Senior Network Engineer

Kepler Communications • Toronto, Ontario • 5d ago

At Kepler Communications, we're not just imagining the future of on-demand space connectivity - we're leading it!

Our mission is to provide real-time Internet access for space-based assets, enabling a new era of data-driven exploration and innovation. With 33 satellites launched to date, Kepler operates the first commercial optical data relay constellation, enabling real-time, continuous space communications while supporting advanced on-orbit compute and hosted payload capabilities.

Industry-leading technology is only part of the story. What sets Kepler apart is our team: bold thinkers, skilled builders, and passionate problem-solvers who thrive on pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in space. We believe great ideas come from diverse perspectives, and we’re committed to creating an environment where you can grow, lead, and make a global impact.

If you’re ready to reach higher, move faster, and do work that shapes the future space economy - this is your launchpad. Come build the future with Kepler!

What We Offer:

* Competitive compensation with a robust equity plan to share in our success.

* Comprehensive coverage for health, dental, and vision insurance—including dependents.

* Unlimited vacation, supportive parental leave policy, and company-wide holiday shutdown.

* Semi-annual company-wide parties and frequent in-office team events.

* Relocation packages available for approved roles.

* $1,500 annual professional development fund to support your growth.

* Fully stocked Toronto office kitchen with snacks, drinks, games and top-notch kitchen appliances.

* Town Halls, Celebration Calls, and Company-wide events to stay connected and engaged.

* We’re a certified Great Place to Work®, five years in a row!

Kepler is seeking a Senior Network Engineer to join our Network Engineering team. In this role, you will design, build, and operate our on-premises and cloud environments, ensuring performance, scalability, and reliability for Corporate IT systems and services. Your secondary responsibility will be managing mission-critical networks that support our constellation of satellites and, ultimately, customers of the Kepler Network. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience designing complex networks and will fully embrace software and automation initiatives. This includes driving network automation and programmability while working closely with network architects, software engineers, and FPGA developers to deliver services to our customers.

Key Responsibilities:

Own and operate the corporate network infrastructure, including LAN, WAN, Wi-Fi, security appliances, and hybrid cloud connectivity

Design, implement, and maintain highly available and scalable networks supporting Kepler’s corporate systems, engineering teams, and production services

Develop roadmaps and upgrade strategies for the corporate network, including lifecycle planning, technology evaluations, and vendor selection

Manage network security and segmentation, ensuring corporate infrastructure adheres to security best practices and company policies

Administer Fortinet SD-WAN infrastructure, including policy management, firmware upgrades, and performance optimization

Design and maintain hybrid cloud networking architectures, integrating on-prem environments with AWS services

Develop and maintain network automation tools, leveraging Python, Ansible, and infrastructure-as-code approaches to improve reliability and operational efficiency

Collaborate closely with software, FPGA, and mission operations teams to support network infrastructure for satellite operations and ground systems

Provide operational support for corporate and service provider network infrastructure, including participation in on-call rotations

Implement monitoring, logging, and observability tools to proactively detect and resolve network issues

Maintain accurate network documentation, diagrams, and operational runbooks

Participate in change management processes, including planning, implementation, and post-change validation

Support incident response and root cause analysis for network-related outages or performance issues

Required Skills & Qualifications:

Strong foundation in routing and switching concepts (OSPF, BGP fundamentals, VLANs, STP, ACLs)

Hands-on experience deploying and supporting enterprise networks, including LAN, WAN, and Wi-Fi environments

Experience implementing and supporting Fortinet solutions, including SD-WAN configuration, firewall policies, and firmware upgrades

Experience designing and operating hybrid cloud networking, including AWS VPCs, routing, VPN connectivity, and secure integration with on-prem networks

Experience with network automation tools and concepts, including:

- Infrastructure as Code

- CI/CD

- Python scripting

- Jinja templating

- JSON/YAML configuration formats

- Ansible playbooks and automation workflows

- Git version control

Experience implementing and managing IPsec VPNs for site-to-site and remote connectivity

Experience with controller-based enterprise Wi-Fi systems (Arista preferred)

Strong troubleshooting skills across multiple layers of the network stack

Experience managing network infrastructure changes, including structured change management practices

Strong documentation practices, including network diagrams, configuration standards, and operational procedures

Ability to work independently and remotely, while maintaining strong collaboration with distributed engineering teams

Bonus Points:

Intermediate routing and switching expertise, equivalent to CCNP-level knowledge

Experience working with ISP connectivity, including circuit provisioning, BGP peering, and redundancy strategies

Experience supporting small to mid-scale data center environments, including switching fabrics and server connectivity

Experience implementing network monitoring and observability platforms, such as SNMP-based monitoring, NetFlow/sFlow, or telemetry pipelines

Basic Linux networking knowledge, including interface configuration, routing tables, firewall rules, and troubleshooting connectivity

Expert-level routing and switching experience, equivalent to CCIE-level understanding

Experience designing or operating MPLS-based networks

Advanced Linux networking expertise, including kernel networking concepts, traffic shaping, and advanced routing

Experience with network simulation or emulation platforms, such as EVE-NG, GNS3, or container-based network labs

Experience designing complex network architectures, including multi-site or globally distributed networks

Experience working with network controllers or intent-based networking platforms

Strong systems-level thinking, with the ability to design integrated network solutions supporting complex distributed systems

Experience supporting satellite communications or space-ground network infrastructure

Use of AI in Recruitment

At Kepler Communications, all hiring decisions are made by people. Human recruiters are involved in every step of our recruitment process. We use AI-based tools (such as Lever AI and HireEZ) to assist with the initial review of applications by ranking candidates based on job-relevant criteria. These tools support - but do not replace - human judgment.

Employment Equity & Accommodation Statement

Kepler Communications is an equal opportunity employer committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace. We welcome applications from all qualified individuals, including women, Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, members of visible minorities, and people of all sexual orientations and gender identities.

If you require accommodation during any stage of the recruitment process, please contact our People & Culture team at accommodation@kepler.space, and we will work with you to meet your needs.