Role: Network Security
Location: PAN India
Working Mode: 5 Days WFO
The F5 Network Operations Engineer is responsible for advanced troubleshooting, design validation, implementation, and optimization of F5 BIG-IP LTM and DNS/GTM platforms. This role is fully focused on network traffic management and load balancing technologies, ensuring high availability, performance, and scalability of application delivery networks.
Key Responsibilities
1. Advanced Troubleshooting & Incident Management
- Act as the operational escalation point for F5 LTM/GTM network issues.
- Diagnose and resolve complex issues involving:
- Virtual servers, pools, persistence, profiles
- SSL offload / SSL profiles (operational, not security)
- GTM/DNS load balancing, wide-IP resolution, listener issues
- ClientVIPserver traffic flow failures
- Routing/VLAN/self-IP and HA sync/failover
- Perform deep-dive analysis using:
- Packet captures (tcpdump/Wireshark)
- F5 system logs, TMM logs, statistics
- Performance throughput and connection-level visibility
- Lead RCA preparation and problem management for repeating incidents.
2. F5 Configuration, Operations & Optimization
- Design, configure, and optimize:
- VIPs, pools, health monitors
- Traffic profiles (TCP/HTTP/SSL)
- Persistence methods
- iRule/iRuleLX review and optimization (non-security logic)
- DNS/GTM wide-IP and pool configurations
- Lead OS upgrades, hotfix deployment, and high-availability validation.
- Ensure configuration synchronization across clusters and multi-datacenter setups.
- Standardize deployment templates for L1/L2 teams.
3. Implementation & Project Delivery ( Good to have )
- Lead major implementation activities:
- Application onboarding and traffic migration
- Datacenter or cloud connectivity for F5 traffic flows
- VIP provisioning and backend server migrations
- DNS/GTM traffic redirection across active/active or active/standby DCs
- Work with architecture teams on:
- LTM/GTM design reviews
- Traffic flow optimization
- Routing/VLAN design on F5 platforms
- Validate post-cutover performance and provide hyper-care support.
4. Automation & Process Enhancements
- Automate repetitive F5 tasks using:
- iControl REST API
- Python scripts (optional)
- Improve workflows, monitoring templates, and operational processes.
- Drive standardization of configurations across environments.
5. Documentation & Mentorship
- Maintain comprehensive technical documentation:
- High-level & low-level designs
- Traffic flow diagrams
- VIP inventory and routing maps
- SOPs & advanced troubleshooting guides
- Mentor and upskill L1/L2 engineers on F5 operations and troubleshooting.
Required Technical Skills
F5 Expertise
- F5 BIG-IP LTM (expert level)
- F5 BIG-IP DNS/GTM (expert level)
- Strong capability in:
- VIP design & traffic engineering
- SSL termination/offload (without security inspection)
- Health monitors creation & tuning
- Profiles (TCP, HTTP, SSL, OneConnect, persistence)
- HA failover/logical device groups
- Route domains, partitions, VLANs, self-IPs
- Basic to intermediate iRule logic
Networking Knowledge
- TCP/IP, HTTP/HTTPS, DNS, SIP, SMTP (as used in F5 traffic flows)
- Layer 2/Layer 3 connectivity
- Routing basics on F5 (static routing, default routes)
- Load balancing algorithms
- Traffic patterns, throughput, performance tuning
- Ability to interpret deep packet captures and diagnose latency issues.
- Experience with monitoring tools: BIG-IQ, SolarWinds, PRTG, Grafana etc
Soft Skills
- Strong analytical, design, and problem-solving skills.
- Excellent communication with cross-functional teams and application owners.
- Ability to lead calls and guide teams during major incidents.
- Comfortable in demanding production environments.
Education & Certifications
- Bachelor's degree.
- Preferred certifications ( Any two ) :
- F5 CTSLTM (201/301)
- F5 GTM/DNS specialist
- CCNA /CCNP / CCIE R&S (advantage)
- ITIL Foundation (optional)
Experience
- 7+ years experience in Network/ Delivery roles.
- 37 years hands-on experience with F5 BIG-IP LTM/GTM in complex environments.
