[Hiring] Senior Manager Network Engineering @UnitedHealth Group

Role Description

This hands-on leadership role manages the IT network team responsible for Optum Serve’s data network, security operations, and data center facility systems. The role oversees:

• Data center operations
• Network switching technologies
• Application Centric Infrastructure (ACI)
• Load balancing technologies
• Internal and external DNS
• Firewalls

This position partners closely with the Senior Infrastructure Architect, IT Operations, and other IT leaders to support the execution of business objectives and technology strategy across Optum Serve. The leader in this role is accountable for managing the network infrastructure that supports business operations and serves as the ultimate escalation point for a large, complex environment.

This role oversees more than 500 network devices across six data centers supporting three distinct lines of business, as well as approximately 350 network devices across 150 Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) clinic locations. Responsibilities include:

• Maintaining secure, balanced, and uninterrupted operation of Optum Serve’s core network services
• Serving as the primary point of contact for security and processing audits related to network infrastructure and operations
• Oversight of network infrastructure, WAN, LAN, load balancers, firewalls, IPv4/IPv6, BGP, VXLAN, EVPN, and related hardware appliances
• Providing leadership for patching and hardening, configuration management, monitoring, maintenance, and issue resolution across managed network systems

Work is driven by direct leadership, assigned projects, operational backlogs, and business requests. This role is accountable for:

• Administration of the network layer and supporting technologies
• Evaluation of modern solutions
• Delivery of modernization initiatives
• Operational excellence
• Ownership of network automation efforts

Managed technologies include, but are not limited to:

• ISP data circuits
• Azure ExpressRoute circuits
• Cisco network hardware
• Cisco ACI
• Cisco firewalls
• Palo Alto firewalls and VPN
• Cisco and Aruba wireless hardware
• NetBox, ForeScout, Ubiquiti network hardware
• AlgoSec, NetScaler and F5 load balancers
• Infoblox DNS

Team members in this role may also support network automation and Microsoft Azure management, including:

• Infrastructure as code
• Terraform
• Ansible
• Python
• Azure DNS
• Kubernetes networking
• Azure networking
• Azure Government cloud
• Azure commercial cloud

Primary Responsibilities:

• Manage a highly available data network environment
• Set team direction, resolve issues, and provide guidance and leadership to team members
• Adapt departmental plans and priorities to address business and operational challenges
• Lead the engineering and operations of network technologies, including LAN/WAN, VPN, data center, remote sites, teleworkers, firewalls, and IPS/IDS
• Manage physical installations and cabling for data center infrastructure, including servers, storage, network, and telecom systems
• Oversee data center facilities, including power and cooling systems
• Lead, educate, and grow the team’s technical capabilities through current- and future-state technology training
• Provide guidance to IT teams and partners in support of audits, network operations, and data center operations
• Oversee and implement network and data center projects that support business initiatives
• Design and implement scalable solutions that support organizational growth
• Ensure documentation is created, maintained, and kept accurate
• Develop and improve processes and procedures related to maintenance, automation, containerization, system testing, and functional validation
• Assist with technology assessments, evaluations, and product recommendations to support information security and infrastructure goals
• Guide staff in troubleshooting issues and supporting systems and IT services
• Oversee centralized documentation of the network footprint
• Create and update IT standard operating procedures for business services
• Maintain appropriate software and hardware licensing documentation
• Oversee the environment and daily network operations
• Partner with Engineering and Architecture teams on assessments, evaluations, proof of concept work, and recommendations for products and services
• Manage team on-call rotations and serve as an escalation point for after-hours support
• Work off-hours as job responsibilities require
• Perform other duties as assigned

Qualifications

• 6+ years of experience as a Network Systems Administrator
• 3+ years of IT operations and related dependencies
• 3+ years of experience with end-to-end system dependencies across infrastructure, systems, data, telecom, desktop, and mobile environments
• 3+ years of experience coaching and leading IT professionals across multiple disciplines
• 2+ years of data communications standards and implementations
• Willing or ability to participate in a 24x7 on-call rotation
• Willing or ability to work off-hours as job responsibilities require

Preferred Qualifications

• Current CCNP certification
• Certifications and hands-on experience with Microsoft, Cisco, VMware, EMC, and related technologies
• Scripting experience with Bash, Python, or PowerShell
• Experience managing infrastructure as code using Terraform, CloudFormation, or similar technologies
• Experience with OS and application hardening in compliance-driven environments, including DISA, NIST, VA6500, and HIPAA
• Experience deploying and maintaining business solutions in Microsoft Azure
• Experience with DevOps CI/CD workflows
• Experience with VMware technologies such as vRealize, ESXi, and Workstation Pro
• Experience with Cisco ACI or other SDN technologies supporting the Kubernetes networking model
• ITIL or other ITSM framework certification
• Experience with Cisco UCS and EMC enterprise products
• Experience with automation tools such as SCCM and Orchestrator
• Experience with Infrastructure as Code practices and tools
• DOD, VA, or military experience
• DOD, VA, or military clearances
• National Career Readiness Certificate

Benefits

• Comprehensive benefits package
• Incentive and recognition programs
• Equity stock purchase
• 401k contribution (all benefits are subject to eligibility requirements)

Application Deadline

This will be posted for a minimum of 2 business days or until a sufficient candidate pool has been collected. Job posting may come down early due to volume of applicants.