1.Main technical skills – VPN expertise is the priority
- F5 BIG-IP APM (Access Policy Manager) and Cisco VPN are the main technologies to focus on.
- F5 GTM (Global Traffic Manager) was also mentioned.
- Palo Alto and Cisco datacenter networking knowledge would be a plus, given the frequent interactions with other infrastructure teams.
2. Hands-on implementation and production experience are essential
- The candidate must be comfortable with configuration, implementation, troubleshooting, patching and maintenance, not just architecture or design.
- The team is currently handling a significant workload, including patching activities, datacenter migrations and new demands related to AI projects.
- Hands-on production experience in banking, insurance or telecom environments is mandatory. Lab-only experience will not be considered.
3. Seniority and mindset – Very important clarification
- 3–5 years of relevant experience can be sufficient.
- Mindset is a key selection criterion: willingness to learn, adaptability and the ability to keep up with rapidly evolving technologies are particularly important.
- CCNP/JNCIE certifications are not mandatory. Practical production experience and the right mindset matter much more than years of experience or certifications.
4. Design, documentation and broader infrastructure knowledge
- Initially, the candidate will mainly implement existing designs and become familiar with the team's environment, before progressively taking on more design responsibilities.
- The ability to produce technical documentation (HLD, LLD, work instructions, PoCs, etc.) is important.
- Cisco ACI expertise is not mandatory, although a good understanding of datacenter network topologies would be appreciated.
- AWS/Azure networking is a nice-to-have, as AXA GO is starting to deploy VPN modules in the cloud.