Lead Network Engineer

Our Purpose Mastercard powers economies and empowers people in 200+ countries and territories worldwide. Together with our customers, we're helping build a sustainable economy where everyone can prosper. We support a wide range of digital payments choices, making transactions secure, simple, smart and accessible. Our technology and innovation, partnerships and networks combine to deliver a unique set of products and services that help people, businesses and governments realize their greatest potential. Title and Summary Lead Network Engineer Overview The Data Center and Network team is seeking a highly motivated and experienced Lead Platform Engineer to spearhead our Telcom Operations team forward by consistently innovating and problem-solving. The ideal candidate is passionate about problem solving and offering solutions to resolve Network and customer circuit issues. The role is pivotal in maintaining a secure, diverse network that supports the Mastercard backbone and customer network. You will work closely with Global Network and Data Center Engineers and will be responsible for engaging our Telecom Vendors to troubleshoot circuit issues and effectively message back results and solutions to isolate and resolve circuit troubleshoot issues. Key Responsibilities Technical Leadership & Troubleshooting

• Serve as the lead escalation point for complex network circuit issues including DIA, MPLS, Ethernet, DWDM, backbone, and last-mile connectivity.
• Perform advanced fault isolation across carrier networks, customer premises, and internal infrastructure.
• Lead bridge calls with service providers, vendors, and internal teams during outages and degradations.
• Analyze circuit performance issues such as latency, packet loss, jitter, and flapping links.
• Validate carrier root cause analyses (RCA) and ensure corrective actions are completed. Operations & Incident Management
• Oversee incident response for major outages, ensuring timely communication and resolution.
• Drive adherence to SLAs and ensure accurate incident documentation and ticket updates.
• Coordinate maintenance windows, circuit testing, and service restorations.
• Participate in on-call rotations and provide after-hours support for critical incidents. Vendor & Carrier Management
• Work directly with global carriers and vendors to troubleshoot, escalate, and resolve circuit issues.
• Hold carriers accountable for SLAs, response times, and service quality.
• Support circuit turn-ups, migrations, upgrades, and decommissions from an operational readiness perspective. Process Improvement & Mentorship
• Mentor and guide Network Operations Engineers on troubleshooting techniques and best practices.
• Develop and maintain troubleshooting runbooks, knowledge articles, and standard operating procedures.
• Identify recurring issues and recommend proactive improvements to network design or operations.
• Provide input into tooling, monitoring enhancements, and automation initiatives. Cross-Functional Collaboration
• Partner with Network Engineering, Capacity Management, Service Delivery, and Architecture teams.
• Support change management processes and assess operational risk for network changes.
• Provide technical input for new circuit designs and vendor selections. Required Qualifications
• 7+ years of experience in Network Operations or Network Engineering with a strong focus on circuit troubleshooting.
• Deep hands-on experience supporting enterprise and carrier-grade networks.
• Strong understanding of: o TCP/IP, BGP, OSPF, VLANs, QoS o DIA, MPLS, Ethernet, DWDM, and backbone connectivity o Network monitoring and ticketing systems o Data Center Connectivity
• Proven ability to lead incident calls and manage high-severity outages.
• Experience working directly with telecom carriers and service providers.
• Strong documentation and communication skills.

Mastercard is a merit-based, inclusive, equal opportunity employer that considers applicants without regard to gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, disabled or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. We hire the most qualified candidate for the role. In the US or Canada, if you require accommodations or assistance to complete the online application process or during the recruitment process, please contact reasonable_accommodation@mastercard.com and identify the type of accommodation or assistance you are requesting. Do not include any medical or health information in this email. The Reasonable Accommodations team will respond to your email promptly. Corporate Security Responsibility All activities involving access to Mastercard assets, information, and networks comes with an inherent risk to the organization and, therefore, it is expected that every person working for, or on behalf of, Mastercard is responsible for information security and must: Abide by Mastercard's security policies and practices; Ensure the confidentiality and integrity of the information being accessed; Report any suspected information security violation or breach, and Complete all periodic mandatory security trainings in accordance with Mastercard's guidelines. In line with Mastercard's total compensation philosophy and assuming that the job will be performed in the US, the successful candidate will be offered a competitive base salary and may be eligible for an annual bonus or commissions depending on the role. The base salary offered may vary depending on multiple factors, including but not limited to location, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. Mastercard benefits for full time (and certain part time) employees generally include: insurance (including medical, prescription drug, dental, vision, disability, life insurance); flexible spending account and health savings account; paid leaves (including 16 weeks of new parent leave and up to 20 days of bereavement leave); 80 hours of Paid Sick and Safe Time, 25 days of vacation time and 5 personal days, pro-rated based on date of hire; 10 annual paid U.S. observed holidays; 401k with a best-in-class company match; deferred compensation for eligible roles; fitness reimbursement or on-site fitness facilities; eligibility for tuition reimbursement; and many more. Mastercard benefits for interns generally include: 56 hours of Paid Sick and Safe Time; jury duty leave; and on-site fitness facilities in some locations.

Pay Ranges O'Fallon, Missouri:

$122,000 - $207,000 USD