Networking Manager

Southern Company • Birmingham, AL

2d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Networking Manager provides leadership and technical direction for the design, implementation, and operation of Southern Linc’s core IP network infrastructure within its datacenters. This position blends IP networking and telecommunications engineering expertise to plan, procure, install, and maintain mission-critical systems supporting Southern Linc’s 4G LTE packet core. The successful candidate will oversee the team that manages Southern Linc’s network equipment such as datacenter switches, routers, firewalls, and proprietary telecommunications systems. They will also collaborate with operations and monitoring teams to ensure reliability and performance. The manager will also establish and enforce installation, operational, and cybersecurity standards consistent with industry and Southern Company’s best practices.

Requirements

• Minimum of 4 years of experience maintaining IP routing and switching equipment.
• Minimum of 2 years of experience designing and implementing networking systems in collaboration with vendors.
• Deep understanding of networking fundamentals and protocols, including OSI model, Ethernet, 802.1Q, IP, TCP/UDP, OSPF, BGP, and IPSec.
• Strong knowledge of firewalls and stateful inspection principles.
• Experience with Syslog, SNMP, and other network monitoring protocols and tools.
• Proficiency with network traffic analysis tools (e.g., Wireshark).
• Proven leadership and team management abilities.
• Strong organizational, interpersonal, and project management skills.
• Ability to innovate, prioritize, and work independently in a fast-paced environment.
• Candidate will need to pass Southern Co ITP certification

Nice To Haves

• Cisco certifications (CCNA, CCNP, or higher).
• Experience with firewall policy management (Palo Alto preferred).
• Familiarity with software-defined networking (SDN) concepts and solutions (Arista CCF/EOS preferred).
• Experience with VMware and NSX-T virtualization technologies.
• Knowledge of LTE cellular technology, signaling, and best practices.
• Experience with carrier network deployments or MPLS traffic engineering.
• Understanding of intrusion prevention systems and cybersecurity best practices.

Responsibilities

• Design and implement virtualized network and server infrastructure to support capacity growth and lifecycle upgrades.
• Develop and maintain technical documentation and standard operating procedures.
• Serve as an escalation point for Southern Linc’s Customer Care and Network Operations Center.
• Collaborate with IT Security to support assessments and remediation activities.
• Manage network issues and tickets; participate in an on-call rotation, including nights and weekends.
• Provide input for annual capital and O&M budgets.
• Supervise and mentor Core Network Engineering team members; manage performance and development.
• Lead long- and short-term business planning for the Core Network Engineering team.
• Oversee network performance improvement initiatives and budgeting for the Core Network Engineering group.

Benefits

• Competitive base salary
• Annual incentive awards for eligible employees
• Health, welfare and retirement benefits designed to support physical, financial, and emotional/social well-being
• Additional compensation, such as an incentive program, with the amount of any bonus/awards subject to the terms and conditions of the applicable incentive plan(s)

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager