Director, Platform Engineering

Mastercard•O'fallon, MO

18h

About The Position

The Data Center and Customer Edge Network Engineering team is seeking a Director to lead Mastercard’s next-generation WAN strategy through the global deployment of SD-WAN and the transformation of the customer edge network. This leader will be accountable for driving scalable, secure, and resilient solutions across thousands of sites globally. The ideal candidate combines deep technical expertise with strong leadership, execution discipline, and a passion for building high-performing teams and future-ready platforms. As Director, you will own the end-to-end strategy, planning, execution, and operational readiness of Mastercard’s global SD-WAN program. You will lead cross-functional engineering teams and partner closely with operations, architecture, security, sourcing, and business units to ensure seamless delivery, modernization, and support of our WAN infrastructure. This role will oversee platform standardization, site migrations, vendor integration, and alignment to global compliance and risk frameworks.

Requirements

Proven leadership experience in large-scale network transformation programs, including SD-WAN strategy and deployment
Deep knowledge of Cisco and Fortinet routing and switching platforms (Fortinet SD-WAN experience highly beneficial)
Hands-on or oversight experience with enterprise firewalls (Check Point, Palo Alto)
Expertise in hybrid cloud network integration across Azure, Google, and AWS platforms
Strong understanding of dynamic routing (BGP, OSPF), segmentation, and zero-trust design principles
Demonstrated success building and leading geographically distributed engineering teams
Strong background in vendor governance, automation-driven operations, and program delivery
Effective communicator with experience presenting to senior leadership and business stakeholders
Familiarity with compliance frameworks (PCI, ISO 27001), change control, and network risk management

Responsibilities

Lead the global SD-WAN strategy and oversee phased rollout across 2,000+ customer edge sites
Define and drive the architecture, standardization, and lifecycle management of WAN, LAN, and cloud-edge platforms
Own planning and execution of all SD-WAN deployments, including pilot programs, scaling models, migration waves, and production transitions
Govern vendor partnerships and technical integrations (e.g., Fortinet, Cisco, managed services providers)
Provide architectural oversight and leadership for: o Fortinet SD-WAN edge design and policy enforcement o Cisco ISR/ASR router optimization and phased decommissioning o Firewall migration planning and segmentation improvements
Align WAN modernization with Mastercard’s broader network architecture strategy and regulatory mandates
Establish telemetry, observability, and operational health monitoring in collaboration with Network Operations
Coordinate with Information Security on firewall rule standards, cloud connectivity, and encrypted traffic inspection
Drive automation, documentation, and QA of all deployment playbooks and change control workflows
Partner with sourcing, finance, and risk teams to ensure cost-effective and compliant delivery
Lead and mentor a global team of engineers and consultants; foster a high-performance culture and technical excellence
Serve as escalation point for executive leadership during major incidents or change events related to SD-WAN
Report program status, risks, KPIs, and business impact to senior leadership

Benefits

insurance (including medical, prescription drug, dental, vision, disability, life insurance)
flexible spending account and health savings account
paid leaves (including 16 weeks of new parent leave and up to 20 days of bereavement leave)
80 hours of Paid Sick and Safe Time, 25 days of vacation time and 5 personal days, pro-rated based on date of hire
10 annual paid U.S. observed holidays
401k with a best-in-class company match
deferred compensation for eligible roles
fitness reimbursement or on-site fitness facilities
eligibility for tuition reimbursement

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