Senior Network Specialist – Cisco, Palo Alto & Infrastructure Operations

Position Overview

- Location: Montreal, Quebec
- Work Arrangement: Remote within the Greater Montreal Area
- Compensation: $80,000 - $130,000 CAD annually, based on experience and technical depth
- Experience Level: Intermediate to Senior-Level
- Language Requirement: Bilingual French and English required
- Employment Type: Full-Time

About the Opportunity

We are seeking a Senior Network Specialist to ensure continuity across multiple infrastructure projects and provide hands-on support for network operations in a multi-site enterprise environment.

This role will work closely with Infrastructure, Systems, and Security teams to support active network initiatives, troubleshoot complex operational issues, modernize infrastructure, improve security access workflows, and document network assets and changes.

The ideal candidate has strong practical experience with Cisco infrastructure, Palo Alto firewalls, VPN/MFA authentication, Cisco Catalyst Center, Cisco Prime, wireless infrastructure, VLANs, DNS, Active Directory integration, SPAN/RSPAN monitoring, and incident support.

This is a highly hands-on role requiring strong analytical ability, complex troubleshooting skills, documentation discipline, and the ability to operate independently while collaborating across technical teams.

Key ResponsibilitiesAWS Backup Optimization

- Investigate backup transfer performance issues involving Veeam-to-AWS data flows
- Analyze why backup transfers are taking excessive time despite a 10 Gbps AWS connection
- Identify network, routing, throughput, firewall, storage, configuration, or transfer bottlenecks
- Work with infrastructure and systems teams to validate backup architecture and performance constraints
- Propose practical recommendations to improve transfer performance, reliability, and backup efficiency
- Document findings, test results, constraints, and recommended remediation steps

VPN Authentication Migration & DUO MFA Optimization

- Analyze and troubleshoot a new DUO MFA authentication profile configured on Palo Alto firewalls
- Resolve VPN access issues observed when the new authentication profile is enabled
- Design a parallel testing approach that allows the new DUO MFA profile to be validated alongside the existing production configuration
- Develop a phased migration plan for users moving to the new MFA configuration
- Collaborate with Security, Infrastructure, and Systems teams to reduce migration risk and maintain user access continuity
- Document configuration changes, testing results, rollback steps, and user migration procedures

Cisco Infrastructure Management

- Perform firmware upgrades across Cisco Nexus and FEX environments
- Configure and deploy new Cisco switches replacing end-of-life infrastructure
- Participate in planning, scheduling, change preparation, implementation, and validation activities
- Support network refresh activities across multiple sites
- Validate post-change connectivity, VLAN assignments, routing, switch health, and operational stability
- Maintain accurate technical documentation for switch configurations and upgrade activities

Cisco Catalyst Center & Cisco Prime Transition

- Continue the deployment of Cisco Catalyst Center as part of the transition away from Cisco Prime Infrastructure
- Support migration planning, device onboarding, configuration validation, and operational transition activities
- Assist with decommissioning Cisco Prime where appropriate
- Work with network teams to ensure visibility, manageability, and operational continuity during the transition
- Document the new operational model, configuration standards, and support procedures

Wireless Infrastructure Support

- Replace wireless access points across relevant sites
- Configure required settings on Cisco wireless controllers
- Validate integration, coverage, connectivity, authentication, and operational performance of new access points
- Troubleshoot wireless issues related to configuration, authentication, roaming, signal quality, or controller integration
- Support planning and execution of wireless refresh activities

Network Operational Support

- Collaborate with system administrators and infrastructure teams on day-to-day network intervention requests
- Perform switch port reconfiguration, VLAN creation, VLAN changes, port resets, and device moves between VLANs
- Support firewall rule changes on Palo Alto devices




- Assist with network requirements for server integration, server replacement, system migrations, and application changes
- Troubleshoot connectivity, routing, DNS, authentication, and access issues
- Support operational continuity across multiple sites and infrastructure environments

Active Directory Modernization Support

- Participate in network-related activities supporting Active Directory modernization
- Ensure proper network integration of new domain controllers
- Verify VLAN configurations, authentication flows, DNS services, and network dependencies
- Identify and remove references to legacy domain controllers from network equipment and related configurations
- Support troubleshooting of authentication, DNS, routing, and connectivity issues during the modernization effort
- Collaborate with Systems and Security teams to ensure a stable transition

Armis Solution Deployment & Network Visibility

- Implement network configurations required for Armis platform integration
- Configure RSPAN ports to dedicated virtual machines
- Analyze potential impact on network capacity and traffic flows
- Ensure traffic collection does not introduce bottlenecks, especially in environments using video surveillance systems
- Work with Security and Infrastructure teams to validate visibility, data collection, and performance
- Document RSPAN configuration, traffic assumptions, capacity risks, and monitoring recommendations

Inventory, Documentation & Asset Review

- Conduct inventory of network equipment across multiple sites and warehouses
- Document assets to support decisions around reuse, disposal, replacement, or potential resale
- Maintain accurate network diagrams, configuration records, change notes, equipment lists, and support documentation
- Produce clear documentation for all changes made
- Support operational handoff by ensuring technical records are current, accurate, and usable

Incident Support

- Participate in troubleshooting and resolution of critical network incidents
- Provide occasional after-hours availability when required for urgent diagnostics or restoration activities
- Support root-cause analysis, remediation planning, and post-incident documentation
- Collaborate with Infrastructure, Systems, and Security teams during escalations
- Communicate issue status, risks, findings, and next steps clearly during incidents

Required Qualifications

- Strong hands-on experience in enterprise network operations, infrastructure consulting, or senior network administration
- Advanced experience with Cisco networking, including Nexus, FEX, Catalyst, switching, VLANs, firmware upgrades, and wireless infrastructure
- Experience with Cisco Catalyst Center and Cisco Prime Infrastructure
- Strong knowledge of Palo Alto firewalls, including VPN, firewall rules, authentication profiles, and troubleshooting
- Experience with DUO MFA or similar MFA / VPN authentication technologies
- Experience with SPAN/RSPAN, traffic monitoring, packet capture concepts, and network visibility tools
- Knowledge of DNS, Active Directory, domain controller integration, authentication flows, and network dependencies
- Ability to troubleshoot complex network, firewall, VPN, authentication, DNS, wireless, and infrastructure issues
- Experience supporting multi-site enterprise environments
- Strong documentation skills, including technical procedures, configuration notes, change records, diagrams, and asset records
- Strong analytical and complex problem-solving skills
- Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively with Infrastructure, Systems, and Security teams
- Availability to support occasional after-hours incident or change activity when required

Preferred Experience

- French communication skills strongly preferred
- Experience supporting AWS-connected infrastructure, backup flows, or hybrid cloud connectivity
- Experience investigating Veeam-to-AWS backup performance or similar cloud backup transfer issues
- Experience with 10 Gbps network environments, throughput analysis, traffic bottleneck analysis,



or performance troubleshooting
- Experience with Cisco wireless controllers and wireless access point replacement projects
- Experience with Armis or similar asset visibility / security monitoring platforms
- Experience supporting video surveillance network environments or high-volume traffic collection use cases
- Experience with network refresh, end-of-life replacement, and multi-site infrastructure modernization
- Experience working in consulting, managed services, or client-facing enterprise infrastructure environments
- Experience preparing change plans, rollback plans, implementation runbooks, and post-change validation documentation

Additional Beneficial Experience

- Cisco certifications such as CCNA, CCNP, or equivalent experience
- Palo Alto training or certification
- Experience with Veeam, AWS networking, Direct Connect, VPN, routing, AWS backup patterns, or hybrid cloud architectures
- Familiarity with ITIL-based incident, problem, and change management processes
- Experience with ServiceNow or similar ITSM platforms
- Experience with monitoring tools, packet analysis tools, network performance tools, or security visibility platforms
- Experience with asset inventory, hardware lifecycle planning, and network documentation standards

Technical Skills

Relevant technologies may include:

Cisco Nexus, Cisco FEX, Cisco Catalyst, Cisco Catalyst Center, Cisco Prime Infrastructure, Cisco wireless controllers, Cisco access points, Palo Alto firewalls, GlobalProtect, DUO MFA, VPN authentication profiles, VLANs, switch ports, routing, DNS, Active Directory, domain controllers, RSPAN, SPAN, Armis, Veeam, AWS, 10 Gbps connectivity, firewall rules, wireless infrastructure, network monitoring, packet capture, video surveillance traffic, ServiceNow, network diagrams, change documentation, and incident support.

What Success Looks Like

Success in this role means becoming a trusted senior network resource who keeps infrastructure projects moving while ensuring day-to-day network operations remain stable, secure, and well documented.

Robust performers will:

- Resolve complex network, firewall, VPN, and authentication issues
- Improve Veeam-to-AWS backup performance through clear bottleneck analysis
- Support a safe and phased DUO MFA migration
- Execute Cisco firmware upgrades and switch replacements with minimal disruption
- Help transition from Cisco Prime to Cisco Catalyst Center
- Support wireless refresh and validation activities
- Keep VLAN, firewall, DNS, AD, and server integration work moving efficiently
- Configure RSPAN and support Armis deployment without creating network bottlenecks
- Produce accurate documentation and asset records
- Support incidents calmly and effectively
- Work independently while maintaining strong collaboration with Infrastructure, Systems, and Security teams

Benefits

We offer competitive compensation and the opportunity to work on meaningful infrastructure modernization and operational support initiatives.

Benefits may include:

- Market-competitive salary from $80,000 – $130,000 CAD
- Health, dental, and vision benefits
- Paid vacation
- Paid sick leave
- Professional development and certification support
- Exposure to enterprise network, security, cloud, and infrastructure modernization projects
- Opportunity to support complex multi-site environments

Work Setting

This role supports a multi-site infrastructure environment and may involve a combination of remote work, office work, client-site support, planned change windows, and occasional after-hours incident support.

French is strongly preferred due to the local operating environment, but strong English-speaking candidates may also be considered where technical fit is high.

Equal Opportunity Employer

We are an equal opportunity employer and do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, veteran status, age, or any other protected characteristic.

We value diverse perspectives and are committed to creating an inclusive, respectful, and team-oriented workplace.

Pay: $80,000.00-$130,000.00 per year

Benefits:

- Relocation assistance

Experience:

- Network engineering: 5 years (required)
- AWS: 5 years (required)
- Linux: 5 years (required)
- Network security: 5 years (required)
- Virtualization: 5 years (preferred)

Language:

- Bilingual - English/French (required)

Work Location: Remote

📌 5+ Yrs. | Full-Time Employee | Bilingual Senior Network Specialist – Cisco, Palo Alto (Canada)
🏢 Talent Acquisitions
📍 Canada