Job Description

Company Description

West and Central African Research and Education Network (WACREN) is a not-for-profit organisation committed to promoting and establishing interconnections between national research and education networks in West and Central Africa, forming a regional research and education network. WACREN provides services to foster collaboration between research and education institutions in the region and between them and their peer institutions at continental and international levels.

Role Description

We seek a Senior Network Engineer (SNE) to play a vital role in maintaining and improving WACREN's network infrastructure, extending across the West and Central African region. As a Senior Network Engineer, you will join a team responsible for ensuring the network is stable and secure and performing effectively, developing and operating network management systems, conducting service assurance, and providing technical support to the constituent member networks. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in computer networking and a proven track record of success in a similar role. We want to hear from you if you are a motivated individual with excellent problem-solving skills and a passion for optimising network performance!

The position is full-time and can be a hybrid role, implying that the role is located in Accra with remote work options.

Responsibilities

• Designing and implementing network solutions based on business requirements and industry best practices.
• Installing, configuring, and maintaining network equipment, including switches, routers, and firewalls.
• Monitoring network performance and troubleshooting any issues that may arise.
• Conducting regular network audits to identify and resolve any security vulnerabilities.
• Collaborating with cross-functional teams to ensure seamless integration of network infrastructure with other systems.
• Developing and implementing network policies and procedures to ensure data integrity and security.
• Actively participate in public forums for standards-setting bodies, Network Operators Groups (NOGs), etc., where matters discussed have the potential to impact the mission and performance of WACREN;
• Providing technical support and guidance to junior network engineers.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or higher in telecommunications, computer engineering, computer science, or a related field
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in network engineering or a similar role.
• Excellent command of all aspects of networking (routing/switching, transport protocols, application protocols, network security, and network management), data centre and cloud networking, and network automation with hands-on experience with IS-IS and BGP
• Strong understanding of network security principles and best practices - MANRS, RPKI, BGPSEC;
• Excellent technical documentation and communication (written and verbal) skills, with experience in writing proposals and reports
• Experience with network monitoring tools, management systems, and different vendor platforms (Juniper, Cisco, and Huawei)
• Experience in training and mentoring technical staff on technical, operational, processes, and quality assurance matters.
• Demonstrate a high level of innovative, analytical, and problem-solving abilities, as well as a high degree of initiative and motivation.
• Ability to work in a multicultural environment and demonstrate a high degree of proactive collaboration and knowledge sharing with colleagues and stakeholders.
• Professional certifications from Juniper, Cisco, or equivalent are highly desirable.

Type of Contract, Reporting, Assumption and Place of Duty

The selected applicant will be offered a 3-year contract with a one (1) year probationary period. The contract is renewable, subject to mutual agreement between WACREN and the position holder.

Mode Of Applying

Take a look at the West and Central African Research and Education Network (WACREN) website here.

Closing Date: 31st Jan. 2024