CISCO ACI

 Responsibilities:

• Upgrade and manage code, firmware, bootstrap programs, and security patches for network devices and appliances, including Cisco ACI, NDO, Arista CloudVision, IOS-XE, IOS-XR, NX-OS, EOS, JUNOS, and SD controllers in on-prem and data center environments.
• Plan and execute obsolete hardware and virtual appliance replacements, including pre-upgrade validations, backups, compatibility checks, testing procedures, and rollback strategies.
• Perform ACI fabric upgrades in multi-pod and multi-site deployments; validate tenant configurations, policies, and operational stability post-upgrade.
• Handle device replacements and code upgrades for routers supporting OSPF/IS-IS, BGP, MPLS VPNs, QoS, Multicasting, VPWS, and L2/L3 connectivity.
• Execute code upgrades and hardware replacements for Cisco Nexus and Catalyst switches; validate DC LAN capabilities including VXLAN EVPN, vPC, FEX, QoS, and spine-leaf architectures.
• Conduct end-to-end testing of traffic forwarding, policy enforcement, redundancy, and resolve issues related to configuration or protocol mismatches.
• Monitor network performance post-upgrade to ensure stability and detect hidden issues.
• Define hardware/software lifecycle management strategies and maintain detailed documentation including change logs and compliance reports.
• Ensure adherence to organizational security standards, change processes, and industry best practices during upgrade cycles.
• Collaborate with teams and provide expert-level troubleshooting on complex network upgrade scenarios.