Job Summary

The Senior Network Engineer, Cloud & Datacenter is responsible for designing efficient and optimal networks, including local area networks (LANs), wide area networks (WANs), the Internet, intranets, cloud computing virtual networks, software defined networks, and other data communications systems.  As part of a high performing team of network technologists, the Senior Network Engineer engages in technical workgroups, resolves and makes decisions on complex and high-risk issues, performs research, analysis, design, creation, and implementation of infrastructure systems to meet current and future user requirements.  This role is accountable for establishing cross team relationships and partnering with all business disciplines, other MI teams, outsourcing vendors, and external suppliers to define and implement the Cloud and Datacenter Network roadmap, building and enforcing the standards defined in it.  This position will also engage to define and support service delivery and operational support standards for our datacenter and cloud networks, partner with the global technology peer teams to meet service level requirements and resolve service delivery issues across the portfolio.

Reporting to the Sr Dir, Cloud & Datacenter Network, this key position is responsible to ensure overall requirements by customers and peer delivery and operations groups are met. Responsibilities include, but are not limited to: continental IT executives, property LAN service providers (LSPs), end-user computing services delivery, hosting services, enterprise availability, server, storage, virtualization, inclusive of security/privacy, risk management, and disaster and crisis management.  The successful candidate will provide senior technical engagement for all phases of the infrastructure lifecycle from ideation through execution, and ongoing management and support of the end-to-end network servicing all Marriott cloud and datacenter network systems. (S)/He will develop and execute new initiatives to simplify, standardize, optimize, and automate the network designs, tooling, and operations to reduce implementation cycle times, eliminate service downtime, optimize performance, and ensure that all security and compliance requirements are fully governed.

CANDIDATE PROFILE

Education and Experience

Required:

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science or related technical field experience/certification  
• 7+ years’ experience as a Network Engineer with 5 or greater years in a hands-on role that implements engineering standards, documenting engineering designs, and participating in project cutovers.
• 5 years’ experience in an IT infrastructure lead role that include:
  • Implementation of WAN, LAN, and datacenter networks with a focus on mission-critical, customer-facing applications and services
  • Technical knowledge in networking (Cisco and non-Cisco) with an emphasis on software-defined networks (SDN) and leveraging spine & leaf designs, load balancing, firewalls, security design (intrusion detection and prevention), DNS, NTP, Network Tools & Management
  • Technical knowledge common routing protocols (e.g., OSPF, BGP), IPv6, VPN, etc. across a global distributed network hands-on experience with the datacenter fabric platforms (Cisco, Arista, or equivalent) hands-on experience with common routing and switching platforms (Cisco, Juniper, HP/Aruba etc.)
  • Experience in setting up virtual private clouds in public cloud infrastructure such as Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure, Alibaba Cloud, or Google Cloud Platform
  • Experience with designing and engineering connectivity to public cloud providers utilizing technologies such as AWS Direct Connect, Azure ExpressRoute, Google Dedicated Interconnect, or Oracle FastConnect
  • Experience with automating network functions through tools such as Chef, Puppet, Ansible, or Terraform
  • Experience with writing Python applications to support network automation
  • Understanding of legacy networking routing protocols and the interaction with cloud interconnects
  • Experience with network load balancers, WAN optimizers, and Network virtualization.
  • Technical knowledge and experience with telco and ISP networks, ensuring diversity and managing availability
  • Demonstrated experience in delivering written documents detailing network solutions and diagrams
• 3+ years’ experience with high availability planning, component redundancy design and implementation
• 2+ years’ experience in designing large-scale enterprise network interconnectivity with cloud providers using standard best practices
• Ability to work non-standard hours during change implementations

Preferred:

• Advanced Degree (e.g., MS, PhD) in Computer Science or other technical discipline or MBA, preferably with a focus on technology 
• 10+ years’ experience managing large, globally distributed network architecture, engineering, and/or operations teams and leveraging next-generation network designs and technologies to support large-scale deployments
• Proven track record of driving transformation in network technologies, tools, and processes through a data-driven continuous improvement methodology
• Demonstrated experience in improving security, stability, reliability, performance, and agility of complex enterprise networks
• Strong technical knowledge of foundational networking technologies and solid understanding of the software-defined networking (SDN) ecosystem
• Strong understanding of network infrastructure automation, instrumentation, and monitoring platforms and the emerging technologies in this area
• Proven experience leading highly effective technical teams through major technology and organizational change 
• Proven experience re-engineering complex Internet-based network designs to optimize for services and applications that are sensitive to network turbulence (e.g., latency, jitter, loss)
• Proven experience driving operational performance through defining and enforcing Recovery Time Objective (RTO) and Recovery Point Objective (RPO) Service Level Agreements (SLAs)
• Experience driving and/or significantly participating in vendor RFPs for network products (e.g., hardware, software, tools, telco, services)
• Experience managing or working in the services sourcing and/or ITO or LSP field 
• Certification in network and/or security technologies (e.g., CCIE, CCNP, CISSP, etc.)
• Experience in researching emerging technologies and trends, standards, and products and synthesizing into clear technology roadmaps and strategies
• Strong influencing skills and an ability to overcome barriers while driving change
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills for a wide range of audiences including executives, business stakeholders, and IT teams
• Strong attention to detail with an ability to operate effectively across multiple priorities

CORE WORK ACTIVITIESLeadership

·       Develop complex global distributed infrastructure solutions residing within multiple country borders.   

·       Provide program management assistance and contribute input to help manage project schedules, risks, and costs. 

·       Manage Cloud and Datacenter Network products and solutions, including the design, low level engineering, and delivery of new hardware systems for Marriott applications across the cloud and datacenter network  

·       Define and implement an operational Recovery Time Objective (RTO) and Recovery Point Objective (RPO) strategy for all Cloud and Datacenter Network Infrastructure areas.  

·       Establish cross team level relationships and partnering with all Business disciplines and other MI teams to define IT Cloud and Datacenter Network services, meet service level requirements and serve as an escalation point to resolve service delivery and operational issues.  

·       Create functional strategies and specific objectives for the sub-function and develops budgets/policies/procedures to support the functional Cloud and Datacenter Network infrastructure.  

·       Foster an environment of continuous improvement and structured processes and procedures that support a zero-fault culture. 

Strategy & Planning

·       Actively engages with VP of Global Networks in the creation of long-term and annual IT budgets/spending targets for the Cloud and Datacenter Network infrastructure area.  

·       Deliver Cloud and Datacenter Network technical support to meet defined service levels that are benchmarked against industry standards and metrics. 

·       Monitor area usage/demand of services provided by either the internal organization or outsources partners to ensure that shared services actual expenditures are in line with planned spending. 

·       Track actual utilization of services and products, including reporting of supplier performance, in meeting business service expectations and service levels.  

·       Responsible for ensuring usage / demand of Cloud and Datacenter Network delivery actual versus planned expenditures are monitored. 

·       Responsible for ensuring projected resource baselines are managed, forecasted and reconciled against actual utilization of services. 

·       Ensure key Cloud and Datacenter Network technology management processes are effectively managed including: governance, operations, planning, and change management.  

Technology Management

·       Define requirements, strategy, solutions, and standards for Cloud and Datacenter Network infrastructure to meet business needs and adhere with enterprise architecture & security standards. 

·       Approve and oversee projects to implement and maintain services. 

·       Partner on all aspects of the technology lifecycle including requirements, product and services management, planning, procurement, installation, support and retirement in conjunction with other Infrastructure VPs, Enterprise Architecture, and the business planning teams. 

·       Support the development of and compliance with Marriott’s enterprise architecture, engineering, and design plans. 

·       Ensure participation of appropriate technical expertise in technical requirements gathering and solution design phases of assigned projects. 

·       Continuously improve operations processes, develop and present best practices, technical concepts and technologies for innovative Cloud and Datacenter Network solutions.   

Drive a High-Performing Team

·       Generate enthusiasm and understanding of the department vision and how each role contributes to the achievement of that vision. 

·       Ensure capabilities are developed and resources are aligned to support the strategy. 

·       Attract, motivate, develop, and retain highly skilled technologists and leaders; champion and model leadership development. 

·       Create and sustain a work environment that drives associate engagement and enables business success. 

·       Ensure appropriate processes are in place and executed to encourage collaboration and drive alignment within the team and with the broader IT organization. 

·       Serve as a role model and ensure network engineers are visible and effective partners with IT counterparts, broader Marriott stakeholders, and service providers. 

·       Demonstrate extensive operational support capability with strong ITIL best practices (i.e. Incident Management, Problem Management, Change Management, Capacity Management, Release Management, Service Level Management)