Network & Security engineer

Position Overview

Alpha Data is seeking a highly skilled and motivated Network and Security Engineer to join our Managed Services Network Operations Center (NOC) team in Dubai.

In this role, you will be responsible for providing critical operations and break-fix support, executing small-scale projects across a diverse portfolio of multiple enterprise clients. The ideal candidate will possess deep technical expertise in traditional Routing & Switching alongside advanced next-generation firewall technologies, SD-WAN, and SASE frameworks. Exceptional customer-handling skills, clear communication, strong documentation practices, and an ITIL-aligned approach to service delivery are essential for success in this role.

Key Responsibilities

1. Operations & Break-Fix Support

• Provide 24/7 technical support and incident management within the Alpha Data NOC to maintain strict SLAs for multiple external clients.
• Isolate, troubleshoot, and resolve complex network and security incidents spanning multi-vendor environments.
• Perform root cause analysis (RCA) for critical problems and document findings systematically.

2. Project Execution & Implementation

• Plan, configure, and execute small-to-medium network and security projects, migrations, and infrastructure upgrades.
• Collaborate with delivery teams to ensure smooth transition of newly deployed client environments into NOC operations.

3. Vulnerability & Security Management

• Regularly assess client infrastructures for security vulnerabilities and coordinate patching, firmware upgrades, and hardening tasks.
• Maintain and optimize firewall policies, security profiles, and access control lists across various security platforms.

4. Documentation & Compliance

• Maintain accurate and up-to-date network topology diagrams, high-level/low-level design documentation (HLD/LLD), and standard operating procedures (SOPs).
• Follow strict ITIL service management frameworks for Incident, Problem, Change, and Configuration Management.

5. Customer & Stakeholder Management

• Act as a primary technical point of contact for clients during critical incidents, offering professional and transparent updates.
• Translate complex technical issues into clear business terms for stakeholders.

Technical Skills & Competencies

• Routing & Switching: Hands-on experience configuring, troubleshooting, and managing Cisco, Aruba & other enterprise switches and routers (OSPF, BGP, VLANs, STP, VxLAN).
• Next-Generation Firewalls (NGFW): Advanced administration, policy configuration, and troubleshooting experience on:
• Cisco – Firepower, Meraki
• Fortinet (FortiGate, FortiManager, FortiAnalyzer)
• Palo Alto Networks (Strata, Panorama)
• Checkpoint (Quantum, SmartConsole)
• Next-Gen Architecture: Practical knowledge and deployment experience with SD-WAN solutions and SASE (Secure Access Service Edge) frameworks.
• Vulnerability Management: Familiarity with assessing, prioritizing, and mitigating infrastructure risks and network vulnerabilities.

Qualifications & Experience Requirements

• Experience: 6–7 years of progressive experience in managing enterprise network and security infrastructures, ideally within a Managed Service Provider (MSP) or an enterprise NOC environment.
• Location: Based in Dubai, UAE (Alpha Data Office/NOC).
• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Computer Engineering, or a related field.
• Required Professional Certifications:
• Cisco: CCNP Enterprise or CCNP Security (Active status required)
• CompTIA: Security
• Vendor Certifications: Fortinet NSE / FCSS certifications (e.g., Fortinet Certified Professional/Solution Specialist) and Palo Alto Networks certifications (PCNSA / PCNSE).
• Frameworks: Clear understanding of ITIL v3 or ITIL 4 concepts and workflows.

Soft Skills & Attributes

• Communication: Excellent verbal and written English communication skills.
• Customer Centricity: Strong customer-handling capabilities with the ability to maintain composure under pressure during high-severity outages.
• Detail-Oriented: A methodical approach to documentation, ensuring all network changes and customer interactions are accurately logged.