Network, Security & Communications Manager

Job Summary

Astera Software is looking for a dynamic and experienced Network, Security & Communications Manager to develop and manage our network infrastructure and security strategies. In this role, you’ll lead the design, implementation, and maintenance of a secure and scalable network, ensuring high availability of services, including LAN/WAN, wireless, and cloud connectivity. You’ll oversee network deployments, lifecycle management, and budgeting, while also contributing to disaster recovery and business continuity planning. Collaborating with stakeholders across IT and the business, you’ll align security capabilities and maintain relationships with vendors to enhance and upgrade our current environment.

What You’ll Do

• Develop and execute strategies for network equipment lifecycle management, including planning for upgrades, replacements, and decommissioning.
• Oversee the deployment of network infrastructure for new locations, ensuring seamless integration with existing systems and adherence to company standards.
• Oversee the design, implementation and maintenance of a robust, secure, resilient and scalable network infrastructure to support business operations.
• Ensure high availability of network services, including LAN/WAN, wireless and hybrid & cloud connectivity.
• Plan and manage the IT Network budget for corporate assets including our regional distribution centers and stores. Identify opportunities to improve cost effectiveness of our expense budget.
• Monitor system performance, provide capacity planning, automate processes, perform refreshes/upgrades and provide operational and technical support for network and security infrastructure areas.
• Contribute to the development, ongoing maintenance and execution of an enterprise-wide disaster recovery and business continuity plan.
• Prepare RFPs, contracts, statements of work, and other documentation for network projects.
• Engage proactively with key stakeholders and partners across IT and the business to understand technology direction and align security capabilities accordingly.
• Build and maintain relationships with key vendor to facilitate enhancements and upgrades to current environment.
• Ensure compliance with all internal policies with respect to data protection.
• Work closely with Project Management team to define and estimate team contributions, and ensure team completes project work on time and with an excellent level of quality.
• Assist in response to external audits, penetration tests, vulnerability assessments and forensic investigations.
• Contribute to release management, change control, incident and problem management.
• Implement and enforce network security policies and procedures to protect company assets and data. Conduct regular security audits and vulnerability assessments.
• Work closely with services partners to oversee Network Operations Center (NOC) and Operations Support.
• Establish and monitor service level agreements (SLAs).

What You’ll Need

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science, computer engineering, information technology, electronics, telecommunications or a related field. Master’s preferred in relevant field.
• Minimum 8 years of experience in network operations, network design, network project implementation, security infrastructure & communications with at least 05 years in a managerial role.
• Experience in network lifecycle management and network deployment management.
• Proven track record of balancing multiple priorities simultaneously including large-scale production network and security projects, and operations in a multi-site retail environment with minimal downtime and limited impact on systems and applications.
• Strong knowledge of network architecture, protocols, and technologies, including TCP/IP, MPLS, VPN, VoIP, SD-WAN, and cloud networking.
• Expert knowledge of Network access methods including T1, DS3, OC3, Ethernet, and Cellular.
• Expert understanding of Layer 2 switching protocols.
• Expert understanding of routing protocols EIGRP, OSPF, IS-IS, BGP.
• Experience with network security technologies, such as Next Generation Firewalls (NGFWs) – Palo Alto, Fortinet, Cisco, Intrusion Detection/Prevention Systems (IDS/IPS), DNS & URL Filtering, Application Control Visibility (ACV) and encryption.
• Experience designing enterprise network/security and data center solutions.
• Advanced experience with routing, core switching, Cisco Nexus, ASA firewalls, Palo Alto Firewalls, VLAN, VPN, WLAN, TCP/IP, DNS, DHCP, monitoring tools & network topologies.
• Relevant network related certifications (highly desirable) such as CCNA, CCNP, CCDP, NSE, or equivalent.
• Relevant information/cyber security training/certifications (highly desirable) such as ISO27001, CISSP.
• Relevant cloud related training/certifications (highly desirable) such as Cloud Architect/Cyber Security under AWS, Azure, Google, Alibaba Cloud.