ISP Network Engineer III

Job description

NRTC is Member Driven and Technology Focused – providing solutions that help our 1,500 electric and telephone members bring all the advantages of today’s evolving technology to rural America. NRTC’s solutions are developed specifically to meet the needs of rural utilities and their customers, and include integrated broadband, managed services, smart grid, mobile and video solutions. We are a dynamic, growing cooperative with more than 800 employees operating out of eight office locations.

Job Summary

We are seeking a highly skilled and experienced Senior ISP Network Engineer to become a vital member of our Managed Services Provider (MSP) team. In this role, you will design, implement, troubleshoot, and support complex multi-vendor broadband networks for rural and regional Internet Service Providers (ISPs).

Our ideal candidate possesses deep expertise across a range of network environments, including Cisco, Juniper, Adtran, Calix, Nokia, and Ciena, coupled with a strong understanding of carrier-grade IP and optical transport systems. As part of a mission-driven MSP dedicated to empowering rural and independent ISPs, you will work with cutting-edge access and transport technologies in diverse customer environments.

Join a collaborative, expert-driven team that values innovation, continuous learning, and professional growth. This is your opportunity to make a meaningful impact in underserved communities while advancing your career in a dynamic and supportive setting.

Responsibilities

• Design, configure, and maintain service provider networks across access, aggregation, and core layers using Cisco, Juniper, Adtran, Calix, Nokia, and Ciena equipment
• Engineer resilient Layer 2 environments with VLANs, LACP, MLAG, MC-LAG, Spanning Tree (RSTP/MSTP), and EVPN/VXLAN overlays
• Perform advanced troubleshooting of control plane and data plane issues, including BGP flaps, convergence delays, and CPU/memory anomalies
• Design and operate redundant routing and switching environments using VRRP, HSRP, GLBP, and BFD
• Act as escalation point for complex Layer ²⁄₃ network incidents and service-impacting issues
• Support IPv6 deployments, including dual-stack, NAT64, 6PE, and related technologies
• Manage secure remote connectivity via L2TP/IPsec, GRE, DMVPN, and L3 VPN solutions
• Work with cross-functional teams to onboard new customers, including network discovery, documentation, and transition into ongoing support
• Lead network assessments, migrations, and upgrades for managed ISP customers
• Participate in the development and enforcement of standard network design templates, configurations, and operational best practices
• Configure and manage routing protocols (BGP, OSPF, IS-IS), MPLS, VLANs, QoS, and IP addressing schemes
• Support optical transport and fiber networks, including Ciena (Blue Planet, ⁶⁵⁰⁰⁄₃₉₀₀ series) and Nokia (1830 PSS, SAR)
• Manage Calix and Adtran access network gear, including GPON, Active Ethernet, and ONT provisioning platforms.
• Perform proactive capacity planning and network performance optimization
• Automate routine tasks using tools like Python, Ansible, or Netmiko
• Implement structured firmware lifecycle processes and change windows with rollback and validation procedures.
• Coordinate with vendors for support, escalation, and solution planning
• Monitor network performance, capacity, and fault events; respond to alerts and participate in root cause analysis (RCA)
• Collaborate with security teams to enforce internal and external network protections
• Provide mentorship to junior engineers and assist in training technical support teams
• Ensure high availability and scalability in customer networks while maintaining service level agreements (SLAs)
• Maintain and update detailed documentation, diagrams, and change control logs
• Other duties as assigned

Required Qualifications

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Required Certifications:  CCNP/SP, JNCIP/SP, Nokia NRS II or equivalent
• Advanced expertise with routing protocols (BGP (eBGP/iBGP), IS-IS, OSPF, MPLS, VLANs, LAGs, VRRP/HSRP/GLBP), IPv4/IPv6, NAT, DHCP, RADIUS, and DNS
• Proficiency in network segmentation, micro-segmentation, and secure design practices for ISP infrastructure
• Experience with network monitoring and management systems (e.g., SNMP, NetFlow, syslog, Kentik, NetBox, LibreNMS, PRTG, or similar)
• Proficiency in fiber transport systems, WDM/DWDM technologies, and network planning tools
• Solid understanding of ISP operations, provisioning, IP addressing, peering, and customer edge configurations
• Ability to manage multiple projects and priorities in a fast-paced, customer-driven environment
• Excellent communication, documentation, and interpersonal skills
• Ability to pass background screening as required by NRTC policies

Preferred Qualifications

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Cisco CCNP SPCOR or CCIE-SP
• Calix Ethernet Access Network Fundamentals
• Adtran AOE Administrator
• Arista ACE-A
• ITIL Foundation v4 or equivalent
• Strong working knowledge of Nokia IP and optical transport platforms (1830, 7750, SAR), and Ciena (3900, 6500, Blue Planet)
• Demonstrable experience with Adtran TA5000, AOS and Calix E7/E9, SMx/CMS provisioning tools
• Familiarity with network automation and scripting (Python, Ansible, etc.) is a plus
• Experience with Broadband Network Gateway (BNG), CGNAT, and IPv6 dual-stack networks and transition technologies (e.g., Native, DS-Lite, 6rd)
• Understanding of NOC operations and managed services delivery models
• Familiarity with RDOF/BEAD/FCC broadband initiatives and rural broadband deployments

Minimum Education and Experience

• 7+ years of experience in service provider network engineering, including hands-on experience with Cisco and Juniper platforms

Physical Demands

• Position may be remote or hybrid with occasional travel (%) to customer sites or data centers
• Participation in an on-call rotation and after-hours support as needed

Disclaimer:  The above job description summary is intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by individuals assigned to this position.  It is not intended to be an exhaustive list of required responsibilities, duties and skills.  The order in which responsibilities, duties and skills are listed is not significant.

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