Systems Engineer II

We are Optimum, a leader in the fast-paced world of connectivity, and we’re seeking driven and enthusiastic professionals to join our team, empower lives, fuel businesses, and drive innovation. Connectivity is no longer a luxury, but a necessity. A career at Optimum means you’ll be enabling progress and enhancing lives by providing reliable, high-speed connectivity solutions that keep the world connected. Our successes, now and in the future, are powered by our amazing product, a commitment to our people and culture, and the connections we make in our communities.

If you are resourceful, collaborative, and passionate about delivering consistent excellence, Optimum is for you! Job Summary

We are looking for aSystems Engineer IIto join our dynamic engineering team. In this role, you willbe responsible forintegrating systems for broadband devices while designing, implementing, andmaintaininga robust infrastructure. The ideal candidate will haveexpertisein system administration, network architecture, automation, and troubleshooting complex technical issues. You will work closely with cross-functional teams tooptimizeand enhance system performance, ensuring seamless integration and reliability forcutting-edgebroadband technologies. Responsibilities

Scope of Work:

• Automate the deployment and management of system operations using scripting languages (e.g., Python, PowerShell, Bash)
• Integrate and validate broadband CPE (gateways, modems, Wi-Fi) into the production architecture.
• Design, deploy, and maintain systems, including servers, networking components, and cloud infrastructure.
• Automate lab and operational workflows; monitor health and close issues through to root cause.
• Partner with development, operations, and security on releases, incidents, and hardening.
• Keep topologies, MOPs, change logs, and troubleshooting guides current.
• Monitor and improve system performance, ensuring high availability and security.
• Troubleshoot hardware, software, and network issues, implementing effective solutions.
• Collaborate with development and security teams to support DevOps and cybersecurity initiatives.
• Collaborate in the planning and execution of disaster recovery strategies.
• Create and maintain up-to-date documentation of network topologies

Collaboration and Documentation:

• Maintain up-to-date documentation of network topologies, including traffic flow and interconnectivity.
• Create detailed troubleshooting guides for device and network failures.
• Create change management & deployment logs to track system updates and upgrades to ensure stability.
• Write clear and concise workflow documents, emails, presentations, and thought leadership materials.

Continuous Improvement:

• Staying current with new technologies, certifications, and knowledge sharing.
• Proactively share knowledge, mentor junior engineers, and maintain accountability for team performance and production availability.

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related field (or equivalent experience). Master’s degree is a plus.
• 3-5 years in systems, network, or CPE/broadband engineering. Proficiency in Windows, Linux, or both operating systems.
• Hands-on Linux, IP networking, and scripting; CPE/Wi-Fi/DOCSIS or RDK-B strongly preferred.
• Experience with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud).
• Strong understanding of networking principles (TCP/IP, DNS, VPNs, firewalls).
• Knowledge of cybersecurity best practices.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent communication and collaboration abilities.

Required Technical Skills:

• Broadband Gateway Platforms: Experience with RDK-B-based gateways and DOCSIS cable modems, including provisioning, troubleshooting, firmware validation, and service provider broadband deployments.
• Wi-Fi Technologies: Expertise in Wi-Fi standards (802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax), troubleshooting Wi-Fi performance (signal strength, interference, capacity), and optimizing Wi-Fi network architecture for service provider environments.

Linux/Unix Systems:

• Proficiency in administering and troubleshooting Linux-based systems (Ubuntu, CentOS, Red Hat) in service provider environments with a focus on high-availability, system scalability, and fault tolerance.
• Experience in system hardening, security configurations, and managing system resources (CPU, memory, storage) in a multi-user environment.

Scripting:

• Strong scripting skills in Python, Bash, or Perl to automate system configuration, validation, and monitoring tasks.
• Experience following MOPS (Methods of Procedure) for change management, rollback strategies, and maintaining system consistency.

Protocols:

• Strong understanding of network protocols (TCP/IP, DNS, HTTP, DHCP, SNMP, RIP), including expertise in routing, subnets, IP addressing, and traffic shaping.
• Experience with VLANs, and WAN/LAN configurations for managing network traffic across large-scale infrastructures.

Networking Protocols:

• Proficiency with Prometheus, Grafana, Splunk, and similar monitoring platforms to ensure proactive network and system health monitoring, logging, and alerting.
• Experience with network performance monitoring tools, such as SolarWinds, Nagios, or Zabbix, for troubleshooting and performance optimization.

• Knowledge of cloud platforms such as AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud for managing infrastructure services, computing, storage, and networking in a service provider context.

At Optimum, every action and interaction we take part in, is driven by our three Guiding Principles: Do What’s Right, Drive One Optimum, and Make It Happen. These aren’t just words, they help us build trust, create real community, and embrace new ways of thinking. Our employees are empowered to do the right thing for our customers and co-workers and to recognize and reward these behaviors when we see them. It’s all part of the bigger picture of “Be The Difference” where each employee knows they have the power to enact real change, share new ideas, and understand that learning never stop.

If you have the drive to succeed and are ready to embark on a thrilling career, seize this opportunity today, and join our winning team. Together, we’ll shape the future of connectivity.