Lead Network Engineer

Duration: Long-term engagement (2+ years)

Citizenship: EU citizens only

Location: Strasbourg, France (on-site)

Overview

We are looking for a Lead Network Engineer with a strong technical background and proven leadership experience to take ownership of network operations in a high-availability, mission-critical environment. The successful candidate will ensure the stability, performance, and security of large-scale network infrastructures, combining deep technical expertise with effective operational management.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and coordinate daily network operations, ensuring service continuity, incident resolution, and adherence to SLA/OLA targets.
• Serve as the primary escalation point for high-severity incidents, driving timely resolution and minimizing impact on core systems.
• Manage and mentor a team of network engineers, overseeing workload allocation, skills development, and performance optimization.
• Conduct advanced troubleshooting, root cause analysis, and implement corrective and preventive measures across complex, multi-vendor environments.
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders, providing updates, technical insights, and recommendations for continuous improvement.
• Ensure full compliance with ITIL processes, including Incident, Problem, Change, and Capacity Management.
• Support audits, risk assessments, and security or compliance activities related to network infrastructure.

Required Skills & Experience

• Strong hands-on expertise in enterprise networking technologies: routing, switching, firewalls, VPNs, load balancing, and WAN optimization.
• Proven experience managing and supporting mission-critical network infrastructures in 24/7 operational environments.
• Advanced knowledge and certification in Check Point (CCSA/CCSE; CCSM highly desirable).
• Additional certifications in Cisco (CCNP/CCIE), Fortinet (NSE), Palo Alto, or Juniper are highly valued.
• Experience with network monitoring, automation, and high-availability architectures.
• Familiarity with ITIL v4 practices and operational service management principles.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage effectively with technical teams and senior stakeholders.