Test Principal Engineer- Networking background is a must

SonicWall • Milpitas, CA

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About The Position

SonicWall is seeking a Test Principal Engineer with a strong networking background to serve as a subject matter expert for escalated issues from enterprise customers. The role focuses on troubleshooting complex networking and security issues, leading high-impact incidents through resolution, and designing test environments to reproduce customer-reported problems. The engineer will define test strategies, methodologies, and validation plans for networking and security products, and collaborate with Engineering, Support, QA, and Product teams to identify root causes and implement solutions.

The position requires strong knowledge of L2-L7 networking protocols, particularly SSL, high availability, state synchronization, and network clustering, as well as major operating systems including UNIX, Linux, and Microsoft Windows. The engineer will work in a high-pressure, interruption-driven environment while managing competing priorities and customer commitments.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent experience.
• 7–10+ years of experience in networking, network security, technical support, QA, or a related engineering discipline.
• Strong understanding of Ethernet, TCP/IP, networking fundamentals, and L2-L7 networking protocols.
• Strong knowledge of SSL, high availability, state synchronization, network clustering, and UNIX, Linux, and Microsoft Windows operating systems.
• Expertise in SSL testing, system testing, and functional validation.
• Hands-on experience with Layer 2 and Layer 3 networking technologies.
• Experience testing switching protocols including STP, RSTP, MSTP, and PVST+.
• Experience testing routing protocols including OSPF, IS-IS, and BGP.
• Proficiency with network test equipment such as IXIA and Spirent.
• Hands-on experience configuring and troubleshooting Cisco and Juniper switches and routers.
• Working knowledge of LAN/WAN networking architectures and implementation methodologies.
• Strong understanding of network security technologies, including firewalls, IPS, IDS, and vulnerability protection.
• Crisis management and customer-facing problem-resolution experience.
• Ability to configure, analyze, and troubleshoot medium- to large-scale network environments.
• Strong organizational skills and ability to manage priorities and customer commitments.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, especially in remote and cross-functional environments.
• Ability to work independently while contributing to a collaborative team.
• Self-motivated, dependable, flexible, and able to manage time effectively, with a strong sense of ownership and a can-do attitude.
• Strong problem-solving, analytical, troubleshooting, and root-cause analysis skills.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with multicast technologies such as PIM-SM, IGMP, MLD, and MSDP.
• Experience with MPLS technologies, including RSVP, LDP, and Traffic Engineering.
• Prior experience as an Escalation Engineer or Technical Support Engineer supporting enterprise networking environments.
• Proven ability to recreate and resolve customer issues remotely.
• Experience working directly with enterprise customers and managing critical escalations.
• Excellent presentation skills.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a subject matter expert for escalated issues from SonicWall Enterprise customers.
• Lead troubleshooting for complex customer issues using Wireshark, Netmon, and other network diagnostic utilities.
• Act as the technical focal point for high-impact customer incidents and drive issues to resolution.
• Design, build, and maintain test environments to reproduce customer-reported issues.
• Define test strategies, methodologies, and validation plans for networking and security products.
• Collaborate with Engineering, Support, QA, and Product teams to identify root causes and implement solutions.
• Manage multiple priorities effectively in a high-pressure, interruption-driven environment.

What This Job Offers

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