(Expert) Freelance Network SDN Engineer

AETHER is a key partner for intrapreneurial projects in Belgium, and we want to reinforce our support in the sector of industrial IT/OT transformation, facing interesting challenges.

You know how securing reliable IT/OT network connectivity in on-premises industrial environments is not just a technical exercise; failure to properly design, validate and segment network flows would expose critical operations to severe disruptions, security breaches and production downtime.

=> We therefore invite you to collaborate with AETHER as a senior Network / SDN Engineer.

JOB DESCRIPTION:

As one of our Project Partners, your objective is to design, validate, implement and troubleshoot secure network connectivity for platforms, industrial applications, wireless services and operational environments in an on-premises industrial IT/OT context.

Key responsibilities might include:

• Supporting the design and implementation of secure IT/OT network connectivity.
• Defining, documenting and validating network flows between platforms, applications and infrastructure components.
• Working on VLANs, routing, trunking, firewall rules, DNS, DHCP, NTP, proxy, certificates and TLS-related topics.
• Supporting network segmentation, security zoning and industrial network constraints.
• Contributing to SDN-related design, implementation support and troubleshooting.
• Supporting Wi-Fi 7 readiness and integration for industrial use cases, mobile devices and shopfloor connectivity.
• Collaborating closely with platforms, infrastructure, cybersecurity, application and operations teams.
• Troubleshooting connectivity issues across network, wireless, platform and application layers.
• Producing clear technical documentation, flow matrices, diagrams and handover material.
• Supporting production-readiness activities, including monitoring, operational procedures and knowledge transfer.
• Supporting the design and validation of Wi-Fi 7 connectivity for industrial environments.
• Contributing to wireless readiness for mobile devices, shopfloor applications and operational use cases.
• Reviewing coverage, roaming, SSID design, VLAN mapping, authentication constraints and end-to-end application access.
• Supporting troubleshooting of connectivity issues involving wireless clients, access points, segmentation, firewall flows, DNS and platform/application access.
• Coordinating with Wi-Fi vendors and infrastructure teams to ensure end-to-end service readiness.
• Contributing to documentation, validation criteria and handover for wireless network operations.
• Delivering network flow matrix and connectivity validation inputs.
• Delivering network design inputs, technical recommendations and remediation plans.
• Delivering firewall, routing, DNS, proxy, certificate and TLS validation support.
• Delivering SDN implementation support and troubleshooting analysis.
• Delivering Wi-Fi 7 readiness inputs, wireless validation criteria and handover material.
• Delivering technical documentation, diagrams and operational runbooks.
• Delivering risk and gap analysis related to network and wireless readiness.

Important technical topics to cover:

• IT/OT network segmentation
• Firewall flow analysis and validation
• VLAN, routing and trunking
• DNS, DHCP, NTP and proxy
• Certificates and TLS
• SDN concepts and implementation support
• Kubernetes / OpenShift networking awareness
• NetworkPolicies, ingress/egress and platform connectivity
• Wi-Fi 7, roaming and wireless client connectivity
• NAC / 802.1X awareness
• Network monitoring and troubleshooting
• Operational documentation and handover

Profile:

• Senior hands-on network engineering consultant with strong delivery ownership.
• Strong experience in enterprise and/or industrial networking.
• Good understanding of IT/OT environments and related security and operational constraints.
• Strong hands-on experience with routing, switching, VLANs, trunking and firewall flows.
• Experience with network segmentation and security zoning.
• Good understanding of DNS, DHCP, NTP, proxy, certificates and TLS.
• Practical experience with troubleshooting complex network issues.
• Good understanding of Kubernetes or OpenShift networking concepts.
• Experience or strong exposure to SDN concepts.
• Ability to work in structured environments with architecture, cybersecurity and operations teams.
• Ability to produce clear documentation and operational handover material.
• Able to work independently and unblock complex technical topics.
• Strong problem-solving mindset and pragmatic communication style.
• Comfortable working with technical teams, vendors and operations teams.
• Structured, clear and documentation oriented.
• Experience in manufacturing, warehouse, industrial or critical infrastructure environments is a plus.
• Experience with Wi-Fi 7 deployments or modern enterprise wireless architectures is a plus.
• Understanding of RF constraints, coverage validation, roaming and mobile device connectivity is a plus.
• Experience integrating Wi-Fi with NAC, certificates, identity providers or device management solutions is a plus.
• Experience with OpenShift networking, MetalLB, NMState or similar technologies is a plus.
• Experience with industrial cybersecurity constraints and operational handover is a plus.
• Familiarity with automation, GitOps or infrastructure-as-code practices is a plus.
• Entrepreneurial experience or ambition is a plus (extra-professional or extra-academic as well).
• Duration: 6 months, start date ASAP.

Do NOT try to apply for this role if you are:

• A pure network administration profile without SDN or platform-networking exposure.
• A pure architecture profile unable to execute or troubleshoot hands-on.
• A firewall rule executor without broader network design understanding.
• A profile unfamiliar with Kubernetes/OpenShift networking concepts.
• A profile unable to produce clear documentation and operational handover material.

OUR VISION:

Success in industries often relies on key individuals demonstrating intrapreneurial leadership, i.e. who continuously launch new initiatives and seek for excellence.

The best way to develop this strength is through ad interim projects, i.e. working as a consultant with established intrapreneurs in international companies, to support their major expansion or improvement initiatives regarding governance, studies, or operations.

Since 2014, AETHER is managing these opportunities for outstanding consultants in key international groups, as these offer greater learning opportunities with multi-million impacts.

Please share your cv and we will check if this demand is the current best opportunity for your career as a consultant.

Inspire | Lead Growth | Create Impact