Entry Level Cloud Infrastructure Network Monitoring and Automation Software Engineer - San Jose, CA - 2027
This entry-level software engineering role at Confidential Client focuses on developing and maintaining back-end Python microservices for automating network infrastructure provisioning and operations within Confidential Client Cloud's global data centers. The engineer will build and own critical automation platforms, implement testing frameworks, manage CI/CD pipelines, and collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure network reliability, compliance, and observability in a production environment.
About Careertakes
👉 Important disclosure: Careertakes is a third-party recruiting platform supporting this hiring process. If selected, you will be employed directly by our client, IT Services and IT Consulting.
Applicants for this role may also receive access to additional matched opportunities through the Careertakes platform.
Overview
Confidential Client (via Careertakes) is hiring an Entry-Level Back-End Software Engineer focused on cloud network automation, monitoring, and infrastructure tooling. You will contribute to production-grade Python microservices, CI/CD pipelines, and automation workflows that run on container platforms (Kubernetes/OpenShift) and support large-scale cloud network operations.
This role is located in San Jose, CA. The position is full-time and includes a base salary range of USD 100,800–151,200 per year.
What You’ll Do
You will join the Network Automation team within the cloud infrastructure organization to design, build, test, and operate back-end services and automation pipelines that power network provisioning and operations.
- Implement and maintain Python back-end microservices supporting Day‑0 (initial provisioning / ZTP) and Day‑2 (operational changes, firmware updates, drift remediation) automation workflows.
- Own REST API endpoints, YAML-driven inputs, and Jinja2-based configuration generation that produce switch configurations deployed across data centers.
- Design, build, and maintain unit, integration, and end-to-end regression tests to ensure workflow correctness and reliability.
- Administer and improve CI/CD pipelines running on OpenShift / Kubernetes to enable reproducible, secure deployments.
- Integrate automation services with authoritative data platforms (SSOT / Hivemind backed by NetBox / CockroachDB) to consume validated network context: topology, port mappings, cable connections, inventory.
- Collaborate with Network Engineering, Data Center Operations, and program managers to develop observability (metrics, logging, alerting) and provide technical escalation support.
- Contribute to security and compliance hardening: container best practices, operational runbooks, and secure configuration standards.
Required Qualifications
- Back-end development experience in Python for production services, including REST API design and JSON/YAML processing (Flask, FastAPI, or equivalent).
- Experience with version control and collaborative development in Git (branching, PRs, code reviews).
- Practical containerization knowledge (Docker) and familiarity with container orchestration (Kubernetes or OpenShift).
- Solid understanding of HTTP fundamentals and REST API design.
- Experience writing automated tests (unit, integration, regression) and applying software quality practices in production-critical systems.
- Ability to work collaboratively in cross-functional teams and document technical designs and runbooks.
Preferred Qualifications
- Familiarity with Ubuntu, RHEL, or CentOS.
- Experience with scripting and programming tools: Bash, PowerShell, Ruby, or Go.
- Experience with configuration management tools such as Ansible or Chef.
- Familiarity with Jinja2 (or Helm templates) for configuration generation.
- Basic networking knowledge: IPv4/IPv6, VLANs, switching and routing fundamentals, or Zero Touch Provisioning concepts.
- Exposure to monitoring and observability tooling (Zabbix, Splunk, Grafana).
- Experience with ServiceNow, JIRA, Confluence, and GitHub workflows.
- Interest in infrastructure automation at scale and in improving test coverage and deployment reliability.
Location & Compensation
- Location: San Jose, CA (on-site / hybrid as defined by Confidential Client)
- Employment type: Full-time
- Base salary range: USD 100,800–151,200 per year (provided by source posting)
Note: The salary range is provided to comply with applicable pay-transparency requirements for this location.
Why Join
- Work on mission-critical cloud network automation used across global data centers.
- Learn from experienced engineers and gain hands-on exposure to CI/CD, container platforms, and large-scale automation systems.
- Opportunity to contribute to observability, security, and reliability improvements that impact production infrastructure.
Keywords & Skills (for search)
- Python backend development
- Network automation / NCS / Axon
- CI/CD on OpenShift / Kubernetes
- Jinja2 / YAML-driven configuration
- Zero Touch Provisioning (ZTP)
- NetBox / CockroachDB / SSOT / Hivemind
- Monitoring & observability (Zabbix, Grafana, Splunk)
Equal Opportunity & Hiring Transparency
Careertakes and our client are Equal Opportunity Employers committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce. We prohibit discrimination or harassment of any kind. To support a fair and efficient hiring process, AI tools may be used to assist with application review or resume screening. These tools do not replace human decision-making. Final hiring decisions are made by people.
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