Full Stack / Network Engineer / NetDevops Engineer

Location: Remote / On-site (flexible) Experience Level: Senior (3-5 years)

About Criterion Networks For more than a decade, Criterion has delivered and operationalized Cisco infrastructure for regulated and mission-critical enterprises: secure networking, secure access, campus, data center, cloud, and, increasingly, AI. We lead a category we call Continuous Validation: proving change against the intent you defined before it reaches production, and keeping it aligned as you operate.

Role Summary We're seeking a Senior Full Stack / Network Engineer/ NetDevops Engineer to bridge application development and infrastructure operations. You will architect, develop, and maintain full-stack solutions that integrate network infrastructure, automation, and customer-facing platforms. This hybrid role combines backend development expertise (Python, Django), modern frontend skills (React), and deep knowledge of enterprise networking platforms (Cisco, Juniper, Palo Alto, SD-WAN, Fortinet).

Key Responsibilities Development & Architecture · Build RESTful APIs and microservices using Python and Django for network automation and orchestration · Develop responsive, intuitive web interfaces using React for network operations dashboards and management tools · Architect solutions for network device integration and multi-vendor management across Cisco, Juniper, Palo Alto, and Fortinet platforms · Optimize application performance and database design for high-scale network telemetry and event processing · Cloud native applications like Docker, Kubernetes. Network Engineering & Integration · Fair understanding of various network architectures spanning multiple vendor platforms (ACI, Nexus, SD-WAN, Hypershield, ISE, SSE, MCD) · Develop automation scripts and plugins for network provisioning, configuration management, and troubleshooting · Build bidirectional integrations with network management platforms (API-driven device onboarding, real-time state synchronization) · TCP/IP stack, Networking Routing Switching Protocols. Customer Engagement · Lead technical discussions with C-level and operations teams to understand infrastructure challenges and requirements · Present solutions architecture, demonstrating how validation approaches reduce operational risk · Conduct training sessions on platform features, best practices, and network operations workflows · Gather customer feedback and translate requirements into product improvements and feature development · Provide technical escalation support during customer onboarding and production deployments Validation & Quality · Design and implement comprehensive testing strategies for network configurations and application integrations · Build validation test suites that exercise edge cases and failure scenarios in Production-Representative environments · Contribute to incident response and post-mortems, improving system reliability and customer confidence

Required Skills & Experience Core Technical Competencies · Python Programming: 4+ years; expert-level fluency with modern frameworks, async patterns, and production deployment practices · Django Framework: 3+ years building robust, scalable backend services; experience with DRF (Django REST Framework), authentication, and middleware · React: 3+ years building component-driven UIs; comfort with state management, API integration, and modern tooling (Webpack, npm/yarn) · Networking Knowledge: Deep understanding of OSI layers, TCP/IP, routing, switching, and security concepts; ability to troubleshoot end-to-end connectivity · Network Device Experience: 1-2 years of Hands-on experience with at least 3 of the following platforms: · Cisco: ACI, Nexus (NX-OS), ISE, Intersight, SD-WAN · Juniper: Junos, MX series, SRX firewalls · Palo Alto Networks: PA series firewalls, Panorama, Next-Gen firewalls · SD-WAN: Cisco SD-WAN (Viptela), Fortinet FortiGate, or equivalent · API & Integration: Experience with REST APIs, GraphQL, webhook-driven architectures; ability to integrate third-party APIs and SDKs · Database Design: Relational (PostgreSQL, MySQL) and time-series databases (InfluxDB, Prometheus); understanding of indexing, query optimization, and scaling · DevOps & Infrastructure: Familiarity with containerization (Docker), orchestration (Kubernetes), and CI/CD pipelines (Git, Jenkins, GitLab CI, or GitHub Actions) · Automation & Scripting: Network automation frameworks (Ansible, Terraform, Python libraries like Netmiko, Napalm, or vendor SDKs)

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with production validation frameworks and testing methodologies for infrastructure
• Familiarity with AI/ML-driven network operations or anomaly detection platforms
• Background in regulated industries (financial services, healthcare, government) or mission-critical systems
• Cisco certifications (CCNA, CCNP) or equivalent vendor certifications
• Open-source contributions or published technical writing on networking or infrastructure topics
• Experience building platforms or tools that span multiple cloud environments (AWS, Azure, GCP)
• Knowledge of security concepts (encryption, zero-trust, SASE, threat detection)

What We're Looking For Beyond technical skills, we value engineers who:

• Think operationally. You understand that code running in development ≠ code running in production. You design with operational visibility, rollback safety, and customer confidence in mind.
• Bridge disciplines. You're equally comfortable discussing REST API design and network packet flow; you can translate between engineers and network operators.
• Own outcomes. You follow problems from customer discovery through resolution, taking pride in shipping solutions that solve customer problems.
• Stay current. You invest time understanding emerging network technologies, cloud infrastructure shifts, and how your stack evolves alongside industry trends.
• Communicate clearly. You explain technical decisions in business terms to stakeholders; you write clear documentation and code comments.