We are seeking a strategic and hands-on Senior Director of Network Engineering to lead the design, deployment, and operational excellence of our enterprise network across global automotive manufacturing facilities. This role will manage a global team of six Directors of Platform Engineers (Direct reports) and an organization of 300+ people, focusing on modernization and platform-based network strategies to ensure robust, secure, and scalable LAN, WAN, wireless, and 5G networks that support mission-critical manufacturing operations. The ideal candidate combines deep technical expertise with leadership experience in complex, industrial, and operational technology environments.
 

• Lead the network engineering organization responsible for LAN, WAN, wireless, and 5G-enabled networks across automotive manufacturing facilities globally.
• Define and execute a strategic network platform roadmap aligned with manufacturing digitalization, Industry 4.0, IIoT, and edge computing initiatives.
• Ensure network reliability, resiliency, and performance to support manufacturing operations, including OT/IT convergence.
• Oversee network security and compliance across all sites in partnership with cybersecurity teams.
• Implement network automation, monitoring, and observability frameworks to reduce operational toil and improve service quality.
• Collaborate with manufacturing, IT, and supply chain leaders to translate business needs into network requirements.
• Drive vendor and partner management, including evaluation, selection, and performance oversight of network service providers and technology vendors.
• Mentor, grow, and lead a high-performing network engineering team, fostering innovation, accountability, and continuous improvement.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or related field.
• 15+ years of network engineering experience, with at least 5 years in a leadership role managing large, global networks.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in automotive manufacturing or other industrial sectors with complex, multi-site networks.
• Knowledge of Industry 4.0, IIoT, edge computing, and 5G-enabled manufacturing.
• Experience implementing network as code frameworks or automation platforms in large-scale environments
• Proven experience in network modernization and platform-based approaches in manufacturing or industrial environments.
• Strong expertise across LAN, WAN, wireless (Wi-Fi 6/6E), SD-WAN, 5G, and network security.
• Familiarity with industrial networking protocols (Ethernet/IP, etc.) and OT/IT convergence.
• Experience with network automation and observability tools (Ansible, Terraform, NetOps frameworks, monitoring platforms).
• Strong vendor management experience with Cisco, Palo Alto, or equivalent enterprise networking technologies.
• Excellent strategic thinking, problem-solving, and leadership skills.
• Strong communication skills, capable of influencing both technical and non-technical stakeholders.

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