NOC Lead - India Operations (Technical Lead to Manager Track)
Position Overview
We are seeking an exceptional NOC Lead to spearhead the establishment of our India-based Network Operations Center function for our large-scale Managed Service Provider (MSP) operations. This is a unique opportunity for a highly technical professional to begin as a technical escalation point, prove their expertise working alongside our US-based NOC team, and eventually grow into managing a full NOC team in India. The ideal candidate will combine deep technical knowledge with emerging leadership capabilities and the ability to build trust with both US teams and clients.
Career Progression Path
Phase 1 (Months 1-6) : Technical Integration & Trust Building
- Work directly with US-based NOC team as senior technical escalation point
- Demonstrate technical expertise and reliability in high-pressure situations
- Build relationships with US clients and internal stakeholders
- Learn organizational processes, tools, and client requirements
Phase 2 (Months 6-12) : Team Building & Leadership Transition
Begin recruiting and onboarding initial India NOC team membersTransition from individual contributor to team lead roleEstablish India NOC operational procedures aligned with US standardsTake increasing ownership of India operations while maintaining US collaborationPhase 3 (Year 2+) : Full NOC Management & Scaling
Manage complete 24 / 7 India NOC operations supporting US business hoursScale team based on client growth and service expansionDrive process improvements and operational excellenceServe as primary India NOC liaison to US leadership and clientsKey Responsibilities
Technical Leadership & Escalation (Immediate Focus)
Serve as Tier 3 escalation point for complex network infrastructure issues across Cisco Catalyst, Meraki, Fortinet, and Extreme switching environmentsTroubleshoot and resolve critical network, system, and application incidents with minimal supervisionProvide expert-level support for routing, switching, SD-WAN, VPN, firewall, and NAS system issuesCollaborate closely with US NOC team to ensure seamless 24 / 7 coverage and knowledge transferMaintain deep technical expertise in networking protocols (IPSEC, HSRP, BGP, OSPF, 802.11, QoS) and OSI / TCP-IP modelClient Relations & Trust Building
Interface directly with US-based SMB (25-250 users) clients during critical incidents and planned maintenanceDemonstrate exceptional communication skills and technical competence to build client confidenceEnsure all client interactions meet or exceed service level expectationsProvide detailed incident reports and proactive communication to maintain transparencyTeam Development & Operations Management (Growing Responsibility)
Recruit, interview, and onboard high-caliber NOC technicians for India operationsDevelop comprehensive training programs covering technical skills and customer service excellenceEstablish and manage 24 / 7 shift schedules optimized for US business hour coverageFoster a culture of proactive monitoring, rapid incident response, and continuous improvementImplement performance management systems and KPIs aligned with MSP service standardsProcess & Infrastructure Development
Implement and optimize network monitoring, diagnostic, and analytics toolsDevelop automation solutions for incident detection, reporting, and routine operational tasksEstablish escalation procedures, incident management protocols, and change management processesEnsure comprehensive documentation of incidents, resolutions, and network changesDrive process standardization and efficiency improvements across India NOC operationsStrategic Growth & Scaling
Scale NOC team and operations in alignment with MSP client growth and service expansionIdentify opportunities for service enhancement and operational optimizationCollaborate with US leadership on strategic planning for India NOC evolutionManage infrastructure projects and process improvement initiativesRequired Technical Expertise
Core Networking Skills
5+ years hands-on experience with Cisco Catalyst, Meraki, Fortinet (FortiGate), and Extreme switchesExpert-level knowledge of routing, switching, SD-WAN, VPNs, and firewall technologiesAdvanced proficiency in networking protocols : IPSEC, HSRP, BGP, OSPF, 802.11, QoSDeep understanding of OSI / TCP-IP model and network troubleshooting methodologiesSystems & Applications a plus
Strong experience with Microsoft server environments and Windows workstation managementProficiency with Line of Business (LoB) applications and Microsoft Office 365 integrationExperience with network-attached storage (NAS) systems and backup / disaster recovery solutionsMonitoring & Analytics
Expertise with MSP network monitoring and diagnostic toolsExperience creating dashboards, automated reporting, and performance analysis systemsAbility to conduct trend analysis, root cause analysis (RCA), and generate actionable insightsSecurity & Compliance
Comprehensive knowledge of network security best practicesExperience with firewalls, VPNs, endpoint protection, and security incident responseUnderstanding of compliance requirements (HIPAA, financial regulations, etc.)Familiarity with change management and business continuity planningRequired Qualifications & Experience
Education & Experience
Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Network Engineering, Information Technology, or related fieldMinimum 5 years in network operations with increasing technical responsibility2+ years in senior technical or team lead roles within MSP environmentProven track record working with enterprise clients and maintaining high service standardsLeadership & Management
Experience mentoring junior technical staff and providing technical guidanceDemonstrated ability to work effectively in cross-cultural, distributed team environmentsProject management experience including process improvement and infrastructure initiativesTrack record of building processes and procedures from ground upCommunication & Soft Skills
Exceptional verbal and written English communication for US client and team interactionAbility to explain complex technical concepts to both technical and non-technical audiencesStrong presentation skills for client meetings and internal reportingCultural awareness and ability to work effectively across US-India time zonesAdditional Requirements
Ability to work flexible hours to ensure overlap with US business operationsWillingness to participate in on-call rotation and emergency escalationsHigh-pressure, fast-paced environment experience with enterprise-level SLAsStrong analytical and problem-solving mindset with attention to detailWhat We Offer
Opportunity to build and lead NOC operations from the ground upDirect career progression path from technical expert to operations managerExposure to cutting-edge enterprise networking technologies and large-scale MSP operationsCollaboration with experienced US-based teams and enterprise clientsCompetitive compensation package with performance-based growth opportunitiesProfessional development support including certifications and training programsIdeal Candidate Profile
The successful candidate will be a technical expert who thrives on complex problem-solving, demonstrates natural leadership qualities, and has the vision to build world-class NOC operations. You should be equally comfortable diving deep into technical troubleshooting and communicating with executive-level stakeholders. This role requires someone who can earn trust through technical excellence while developing the management skills needed to scale operations successfully.