Network Hardware Engineer
Evaluates, validates, and qualifies network hardware for Cloudflare’s global network across the NPI lifecycle. The role combines hardware performance testing, automation, networking expertise, troubleshooting, and cross-functional collaboration with operations and vendors.
About the job
Responsibilities
- Lead the introduction and lifecycle management of new network hardware systems through the New Product Introduction (NPI) process.
- Gather requirements, support network architecture decisions, and perform engineering validation in laboratory environments.
- Execute Device Validation Testing (DVT), Production Validation Testing (PVT), and Operational Acceptance activities.
- Create and automate test plans aligned with operational requirements and hardware limitations.
- Develop tools and automation to evaluate network hardware performance and improve testing efficiency.
- Collaborate with Network Engineering and Operations, Datacenter Engineering and Operations, OEMs, ODMs, technology vendors, and other operational teams.
- Troubleshoot, reproduce, and resolve network hardware issues, including support for TAC cases.
- Document and communicate test results and engineering updates through wikis, blogs, ticketing systems, and internal presentations.
Requirements
- Bachelor's, master's, or PhD in Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or equivalent practical experience.
- Experience evaluating and experimenting with hardware performance through testing, measurement, or simulation.
- Extensive experience with networking hardware architecture, validation, performance benchmarking, debugging, and deployment.
- Deep knowledge of network engineering and protocols used in data center switching, routing, and Internet routing.
- Experience driving engineering projects from concept through experimentation and implementation.
- Experience working with OEMs, ODMs, and technology vendors.
- Professional proficiency in Python or similar programming or scripting languages.
- Familiarity with coding agents and other AI tools and technologies.
Nice-to-Haves
- Experience automating Spirent or Ixia traffic-generation equipment and test cases.
- Knowledge of ASICs, TCAMs, and packet pipelines.
- Experience with Optical Line Systems and transceiver troubleshooting.
- Familiarity with Junos, IOS-XR, EOS, SONiC, and ArcOS.
- Experience with white-box network switches and open-source networking projects.
- Proficiency with Prometheus and Grafana for observability and trend analysis.
- Experience configuring and validating RoCEv2 fabrics, including Priority Flow Control (PFC) and Explicit Congestion Notification (ECN).
Skills
Python, Network Hardware, Network Architecture, Network Protocols, Data Center Switching, Internet Routing, Performance Benchmarking, Hardware Validation, Spirent, Ixia, Asics, Tcams, Junos, Sonic
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