Principal Network Engineer

Upbound Group•Plano, TX

1d•Onsite

About The Position

Upbound Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: UPBD) is a technology and data-driven leader in accessible and inclusive financial solutions that address the evolving needs and aspirations of underserved customers. The Company’s customer-facing operating units include industry-leading brands such as Acima, Brigit, and Rent-A-Center that facilitate consumer transactions across a wide range of store-based and digital channels, including over 2,300 company branded retail units across the United States, Mexico, and Puerto Rico. Upbound Group, Inc. is headquartered in Plano, Texas. JOB PURPOSE We are seeking a highly experienced Principal Network Engineer with deep expertise in Cisco technologies to lead the design, deployment, and management of enterprise-grade networking solutions. This role requires hands-on experience across Route, Switch, Security and Data Center disciplines along with modern cloud networking skills in AWS and proficiency in infrastructure automation and Python scripting. The ideal candidate possesses strong experience in both traditional and cloud-native networking and brings a DevOps-oriented mindset to drive operational efficiency, scalability, and security across a hybrid environment.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in computer science, Information Security, or a related field.
10–15 years of hands-on experience with Cisco enterprise technologies, including: Routing & Switching (OSPF, BGP, VRF, HSRP, STP)
Cisco Nexus (5K/7K/9K), Catalyst Series
Cisco ACI (EPGs, Contracts, BDs)
Cisco Meraki Networking (MX, MS, MR)
Cisco ISE, SDA (fabric design, segmentation, policy sets)
Deep knowledge of AWS networking services, including: VPC, Subnets, Security Groups, Transit Gateway, Direct Connect
Cloud-native services: DNS, load balancing, proxies and VPN
Proficiency with Python and experience building automation scripts/tools for networking use cases
Solid experience with infrastructure as code (e.g., Ansible, Terraform, Git)
Strong understanding of Layer 2/3 protocols, network security, and performance tuning
Experience with monitoring and telemetry tools (NetFlow, SNMP, Syslog, etc.)
Excellent written and verbal communication skills; able to influence technical decisions and drive projects forward.

Nice To Haves

Cisco certifications: CCNP, CCIE (R&S or DC), or equivalent.
AWS certifications: AWS Certified Advanced Networking
Experience with SD-WAN and SASE architectures
Relevant certifications or professional training in cybersecurity architecture, IAM, or Zero Trust Network Access
Exposure to network policy frameworks and automation APIs (ACI, Meraki, AWS)

Responsibilities

Design and deploy network architectures that meet organizational needs, including software-defined networks and cloud-based platforms
Architect and manage Cisco-based infrastructure including Catalyst and Nexus switching, Catalyst routers, ACI fabric, and wireless (Cisco/Meraki)
Administer and optimize ACI environments, including policy configuration, fabric management, and service integration
Lead deployment and lifecycle management of Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE), including policy enforcement, device profiling, and 802.1X authentication
Design and support AWS Advanced Networking solutions including VPCs, Transit Gateways, Direct Connect, and hybrid connectivity
Develop and manage infrastructure-as-code (IaC) frameworks using tools such as Terraform, Ansible, and CloudFormation
Write and maintain Python scripts to automate network provisioning, configuration management, and monitoring
Monitor network performance and troubleshoot issues to ensure high availability and reliability
Collaborate with cross-functional teams (Cloud, Security, DevOps, App Teams) to ensure reliable and secure connectivity
Own high-level troubleshooting and root cause analysis for critical incidents across on-premises and cloud environments
Maintain comprehensive documentation, network diagrams, and standards for existing and future-state architecture
Mentor junior engineers and provide technical leadership for strategic initiatives