Network Hands & Feet Engineer (L2/L3 – Physical Support)

Location: Switzerland (Data Center / Enterprise Campus)

Experience Level: Mid‑level (4–6 years)

Employment Type: Permanent

Role Overview

We are looking for a Network Hands & Feet Engineer to provide reliable on‑site support for enterprise and data center network infrastructure. This role is primarily physical in nature (approximately 90%), with limited logical/network verification tasks (approximately 10%) to support remote engineering teams.

The position focuses on hardware installation, structured cabling, fiber handling, and physical troubleshooting, while assisting with basic Layer 2 and Layer 3 validation to ensure successful service delivery in mission‑critical environments.

Key Responsibilities

Physical Network Deployment (Primary Focus – ~90%)

• Perform device racking and de‑racking based on Rack Elevation Diagrams (REDs) for switches, routers, firewalls, and load balancers.
• Install equipment safely using rack rails, cage nuts, and stabilization kits, ensuring correct weight distribution.
• Connect and validate dual power supplies across A/B PDUs, including basic power checks.
• Handle Single‑Mode (SMF) and Multi‑Mode (MMF) fiber, including cleaning, inspection, and patching.
• Install and replace SFP, SFP+, QSFP+, and QSFP28 transceivers and verify physical link status.
• Execute structured patching and labeling in line with ANSI/TIA‑606‑B standards.
• Manage copper (RJ45) and fiber (LC, SC, MPO) patch panels.
• Trace and validate fiber paths using Visual Fault Locators (VFL).
• Coordinate with data center and telecom providers for cross‑connects and circuit extensions from Meet‑Me Rooms (MMR).

Logical Support and Verification (Secondary Focus – ~10%)

• Assist remote Network Engineering teams by performing basic Layer 2 and Layer 3 verification.
• Check VLAN assignments, interface status, and port configurations as instructed.
• Assist with Layer 3 interface bring‑up (SVIs or routed ports) and basic IP connectivity validation.
• Verify BGP and OSPF neighbor status following physical circuit installations.
• Support EtherChannel / LACP implementations by ensuring physical cabling matches logical configurations.
• Access devices via console or Out‑of‑Band (OOB) management when required.

Remote Management and Console Access

• Cable and support Out‑of‑Band (OOB) console solutions (Opengear, Lantronix, Cisco ISR).
• Troubleshoot serial connectivity issues such as baud rate mismatches and console cabling.
• Provide local laptop and serial access during incidents to support troubleshooting and device monitoring.

Required Experience and Skills

Experience

• 4–6 years of experience in data center or large enterprise campus network environments.
• Strong hands‑on experience with physical network installations and cabling.
• Exposure to enterprise network operations and incident support.

Technical Skills

• Ethernet and fiber cabling (SMF / MMF)
• Transceivers and modules: SFP, SFP+, QSFP+, QSFP28
• Basic knowledge of Cisco IOS, NX‑OS, Arista EOS, or PAN‑OS (show commands and interface checks)
• Tools: Visual Fault Locators (VFL), Light Meters, Fiber Inspection Scopes

Certifications

• CCNA or equivalent (mandatory)
• Higher‑level certifications are a plus but not required