Network Engineer

Rakuten Symphony is reimagining telecom, changing supply chain norms and disrupting outmoded thinking that threatens the industry’s pursuit of rapid innovation and growth. Based on proven modern infrastructure practices, its open interface platforms make it possible to launch and operate advanced mobile services in a fraction of the time and cost of conventional approaches, with no compromise to network quality or security. Rakuten Symphony has operations in Japan, the United States, Singapore, India, South Korea, Europe, and the Middle East Africa region. For more information, visit: https://symphony.rakuten.com Building on the technology Rakuten used to launch Japan’s newest mobile network, we are taking our mobile offering global. To support our ambitions to provide an innovative cloud-native telco platform for our customers, Rakuten Symphony is looking to recruit and develop top talent from around the globe. We are looking for individuals to join our team across all functional areas of our business – from sales to engineering, support functions to product development. Let’s build the future of mobile telecommunications together! About Rakuten Rakuten Group, Inc. (TSE: 4755) is a global leader in internet services that empower individuals, communities, businesses and society. Founded in Tokyo in 1997 as an online marketplace, Rakuten has expanded to offer services in e-commerce, fintech, digital content and communications to approximately 1.5 billion members around the world. The Rakuten Group has over 27,000 employees, and operations in 30 countries and regions. For more information visit https://global.rakuten.com/corp/.

Role Overview We are seeking a Technical Lead to head the Quality Assurance efforts for our IP Networking team. This role is responsible for the end-to-end validation of Service Provider (SP) architectures, covering the network path from the RAN side through to the Internet exit. You will ensure that new designs, products, and applications meet rigorous performance and stability standards before production deployment.

Core Responsibilities

• Architecture Validation: Analyze end-to-end architecture and use cases for any new design, product, or application.
• Proper end-to-end knowledge of the Service Provider network (RAN side to Internet exit path).
• Test Lifecycle Management: Prepare, execute, and document comprehensive test plans; structure test results for stakeholder review.
• Defect Management: Identify, document, and track defects, following up directly with vendors for technical corrections.
• Cross-Team Coordination: Lead design-level discussions with **Engineering** and Operations** teams to ensure seamless service transitions.
• Delivery Excellence: Adhere to strict project timelines for testing phases without compromising the depth or quality of the validation.
• Develop detailed network diagrams, design documents, and implementation plans for new data center deployments, expansions, and upgrades.
• Evaluate and recommend new network technologies and solutions to enhance performance, security, and efficiency.

Technical Expertise 1. Network Platforms & Management * Cisco Systems: Expert knowledge of Cisco IOS XR, XRv9K, and Nexus 93180 YC (FX/FX3S). * Nokia: Hands-on experience with Nokia Service Provider routing platforms. * Management & Controllers: Proficiency in Cisco EPNM, DCNM/NDFC, and Cisco Crosswork (CNC). * Virtualization: Experience with VMware ESXi and KVM for deploying and testing virtualized network functions (VNFs). * Cisco ACI: (Added Advantage) Experience with ACI fabric and policy-driven networking. * Juniper: (Added Advantage) Familiarity with Junos OS and MX/PTX series platforms. * IPAM: Practical experience with IP Address Management tools and workflows. * Traffic Generation: Experience with industry-standard tools like IXIA or Spirent to simulate SP-scale traffic and latency.

2. Protocols & Services * Routing: IS-IS, OSPF, eBGP, iBGP, BGP-LS, Route Reflectors (RR). *Next-Gen Transport: Specialized experience in SRv6 (Segment Routing over IPv6). * Switching: vPC, STP, Ethanalyzer, and SPAN. * Generic: PTP (1588v2), QoS, EEM, SyncE, and SNMP. * Security & Connectivity: Mastery of IPsec connectivity for secure transport and site-to-site tunneling. * L3 VPN: Deep understanding of Full Mesh, Hub & Spoke topologies, and Route Targets (RT). * L2 VPN: Expertise in EVPN and Bridge Domains.

3 .

IPv6 Expertise: *Demonstrate extensive knowledge and practical experience in IPv6 design, planning, and implementation across all layers of the network. *Lead the transition and integration of IPv6 into existing and new network infrastructures. Troubleshooting & Optimization:

4. External Interconnects & Peering * Internet Services: Advanced knowledge of External Peering, Transit connectivity, and Internet exit path validation. * Roaming & Voice: Understanding connectivity requirements for Roaming services (GRX/IPX) and Voice Interconnect (SBC/IMS peering). * Boundary Security: Knowledge of securing external boundaries and peering point stability.

5. Automation * Highly Recommended: Ability to use Python, Ansible, or pyATS for automated test execution. * Experience integrating automation scripts within CNC and NDFC environments to streamline the QA lifecycle.

Qualifications

• Experience: 8–12 years of total experience in IP Networking.
• Minimum of 6 years in a Service Provider or Large Enterprise QA/Tier-3 support role.
• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Electronics, Telecommunications, or Computer Science.
• Certifications: CCNP or CCIE (Enterprise Infrastructure or Service Provider).