Senior Administrator - Cisco Application Centric Infrastructure (ACI)

Senior Administrator \- Cisco Application Centric Infrastructure (ACI)

Chennai, Tamil Nadu

• *Job Summary**
• --------------

We are looking for an experienced Network Engineer with strong expertise in Cisco Application Centric Infrastructure (ACI) and Network Automation. The role involves designing, implementing, and managing next\-generation data center networks, along with automating network provisioning, configuration, and operations to improve efficiency, scalability, and reliability.

• *Key Responsibilities**
• -----------------------

Cisco ACI (Application Centric Infrastructure) • Design, deploy, configure, and manage Cisco ACI\-based data center networks. • Implement and maintain ACI fabric components including APIC controllers, leaf/spine switches. • Configure ACI constructs such as: o Tenants, VRFs, Bridge Domains (BDs) o Application Profiles and Endpoint Groups (EPGs) o Contracts and policies • Integrate ACI with: o Physical servers and virtualization platforms (VMware) o L4–L7 services (firewalls, load balancers) • Monitor ACI fabric health, performance, and faults using APIC tools. • Perform troubleshooting for fabric, policy, endpoint connectivity, and segmentation issues. • Support ACI upgrades, patching, and lifecycle management. Network Automation • Develop and implement network automation frameworks to streamline provisioning and operations. • Automate configuration, deployment, and validation using tools such as: o Python o Ansible / Terraform o REST APIs, NETCONF/RESTCONF • Create reusable automation scripts for: o Device configuration o Compliance checks o Backup and restore operations • Integrate automation with CI/CD pipelines where applicable. • Reduce manual intervention by implementing zero\-touch provisioning and automated workflows. Data Center Networking • Support data center networking concepts including: o VXLAN, EVPN o Overlay and underlay design o Spine\-leaf architecture • Ensure high availability, scalability, and segmentation in the DC network. • Work on hybrid environments integrating traditional and SDN\-based networks. Operations \& Support • Provide L2/L3 support for ACI and automated network environments. • Perform root cause analysis and resolution for critical incidents. • Maintain documentation: o Network designs o Automation scripts o SOPs and runbooks • Collaborate with infrastructure, cloud, and security teams. • Participate in change management and implementation planning. Security \& Compliance • Implement segmentation and policy\-driven security using ACI contracts. • Ensure compliance with enterprise security standards and audit requirements. • Support integration with firewall and security solutions.

• *Skill Requirements**
• ---------------------

Technical Skills • Strong hands\-on experience in Cisco ACI • Deep understanding of: o Spine\-leaf architecture o VXLAN/EVPN o Data center networking concepts • Experience in network automation and scripting • Proficiency in: o Python scripting o Ansible / Terraform o REST APIs • Knowledge of: o Routing protocols (BGP, OSPF) in DC context o Network virtualization and segmentation Platforms / Tools • Cisco ACI (APIC, Nexus switches) • Automation tools (Ansible, Terraform) • Version control (Git) • Monitoring/telemetry tools

• *Other Requirements**
• ---------------------

Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science / IT / Electronics / Telecommunications • Relevant experience in data center networking and automation • Strong analytical and troubleshooting abilities Preferred Certifications • Cisco CCNA / CCNP Data Center • Cisco ACI Specialist certification • DevNet Associate / Professional (preferred) • Automation\-related certifications (Ansible / Python)