiency in automating network processes using Python, Ansible, and other scripting tools to reduce manual intervention and enhance operational efficiency.
• Network Security and Monitoring:
  - Strong experience deploying L2 and L3 security measures such as IP firewalls, access control lists (ACLs), AAA services, and more.
  - Knowledge of network monitoring tools and techniques to ensure performance, security, and availability of network infrastructure.
• Cloud Networking:
  - Experience with cloud-based networking solutions and integration of on-premises and cloud environments (e.g., AWS, Azure, GCP).
  - Familiarity with hybrid cloud architectures and secure connectivity options.
• Fluent English (at least B2 level).

What do we offer:

• REMOTE OPPORTUNITY to work full time;
• Vacation 28 calendar days per year;
• 7 wellness days per year (time off) that can be used to deal with household issues, to lie down and recover without taking sick leave;
• Bonuses up to $5000 for recommending successful applicants for positions in the company;
• Full payment for professional training, international conferences and meetings;
• Corporate discount for English lessons;
• ​Health benefits. If you are not eligible for corporate medical insurance, the company will compensate you with up to $ 1,000 gross per year per employee, according to the paychecks. This can be spent on self-purchase of health insurance or on doctor’s fees for yourself and close relatives (spouse, children);
• ​Workplace organization. The company provides all employees with an equipped workplace and all the necessary equipment (table, armchair, wifi, etc.) in our offices or co-working locations. In the other locations, the company provides reimbursement of workplace costs up to $ 1000 gross once every 3 years, according to the paychecks. This money can be spent on the rent of the co-working room, on equipping the working place at home (desk, chair, Internet, etc.) during those 3 years;
• Internal gamified gratitude system: receive bonuses from colleagues and exchange them for time off, merch, team building activities, massage certificates, etc. 

Sounds good? Join us now!