📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Principal Network Engineer
Company: InterSystems
Location: Cambridge, MA
Job Type: On-site
Category: Network Infrastructure & DevOps
Date Posted: June 24, 2025
Experience Level: 10+ years
Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

Strategic Leadership: Drive global network strategy and policy, influencing organizational security and compliance objectives.
Cloud & On-Premises Expertise: Architect and manage hybrid network infrastructure across on-premises data centers and multi-cloud environments (AWS, Azure, GCP).
Kubernetes & Microservices Networking: Implement service meshes, ingress/egress policies, and zero-trust networking within Kubernetes clusters.
Incident Response & Mentoring: Serve as the highest-level escalation point for network-related issues and mentor global engineering teams.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role requires a seasoned network engineer with a strong background in both enterprise and cloud networking, as well as experience with Kubernetes and microservices architecture.

💻 Primary Responsibilities

Network Design & Architecture:
- Architect and evolve a hybrid global network across on-premises and public cloud environments.
- Define and enforce network segmentation, routing, firewall, VPN, and DNS strategies across platforms.
- Integrate container-based networking with Kubernetes (e.g., CNI plugins, service meshes, ingress controllers).
Cloud Networking:
- Build and manage scalable, secure network infrastructure in AWS, Azure, and/or GCP.
- Implement hybrid connectivity models such as Direct Connect, ExpressRoute, and VPN gateways.
- Optimize cloud network costs and performance with advanced routing and traffic policies.
Kubernetes & Microservices Networking:
- Implement service meshes (e.g., Istio, Linkerd) and ingress/egress policies for microservices communication.
- Drive adoption of zero-trust networking within Kubernetes clusters.
- Collaborate with platform teams to ensure seamless integration between networking and container orchestration.
Operations & Troubleshooting:
- Serve as the highest-level escalation point for network performance, latency, and connectivity issues.
- Own monitoring, logging, and alerting for global network health and security.
- Mentor global engineering teams and lead incident response for critical network-related outages.
Strategy & Leadership:
- Define global network strategy aligned with organizational security and compliance objectives.
- Evaluate and implement next-gen technologies (e.g., SD-WAN, NAC, cloud firewalls, NDR).
- Lead vendor evaluations, RFPs, and lifecycle management for network infrastructure and tooling.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role requires a deep understanding of network architecture, cloud networking, and Kubernetes networking, as well as strong leadership and communication skills to drive strategic direction and influence global network policies.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field. Relevant certifications (e.g., CCIE, CCNP, AWS Certified, Azure Certified) are a plus.

Experience: 10+ years of experience in network engineering, with at least 3 years in a principal or lead role.

Required Skills:

Deep expertise in enterprise networking: routing, switching, firewalls (e.g., Palo Alto, Fortinet), BGP, OSPF.
Proven experience with cloud-native networking across AWS, Azure, or GCP.
Advanced knowledge of Kubernetes networking: CNI plugins, DNS, ingress/egress traffic flow, network policies.
Strong knowledge of automation (e.g., Terraform, Ansible) for network provisioning and management.
Experience with monitoring tools (e.g., Prometheus, Grafana, ThousandEyes, Wireshark).
Strong scripting or programming skills (Python, Go, or Bash).
Excellent communication and collaboration skills across global, cross-functional teams.

Preferred Skills:

Experience with next-gen network technologies (e.g., SD-WAN, NAC, cloud firewalls, NDR).
Familiarity with container orchestration platforms (e.g., Kubernetes, Docker).
Knowledge of infrastructure as code (IaC) principles and tools (e.g., Terraform, CloudFormation).
Experience with network virtualization and software-defined networking (SDN).

📝 Enhancement Note: Candidates should have a strong background in network engineering, with a focus on cloud networking and Kubernetes networking. Relevant certifications and experience with automation tools are a plus.

📊 Web Portfolio & Project Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

Demonstrate a strong understanding of network architecture, design, and implementation through previous projects.
Showcase experience with cloud networking, Kubernetes networking, and network automation.
Highlight problem-solving skills and incident response capabilities through case studies or success stories.

Technical Documentation:

Provide detailed network diagrams, topology maps, and architecture overviews.
Include network configuration files, scripts, and code snippets that demonstrate your technical proficiency.
Document network performance metrics, benchmarks, and optimization techniques.

📝 Enhancement Note: While a traditional web portfolio may not be applicable for this role, candidates should be prepared to showcase their network engineering skills through relevant projects, case studies, and technical documentation.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $150,000 - $220,000 USD per year (based on industry standards for a Principal Network Engineer role in the Cambridge, MA area)

Benefits:

Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance plans.
401(k) retirement plan with company match.
Generous time off policies, including vacation, sick leave, and holidays.
Employee stock purchase plan.
Tuition reimbursement and professional development opportunities.
Employee assistance program and wellness initiatives.

Working Hours: Full-time, on-site position with a standard workweek of 40 hours. Flexible scheduling may be available for deployment windows and maintenance tasks.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range provided is an estimate based on industry standards for a Principal Network Engineer role in the Cambridge, MA area. Actual compensation may vary based on factors such as experience, education, and skillset.

🎯 Team & Company Context

Company Culture: InterSystems is a global technology provider focused on delivering data platforms for healthcare, finance, manufacturing, and supply chain customers. The company values innovation, collaboration, and customer success, fostering a dynamic and inclusive work environment.

Industry: Healthcare technology and data management.

Company Size: Medium to large (3,000+ employees worldwide).

Founded: 1978.

Team Structure:

The network engineering team consists of approximately 50 members, with a mix of on-site and remote workers.
The team is organized into sub-teams focused on cloud networking, on-premises infrastructure, and Kubernetes networking.
The Principal Network Engineer will report directly to the Director of Network Engineering and work closely with other senior leaders within the organization.

Development Methodology:

The network engineering team follows Agile methodologies, with bi-weekly sprint planning and regular stand-ups.
Infrastructure as code (IaC) principles are employed for network provisioning and management.
The team uses a combination of open-source and commercial tools for network monitoring, logging, and alerting.

Company Website: InterSystems.com

📝 Enhancement Note: InterSystems is a well-established company with a strong focus on innovation and customer success. The network engineering team is a critical component of the organization's infrastructure, working closely with other teams to ensure the reliability and performance of global network services.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Network Engineering Career Level: The Principal Network Engineer role is a senior-level position, responsible for driving strategic direction and influencing global network policies. This role requires a deep understanding of network architecture, cloud networking, and Kubernetes networking, as well as strong leadership and communication skills.

Reporting Structure: The Principal Network Engineer will report directly to the Director of Network Engineering and work closely with other senior leaders within the organization. This role will also mentor and guide other network engineers within the team.

Technical Impact: The Principal Network Engineer will play a critical role in shaping the organization's global network strategy, ensuring the reliability, performance, and security of network services. This role will also influence the adoption of emerging technologies and best practices within the network engineering team.

Growth Opportunities:

Technical Leadership: As the Principal Network Engineer gains experience and demonstrates strong performance, they may have the opportunity to advance to a Director or CTO-level role within the organization.
Architecture & Design: The Principal Network Engineer may have the opportunity to specialize in network architecture and design, leading the development of complex network solutions and standards.
Emerging Technologies: The Principal Network Engineer may have the opportunity to explore and implement emerging network technologies, such as SD-WAN, NAC, and cloud firewalls, driving innovation within the organization.

📝 Enhancement Note: The Principal Network Engineer role offers significant growth potential for candidates with a strong background in network engineering, cloud networking, and Kubernetes networking. This role provides an opportunity to drive strategic direction and influence global network policies within a well-established organization.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The Principal Network Engineer role is an on-site position, based at InterSystems' headquarters in Cambridge, MA. The office features an open-concept floor plan, collaborative workspaces, and state-of-the-art technology infrastructure.

Office Location(s): Cambridge, MA.

Workspace Context:

The network engineering team works closely with other teams within the organization, including software development, quality assurance, and IT.
The team uses a combination of open-source and commercial tools for network monitoring, logging, and alerting.
The workspace is equipped with multiple monitors, testing devices, and other resources necessary for network engineering tasks.

Work Schedule: Full-time, on-site position with a standard workweek of 40 hours. Flexible scheduling may be available for deployment windows and maintenance tasks.

📝 Enhancement Note: The on-site work environment at InterSystems provides ample opportunities for collaboration and knowledge-sharing with other network engineers and teams within the organization. The workspace is equipped with modern technology and resources to support network engineering tasks.

📄 Application & Technical Interview Process

Interview Process:

Phone Screen: A brief phone call to discuss the role, qualifications, and expectations.
Technical Deep Dive: A comprehensive technical interview focused on network architecture, cloud networking, and Kubernetes networking. Candidates may be asked to discuss complex network design scenarios, troubleshoot network issues, and demonstrate their technical expertise.
On-Site Interview: A full-day on-site interview, including meetings with senior leadership, team members, and a working session to assess problem-solving and communication skills.
Final Decision: A final decision will be made based on the candidate's technical expertise, cultural fit, and alignment with the organization's goals.

Portfolio Review Tips:

Highlight relevant network engineering projects, case studies, and technical documentation.
Demonstrate experience with cloud networking, Kubernetes networking, and network automation.
Showcase problem-solving skills and incident response capabilities through success stories and lessons learned.

Technical Challenge Preparation:

Brush up on network architecture, design, and implementation concepts.
Review cloud networking and Kubernetes networking best practices.
Familiarize yourself with relevant network engineering tools, protocols, and standards.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process for the Principal Network Engineer role is designed to assess the candidate's technical expertise, problem-solving skills, and cultural fit within the organization. Candidates should be prepared to discuss complex network design scenarios, troubleshoot network issues, and demonstrate their technical proficiency through relevant projects and case studies.

🛠 Technology Stack & Web Infrastructure

Networking Technologies:

Routing: BGP, OSPF, EIGRP
Switching: Cisco, Arista, Juniper
Firewalls: Palo Alto, Fortinet, Check Point
VPN: IPsec, SSL/TLS, MPLS
Cloud Networking: AWS, Azure, GCP, Direct Connect, ExpressRoute
Kubernetes Networking: CNI plugins, service meshes (Istio, Linkerd), ingress controllers

Network Automation Tools:

Terraform, Ansible, Puppet, Chef
CloudFormation, Azure Resource Manager, Google Cloud Deployment Manager
Git, Jenkins, CI/CD pipelines

Monitoring & Logging Tools:

Prometheus, Grafana, ELK Stack, Splunk
ThousandEyes, Wireshark, tcpdump
Nagios, Zabbix, SolarWinds

📝 Enhancement Note: The Principal Network Engineer role requires a strong background in enterprise networking, cloud networking, and Kubernetes networking. Candidates should have experience with relevant networking technologies, automation tools, and monitoring & logging tools.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Network Engineering Values:

Customer Focus: Prioritize network reliability, performance, and security to ensure optimal user experience.
Innovation: Embrace emerging technologies and best practices to drive network evolution and improvement.
Collaboration: Work closely with other teams within the organization to ensure seamless integration between networking and other infrastructure services.
Continuous Learning: Stay up-to-date with industry trends, emerging technologies, and best practices to enhance technical expertise and professional development.

Collaboration Style:

Cross-Functional Integration: The network engineering team works closely with software development, quality assurance, and IT teams to ensure seamless integration between networking and other infrastructure services.
Code Review Culture: The team follows best practices for network configuration management, including version control, code reviews, and automated testing.
Knowledge Sharing: The team encourages knowledge-sharing, technical mentoring, and collaborative problem-solving to drive continuous learning and improvement.

📝 Enhancement Note: The network engineering team at InterSystems values collaboration, innovation, and continuous learning. Candidates should be prepared to work closely with other teams within the organization and embrace a culture of knowledge-sharing and technical mentoring.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Technical Challenges:

Hybrid Network Architecture: Design and manage a hybrid global network that seamlessly integrates on-premises data centers and multi-cloud environments.
Cloud Networking Cost Optimization: Optimize cloud network costs and performance through advanced routing, traffic policies, and network segmentation.
Kubernetes Networking Complexity: Implement and manage complex Kubernetes networking solutions, including service meshes, ingress/egress policies, and network policies.
Incident Response & Troubleshooting: Serve as the highest-level escalation point for network-related issues, driving incident response and resolution for critical outages.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

Emerging Technologies: Explore and implement emerging network technologies, such as SD-WAN, NAC, and cloud firewalls, to drive innovation within the organization.
Leadership Development: Develop leadership skills through mentoring, team management, and strategic decision-making to drive network engineering team growth and success.
Architecture & Design: Specialize in network architecture and design, leading the development of complex network solutions and standards that drive organizational goals.

📝 Enhancement Note: The Principal Network Engineer role presents significant technical challenges and growth opportunities for candidates with a strong background in network engineering, cloud networking, and Kubernetes networking. This role offers an opportunity to drive strategic direction and influence global network policies within a well-established organization.

💡 Interview Preparation

Technical Questions:

Network Architecture: Describe your approach to designing and implementing complex network architectures, including on-premises data centers, multi-cloud environments, and Kubernetes networking.
Cloud Networking: Discuss your experience with cloud networking, including hybrid connectivity models, cost optimization, and advanced routing and traffic policies.
Kubernetes Networking: Explain your understanding of Kubernetes networking, including CNI plugins, service meshes, ingress controllers, and network policies.
Incident Response: Describe your incident response process, including monitoring, alerting, and troubleshooting techniques for network-related issues.

Company & Culture Questions:

Network Engineering Team: Describe your experience working within a network engineering team and how you have contributed to its success.
Network Evolution: Discuss your approach to driving network evolution and improvement, including emerging technologies and best practices.
Cross-Functional Collaboration: Explain your experience working with other teams within an organization, including software development, quality assurance, and IT.

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

Project Selection: Choose relevant network engineering projects, case studies, and technical documentation that demonstrate your technical proficiency and problem-solving skills.
Storytelling: Craft a compelling narrative that highlights your role in driving network evolution, optimization, and incident response within previous organizations.
Visualization: Use diagrams, flowcharts, and other visual aids to illustrate complex network architectures, designs, and implementation strategies.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process for the Principal Network Engineer role is designed to assess the candidate's technical expertise, problem-solving skills, and cultural fit within the organization. Candidates should be prepared to discuss complex network design scenarios, troubleshooting techniques, and their approach to driving network evolution and improvement.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for the Principal Network Engineer position at InterSystems:

Submit Your Application: Visit the InterSystems careers page and submit your application through the application link provided.
Tailor Your Resume: Highlight your relevant network engineering experience, skills, and accomplishments. Include specific examples of cloud networking, Kubernetes networking, and network automation projects.
Prepare Your Portfolio: Select relevant network engineering projects, case studies, and technical documentation that demonstrate your technical proficiency and problem-solving skills. Ensure your portfolio is up-to-date and showcases your most recent and impressive work.
Research the Company: Familiarize yourself with InterSystems' mission, values, and culture. Understand the organization's focus on healthcare technology and data management, and be prepared to discuss how your network engineering expertise aligns with the company's goals.
Practice Technical Interview Questions: Review the technical interview questions provided and practice your responses. Be prepared to discuss complex network design scenarios, troubleshooting techniques, and your approach to driving network evolution and improvement.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.

Principal Network Engineer