Associate Director Network Operations at Natera

Natera is a global leader in cell-free DNA testing, focusing on advancements in oncology, women’s health, and organ health. We are dedicated to integrating personalized genetic diagnostics into the standard of care to enable earlier interventions and improve patient outcomes. Our team is composed of diverse experts, including geneticists, laboratory scientists, and engineers, who are all committed to transforming the management of genetic diseases. We are currently looking for a hands-on, strategic Associate Director of Network Operations to join our team in an on-site capacity. In this role, you will lead the modernization and security of our global network, ensuring our critical healthcare and genomic operations remain resilient and scalable.

Key outcomes

• Take full ownership of the stability, security, and scalability of our global enterprise network, including LAN, WAN, SD-WAN, and cloud environments.
• Develop and execute a network modernization roadmap that emphasizes automation, zero-trust architecture, and performance engineering.
• Lead, mentor, and manage a high-performing team of network engineers while setting technical standards and fostering a culture of accountability.
• Serve as the primary incident commander during critical network events, providing real-time diagnosis and leading rapid recovery efforts.
• Design and optimize core infrastructure while maintaining a hands-on approach to technical evolution.
• Build strong partnerships across Security, DevOps, and Business Operations to support our high-growth, hybrid environment.
• Drive full-stack observability by improving telemetry and predictive analytics to ensure proactive network health.
• Ensure compliance with regulatory frameworks such as HIPAA and SOX through rigorous change management and policy enforcement.
• Report on operational KPIs, including uptime and mean time to recovery, to executive leadership to drive continuous improvement.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in a technical field or equivalent professional experience.
• Current CCIE (Cisco Certified Internet Engineer) certification.
• 8 to 12 years of experience in enterprise network engineering, with at least 5 years spent leading technical teams of 5 to 15 engineers.
• Deep expertise in hybrid cloud networking, specifically within AWS, and security-integrated architectures.
• Advanced knowledge of routing and switching protocols, including BGP, OSPF, and EIGRP.
• Proven experience with next-generation firewalls, specifically Palo Alto Networks, and wireless technologies like Meraki.
• Proficiency with monitoring and diagnostic tools such as SolarWinds, LogicMonitor, and Wireshark.
• Ability to participate in an on-call rotation and work outside of standard business hours when necessary.
• Availability for travel up to 25% of the time.

Preferred qualifications

• Certifications such as Palo Alto PCNSE, Juniper JNCIP/JNCIE, or AWS Certified Advanced Networking/Solutions Architect.
• ITIL Foundation v3 or v4 certification.
• Prior experience working within a HIPAA-controlled biotech, pharmaceutical, or healthcare enterprise.

Compensation

The salary range for this position is $144,000 to $179,000 USD. Actual compensation is determined based on a variety of factors, including your specific skill set, depth of experience, certifications, and office location. We offer a comprehensive benefits package, which includes:

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance for employees and their dependents.
• Life and disability insurance.
• 401k retirement plan.
• Paid time off.
• Commuter benefits.
• Fertility care benefits and free testing for employees and their immediate families.
• Pregnancy and baby bonding leave.

How to apply

If you are interested in joining our mission to change the landscape of genetic disease management, we invite you to submit your application through our official careers portal. We look forward to reviewing your qualifications and discussing how your expertise can contribute to our team.