Company Description Innovation Endeavors India Private Limited is committed to driving transformative change by seamlessly integrating cutting-edge technology with next-generation infrastructure solutions . The constant evolution of industry demands and dynamic end-user expectations. The company focuses on delivering tangible business outcomes through strategic infrastructure for a digital-first future. Utilizing a forward-thinking, agile approach, Innovation Endeavors empowers organizations to efficiently adapt to market shifts and unlock new potential. Innovation Endeavors is led by a seasoned team of professionals, each bringing over 25 years of Silicon Valley experience across technology and infrastructure domains. This leadership team has a proven track record of success, with a few of their previous ventures successfully listing on the US market. The company is in a early phase high growth path and is looking for the right candidate for the following position. Lead Network Engineer – Cloud Services Role Summary Seeking an experienced Lead Network Engineer to design, build, and operate the network infrastructure of our cloud services data centre delivering IaaS, PaaS, and SaaS solutions. This role demands expert knowledge of network architecture, cybersecurity, automation, and cloud networking technologies to ensure secure, scalable, and high-performance networks supporting multi-tenant cloud environments. Key Responsibilities Network Architecture & Design Design, document, and maintain secure, scalable network infrastructure tailored for cloud environments including SDN, Overlay/underlay, On-Prem, Public Cloud Infra, overlay networks (VXLAN, NVGRE), DMZ deployments and network segmentation. Build and manage hybrid and multi-cloud connectivity solutions, including VPN, Direct Connect, and ExpressRoute integration for seamless data center and public cloud interoperability. Design network solutions supporting disaster recovery, automated failover, and business continuity. Conduct proof-of-concept (POC) evaluations for new tools and technologies, preparing business cases for leadership. Security & Compliance Implement Zero Trust architecture, micro-segmentation, and enforce least privilege access across all network layers, following best practices. Administer cloud-native firewalls, DLP, and secure API endpoints within the cloud services environment. Collaborate with InfoSec (Red/Blue) teams for vulnerability assessments, penetration testing, and incident response. Partner with the Security Operations Center (SOC) for incident correlation, threat intelligence sharing, and coordinated incident response. Ensure network compliance with PCI-DSS, HIPAA, ISO 27001, GDPR, SOC 2, and other relevant standards. Experience integrating IAM solutions (e.g., Okta, Azure AD) into network security posture for robust identity governance. Experience with security frameworks, compliance standards, and risk management. Ability to conduct security audits, manage access controls, and enforce security policies. Automation & Monitoring Develop and maintain network automation solutions using scripting and IaC tools like Ansible, Terraform, and Python. Implement proactive network monitoring and telemetry with tools such as Prometheus, Grafana and NetFlow for real-time health, performance, and security analytics. Manage network change workflows, incident response, and root cause analysis to maintain operational excellence and high SLA adherence. Drive corporate wide network tools implementations and collaborate with internal teams as needed. Track and record Network assets and manage renewals/replacements on time. Continuously improve the turnaround time when dealing with the Network vendors or partners. Cloud & Emerging Technologies Lead design and support for cloud-native networking in Kubernetes, OpenShift, and OpenStack environments. Evaluate and adopt emerging protocols and technologies to enhance network reliability and performance. Experience with SASE (Secure Access Service Edge) and SD-WAN architecture to perfect secure remote connectivity and performance Evaluate third-party network service providers against SLAs and security postures, performing due diligence and risk assessments as part of vendor onboarding and renewals. Manage vendor relations and capacity planning with cloud service providers. Leadership & Collaboration Lead and mentor a team of network engineers, driving a culture of innovation, collaboration, and continuous learning. Participate in architectural governance and communicate network strategy effectively with technical and executive stakeholders. Required Skills & Qualifications Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Networks or Information Technology, or equivalent/ related field focusing on networking. Minimum 5 years in network engineering, with 2+ years in a lead role, preferably in cloud service or data centre networks. Proficient with network protocols, SDN, overlay networking, routing, switching, and hybrid cloud connectivity. Knowledge of container security and experience addressing misconfigurations. Strong expertise in cloud platforms AWS or Azure, Firewall-As-A-Service, OpenStack, or GCP and their network security models. Experience with network automation using Ansible, Terraform, Python, or similar tools. Knowledge of cybersecurity principles including firewall management, DLP, DDoS mitigation, and Zero Trust networks. Excellent communication, leadership, and project management skills. Preferred Additional Qualifications Professional certifications such as CCNA, CCNP, CISSP, or cloud security certifications (AWS, Azure, GCP). Experience with regulated environments and compliance frameworks. Familiarity with ITIL, Agile, DevOps, and cloud-native networking best practices. Working knowledge with Compliances such as ISO 27001, DPDP/GDPR, SOC2 etc from network domain standpoint. Work Environment Location: Thiruvananthapuram, India; travel may be needed. Normal Weekly effort: 40 hours Dynamic, fast-paced environment focused on innovation, speed, and security. Career Growth Opportunities to advance into Principal Network Analyst, Network Architect, or IT Network Manager roles.