Cisco Network Switch Lab Engineer

Cisco Network Switch Lab Engineer Consultant

Duration: 12 months with extension possible to 18 months

Location: Charlotte, NC (3 days per week onsite)

Other Approved Location: Plano, TX

Pay Scale: $65-70/hr W2 (Cannot subcontract or C2C)

Matlen Silver has partnered with a leading global financial services firm to recruit a Network Switch Lab Test Engineer with hands-on experience specializing in the validation and testing of physical wired Cisco switches. In this role, your primary focus will be managing a dedicated hardware lab environment, executing rigorous testing protocols for routing, switching, wireless, and WAN technologies. You will design comprehensive test plans, validate Catalyst Center (DNAC) and Fabric architectures, and mitigate risks before features deploy to production.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead hands-on testing within the lab environment, focusing entirely on physical wired Cisco switches, routing protocols, and WAN/wireless integrations.
• Build, configure, and maintain complex lab topologies that accurately replicate production environments.
• Manage the physical lab infrastructure with strict adherence to change control, asset management, and problem isolation procedures.
• Conduct extensive stress testing and vulnerability validation on core security appliances, including Checkpoint and Fortinet Firewalls, BlueCat DDI, and proxy configurations.

Solution Design & Test Architecture

• Design and develop comprehensive test cases and validation plans for significant network system components.
• Conduct effective design and test reviews to ensure hardware layouts and software features comply with organizational standards.
• Apply basic design principles and accessibility guidelines when structuring physical rack layouts and test setups.
• Document test results and create governance-related artifacts to share findings with engineering stakeholders.

Required Skills & Qualifications

• Minimum 7 years of experience with a strong focus on testing physical wired Cisco switches, Fabric networks, and Catalyst Center (DNAC).
• Proven experience validating Cisco ISE, Single Sign-On (SSO), and Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) deployments.
• Hands-on experience configuring and testing Cisco Wireless, HP Aruba, and SD-WAN solutions (Cisco, Palo Alto, or others) in a lab environment.

Desired Skills & Pluses

• Advanced scripting experience for network test automation (e.g., Python, Ansible).
• Background in Agile testing methodologies and sprint-based delivery.
• Experience with traffic generation tools (e.g., Ixia, Spirent) to simulate production network loads.

About Matlen Silver Experience Matters. Let your experience be driven by our experience. For more than 40 years, Matlen Silver has delivered solutions for complex talent and technology needs to Fortune 500 companies and industry leaders. Led by hard work, honesty, and a trusted team of experts, we can say that Matlen Silver technology has created a solutions experience and legacy of success that is the difference in the way the world works. Matlen Silver is an Equal Opportunity Employer and considers all applicants for all positions without regard to race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, sexual orientation, veteran status, the presence of a non-job-related medical condition or disability, or any other legally protected status. If you are a person with a disability needing assistance with the application or at any point in the hiring process, please contact us at [email protected] // 908-393-8600.