Network Architect / Network Specialist (On‑Prem, Global)

Agile Robots SE, a prominent innovator in the intersection of artificial intelligence and robotics, is seeking an experienced Network Architect or Specialist to oversee its global on-premise infrastructure. This role is pivotal for a business that relies on high-performance networking to power complex AI and robotic systems. The successful candidate will be tasked with designing, implementing, and maintaining robust, scalable networks across multiple regional offices, ensuring that global operations remain seamless, secure, and fully compliant with international standards like TISAX.

About the role

This position is tailored for a seasoned network professional who prefers working in on-premise environments rather than purely cloud-based infrastructures. You will operate as the technical authority for the organisation’s campus, branch, and data-centre networks. A significant aspect of this role involves supporting advanced AI and High-Performance Computing (HPC) workloads, specifically through the management of NVIDIA InfiniBand fabrics.

Beyond the technical architecture, you will play a key role in the organisation’s governance. You will be expected to align network design with internal Information Security Management Systems (ISMS) and TISAX requirements, ensuring that every facet of the network—from IPAM to remote access—is documented, audited, and resilient. This role requires a balance of high-level strategic planning and deep-dive operational troubleshooting, acting as the ultimate L3 escalation point for regional IT teams.

Your daily responsibilities will revolve around the lifecycle management of global network standards and the oversight of complex hardware environments. You will be responsible for:

• **Global Infrastructure Design:** Documenting and maintaining end-to-end network architectures, including core/distribution layers and data-centre leaf-spine topologies.
• **Routing and Switching:** Managing BGP/OSPF for WAN and DC environments, while ensuring high availability through redundancy and failover strategies.
• **Security and Access:** Implementing FortiGate policy architectures and Aruba-based 802.1X NAC solutions to secure remote access and internal segmentation.
• **High-Performance Networking:** Engineering and optimizing NVIDIA InfiniBand fabrics to support AI-driven compute clusters and storage pipelines.
• **Compliance and Governance:** Collaborating with the CISO to prepare for TISAX audits, managing vendor relationships, and enforcing rigorous change control procedures.
• **Automation:** Utilizing tools such as Ansible, Python, and NetBox to manage network configuration, mitigate drift, and ensure repeatable, scalable deployments.

What they're looking for

Agile Robots requires a professional with at least seven years of experience in enterprise-grade, multi-site networking. You should possess:

• **Hands-on Technical Proficiency:** Deep expertise with FortiGate firewalls, Aruba switching/WLAN, and Dell data-centre hardware.
• **HPC Knowledge:** A strong understanding of NVIDIA InfiniBand fabric partitioning, congestion control, and path optimization.
• **Security Mindset:** Demonstrated experience in configuring secure remote access, NAC (e.g., Aruba ClearPass), and DMZ segmentation.
• **Professional Documentation:** The ability to produce clear High-Level Designs (HLD) and Low-Level Designs (LLD) that translate technical concepts for both engineering and audit purposes.
• **Certifications:** While not strictly required, preferences are given to those holding CCNP/CCIE, Fortinet NSE (Level 4+), or relevant Aruba certifications (ACMA/ACMP/ACDX).

In the South African context, roles of this calibre—specifically those requiring high-level architecture and security compliance experience for global firms—are typically found within the financial services, telecommunications, or large-scale manufacturing sectors. For a senior network engineer or architect, compensation generally reflects the high degree of responsibility and specialist knowledge involved. Applicants should focus on highlighting their experience with international compliance frameworks, as these are increasingly valued by South African companies undergoing digital transformation.

• Required
  • 7+ years in enterprise on‑prem networking across multi-site/multi-region environments.
  • Deep hands-on with FortiGate, Aruba (switching/WLAN), Dell data‑center switching, and NVIDIA InfiniBand basics.
  • Strong routing/switching (BGP, OSPF, VLAN, VRF), segmentation, and DMZ design; HA and fast convergence patterns.
  • Proven delivery of secure remote access, 802.1X NAC, and logging/monitoring at scale (rsyslog, analyzers, NMS).
  • Experience aligning network controls to ISMS/TISAX (policy ↔ design ↔ evidence).
  • Excellent documentation (HLD/LLD, diagrams) and stakeholder communication.
• Preferred
  • Certifications: Fortinet NSE (4/5/7+), Aruba (ACMA/ACMP/ACSP/ACDX), CCNP/CCIE, Dell networking, and/or NVIDIA networking.
  • ClearPass NAC depth, FortiManager/FortiAnalyzer, Aruba AirWave; EVPN/VXLAN familiarity.
  • Exposure to RADIUS/AD integration and FreeRADIUS stack.
  • Familiarity with Zabbix tuning, syslog retention strategies, and ITSM/change tooling.
  • Experience segmenting AI/HPC clusters and integrating with storage/compute pipelines.