Automation Jobs in Palo Alto, CA

Why Join GEICO?

At GEICO, we offer a rewarding career where your ambitions are met with endless possibilities.

Every day we honor our iconic brand by offering quality coverage to millions of customers and being there when they need us most. We thrive on relentless innovation to exceed our customers' expectations while making a real impact on local communities nationwide.

Founded in 1936, GEICO is a member of the Berkshire Hathaway family of companies and one of the largest auto insurers in the United States. When you join our company, we want you to feel valued, supported, and proud to work here. That's why we offer the GEICO Pledge: Great Company, Great Culture, Great Rewards, and Great Careers.

Senior Network Automation & Configuration Management Engineer

Position Summary

GEICO is seeking a highly skilled Senior Network Automation & Configuration Management Engineer to accelerate the transformation of our network infrastructure from traditional operations to a fully automated, software-defined, infrastructure-as-code operating model.

This role is ideal for an engineer who is equally comfortable writing Python code, building CI/CD pipelines, designing automation frameworks, and troubleshooting complex routing issues. You will be responsible for developing and managing the platforms, tooling, and processes that automate network configuration, compliance validation, change management, provisioning, remediation, and lifecycle management across thousands of network devices spanning data centers, cloud environments, carrier-neutral facilities, and regional offices.

As part of GEICO's network modernization initiative, you will help eliminate manual network operations through automation, self-service capabilities, configuration templating, drift detection, policy enforcement, and continuous compliance validation. You will work closely with Network Engineering, Security Engineering, Platform Engineering, and Infrastructure teams to build scalable solutions that improve operational reliability, consistency, and engineering velocity. This role aligns closely with ongoing automation, configuration compliance, template rollout, and infrastructure-as-code initiatives within Network Engineering.

Position Description

The Senior Network Automation & Configuration Management Engineer will serve as a technical leader in developing network automation platforms that manage the full lifecycle of network infrastructure.

You will design and implement solutions for:

• Network configuration generation and deployment
• Golden configuration management
• Configuration compliance and drift detection
• Infrastructure-as-Code (IaC)
• Automated change validation
• Continuous network testing
• Policy-driven network provisioning
• Device lifecycle management
• CI/CD pipelines for network infrastructure
• Network source-of-truth integration

This role requires strong software engineering skills combined with deep networking expertise and a passion for automating everything possible.

Key Responsibilities

Network Automation Engineering

• Design, develop, and maintain network automation platforms supporting routers, switches, firewalls, load balancers, wireless infrastructure, and cloud networking services.
• Create reusable automation frameworks using Python, Ansible, Nornir, Terraform, GitOps, and related technologies.
• Develop APIs and services that enable self-service network provisioning and infrastructure automation.
• Build event-driven automation workflows for configuration deployment, validation, and remediation.

Configuration Management & Compliance

• Define and maintain golden configuration standards across the enterprise network.
• Implement automated configuration drift detection and remediation capabilities.
• Develop configuration validation pipelines that enforce engineering standards before production deployment.
• Build solutions that continuously monitor compliance against security, operational, and regulatory requirements.
• Establish automated configuration backup, recovery, and audit capabilities.

Infrastructure as Code

• Lead adoption of Infrastructure-as-Code practices throughout Network Engineering.
• Develop reusable infrastructure modules and templates.
• Integrate network automation with Git-based workflows and CI/CD pipelines.
• Implement automated testing and validation of configuration changes before deployment.

Network Engineering

• Work closely with network architects and engineers to automate routing, switching, firewall, load balancing, SD-WAN, and cloud networking environments.
• Support large-scale network modernization efforts including software-defined networking initiatives.
• Troubleshoot automation failures and complex network issues across hybrid environments.
• Improve operational efficiency through continuous innovation and process automation.

Platform Integration

• Integrate network automation platforms with:
• NetBox
• ServiceNow
• GitHub Enterprise
• Observability platforms
• Security tooling
• Cloud management systems
• Develop APIs and integrations that improve workflow automation across infrastructure teams.

Technical Leadership

• Mentor junior engineers on automation best practices.
• Establish engineering standards for network automation and software development.
• Participate in architecture reviews and technical design discussions.
• Drive adoption of modern DevOps and NetDevOps methodologies.

Required Qualifications

Experience

• 8+ years of network engineering experience.
• 5+ years developing network automation and configuration management solutions.
• Proven experience managing large-scale enterprise or data center network environments.
• Experience supporting highly available production infrastructure.

Automation & Development Skills

Strong hands-on experience with:

• Python
• Ansible
• Git
• REST APIs
• YAML / JSON
• Linux

Experience with one or more:

• Nornir
• Terraform
• Go
• Bash
• Jenkins
• GitHub Actions
• ArgoCD

Networking Expertise

Deep understanding of:

• BGP
• OSPF
• EVPN/VXLAN
• MPLS
• Routing and Switching
• Layer 2 and Layer 3 networking
• Firewall technologies
• SD-WAN architectures
• Load balancing

Experience automating network infrastructure from vendors such as:

• Cisco
• Arista
• Palo Alto Networks
• F5
• Juniper
• SONiC-based platforms

Configuration Management

Demonstrated experience with:

• Configuration templating
• Golden configuration frameworks
• Compliance validation
• Policy enforcement
• Drift detection
• Network source-of-truth systems
• Change management automation

Cloud & Modern Infrastructure

Experience with:

• AWS
• Azure
• Kubernetes networking
• Hybrid cloud connectivity
• Infrastructure-as-Code practices
• CI/CD pipelines

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience implementing large-scale network configuration compliance programs. This aligns with current Network Engineering initiatives around configuration compliance, template standardization, and automated operations.
• Experience with NetBox as a network source of truth.
• Experience with SONiC, open networking, or software-defined networking platforms.
• Experience building GitOps-driven infrastructure deployments.
• Familiarity with OpenStack networking concepts.
• Experience integrating automation platforms with ServiceNow.
• Experience supporting multi-datacenter environments.
• Knowledge of Zero Trust and network security automation.

What Success Looks Like

Within the first 12 months, this engineer will:

• Establish repeatable configuration management practices across the network organization.
• Automate network provisioning and lifecycle management workflows.
• Reduce manual network change activity through self-service automation.
• Implement configuration compliance, drift detection, and automated remediation capabilities.
• Improve deployment consistency, reliability, and network security posture.
• Accelerate GEICO's transition toward Infrastructure-as-Code and NetDevOps operating models. Consistent with Network Engineering's broader roadmap, this includes automation of network intake, compliance validation, template rollout, and operational modernization.

Education

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Computer Engineering, Network Engineering, or equivalent practical experience.
• Relevant industry certifications preferred:
• CCNP / CCIE
• DevNet Professional
• HashiCorp Terraform Associate
• AWS or Azure Networking Certifications
• Red Hat Automation Certifications

Why This Role Matters

GEICO is modernizing its network infrastructure to become fully automated, software-defined, and cloud-integrated. This engineer will be instrumental in replacing manual device-by-device operations with scalable engineering platforms that enable faster delivery, higher reliability, stronger compliance, and a dramatically improved operational experience for both engineers and the business.

Annual Salary

$75,000.00 - $215,000.00

The above annual salary range is a general guideline. Multiple factors are taken into consideration to arrive at the final hourly rate/annual salary to be offered to the selected candidate. Factors include, but are not limited to, the scope and responsibilities of the role, the selected candidate’s work experience, education and training, the work location as well as market and business considerations.

GEICO will consider sponsoring a new qualified applicant for employment authorization for this position.

The GEICO Pledge:

Great Company: Protecting customers through life’s twists and turns with innovation and integrity.

Great Careers: Personalized development programs, mentorship, and certification assistance.

Great Culture: Inclusive and collaborative culture rooted in shared success.

Great Rewards: Competitive pay, benefits, and flexibility to support your well-being and future.

The equal employment opportunity policy of the GEICO Companies provides for a fair and equal employment opportunity for all associates and job applicants regardless of race, color, religious creed, national origin, ancestry, age, gender, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, familial status, disability or genetic information, in compliance with applicable federal, state and local law. GEICO hires and promotes individuals solely on the basis of their qualifications for the job to be filled.

GEICO reasonably accommodates qualified individuals with disabilities to enable them to receive equal employment opportunity and/or perform the essential functions of the job, unless the accommodation would impose an undue hardship to the Company. This applies to all applicants and associates. GEICO also provides a work environment in which each associate is able to be productive and work to the best of their ability. We do not condone or tolerate an atmosphere of intimidation or harassment. We expect and require the cooperation of all associates in maintaining an atmosphere free from discrimination and harassment with mutual respect by and for all associates and applicants.