Sr Network Engineer

As a Sr Network Engineer, you’ll help build and protect the network foundation that keeps Southwest connected across airports, our Corporate Campus, data centers, and cloud environments. You’ll lead the research, design, and implementation of enterprise network solutions, helping ensure critical systems remain available, scalable, and ready to support the operation. Partnering with Enterprise Architecture, vendors, and Technology Teams, you’ll shape platform strategy, monitor performance and capacity, resolve complex issues, and introduce new technologies that strengthen network reliability. You’ll also provide technical guidance and mentorship to other Engineers while leading project work through design and implementation, including changes completed during designated Network Engineering change windows. Through deep technical expertise, proactive problem-solving, and strong collaboration, you’ll help deliver the secure and dependable connectivity Southwest’s Employees, Customers, and operation rely on every day.

Additional details

• This role is offered as a remote workplace position, which may require travel for training, meetings, conferences, etc. Outside of those required visits, the majority of your working time may be spent in a remote location, away from our Corporate Campus. Please note, while this is a remote position, there is a limited group of states or localities ineligible for Employees to regularly perform their work. Those ineligible locations are: Alaska, California, Colorado, Delaware, Illinois, Iowa, Maryland, Massachusetts, Montana, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Vermont, West Virginia, Washington, Wyoming, and Puerto Rico. 

• U.S. citizenship or current authorization to work in the U.S. required and no current or future work authorization sponsorship available.

We’re committed to fair hiring practices and to making employment decisions without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, age, military or veteran status, disability, genetic information, or other legally protected characteristics. 

Responsibilities

• Oversee vendor management, partner governance, and oversight to deploy systems which are complete, designed and managed over life cycles while also guiding others
• Identify problems proactively, plan solutions, recommend software and systems, and coordinate developments in an orderly manner to meet business requirements
• Monitor and test performance and capacity for potential bottlenecks, identify possible solutions, and work with partners to implement fixes
• Provide innovative solutions to proactively ensure the highest levels of systems and infrastructure availability in order to resolve escalations of high complexity
• Create the platform strategy and road map in collaboration with Enterprise Architecture
• Identify opportunities proactively to adopt emerging industry trends in collaboration with Enterprise Architecture
• Meet commitments and deliverables as related to leading projects and/or project oversight
• Provide technical development, mentoring, and guide the work of others
• Create and follow Network/Traffic flow Diagrams
• May perform other job duties as directed by Employee's Leaders

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Ability to analyze and resolve problems of high complexity
• Expert knowledge of hardware components, systems, software, and networking technologies
• Ability to mentor/guide others to perform troubleshooting, root-cause analysis, solution development, and implementation within specific technology areas
• Skilled in expert partnering, negotiation, and communication in working with Business Customers and Technology support
• Expert knowledge of software development methodologies, practices, concepts, and technologies obtained through formal training and or work experience
• Ability to prioritize effectively and take on multiple concurrent assignments, whether administrative or project related, while maintaining a successful level of completion in all responsible self-work and/or the work of others
• Ability to develop, present, and effectively communicate complex ideas and strategies in both technical and user-friendly language to a variety of audiences
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, team-based, Customer service-oriented environment with a high regard for hospitality
• Skilled in troubleshooting, analyzing and resolving network traffic and issues

Education

• Required: High School Diploma or GED

Experience

• Advanced level experience, seasoned and specialized knowledge in:
  • Industry-related experience as a Senior Network Engineer
  • Designing and deploying in large enterprise networks
  • Network hardware/platforms (Cisco IOS, Cisco NXOS)
  • Communication protocols (TCP/IP) and routing protocols (e.g., BGP, OSPF)
  • WAN connectivity (e.g., MPLS, SDWAN)
  • Network diagnostic, monitoring and analysis tools (e.g., Wireshark)

Licensing/Certification

• N/A

Physical Abilities

• Ability to perform work duties from [limited space work station/desk/office area] for extended periods of time
• Ability to communicate and interact with others in the English language to meet the demands of the job
• Ability to use a computer and other office productivity tools with sufficient speed and accuracy to meet the demands of the job

Other Qualifications

• Must maintain a well-groomed appearance per Company appearance standards as described in established guidelines
• Must be a U.S. citizen or have authorization to work in the United States as defined by the Immigration Reform Act of 1986
• Must be at least 18 years of age
• Must be able to comply with Company attendance standards as described in established guidelines
• Must be able to travel and / or attend Company and non-Company facilities and remote locations such as remote-based offices as necessary

Pay & Benefits:

• Competitive market salary from $138,800 per year to $154,200 per year* depending on qualifications and experience. For eligible Leadership and individual contributor roles, additional bonus opportunities are available and awarded at the discretion of the Company.

Benefits you’ll love

• Fly for free, as a privilege, on any open seat on all Southwest flights (your eligible dependents too)

• Southwest will help fund your Retirement Savings Plan, which includes a dollar-for-dollar 401(k) Company match contribution of up to 9.3% of your eligible earnings**

• Potential for annual profit-sharing contribution in the Southwest Retirement Savings Plan—when Southwest profits, you profit***

• Competitive health insurance for you and your eligible dependents

• Southwest offers health plan coverage options that start from the very first day of employment. You'll have 30 days to select and enroll in your health plan, and coverage will be retroactively available to your first day of employment.

• Explore more benefits you’ll love:

*Pay amount doesn’t guarantee employment for any particular period.
**401(k) Company match contributions are subject to the plan’s vesting schedule. Match contributions may vary based on the position.
*** Profit-sharing contributions are subject to the Retirement Savings Plan vesting schedule and are made at the discretion of the Company.