Jobs › Options Clearing Corporation

Associate Principal, Network Engineering

Options Clearing Corporation · Chicago, IL · $108,600–$154,500 a year · Full time

Posted Aug 19, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 2026

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Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

About your past

Tell me about a complex installation project you coordinated with vendors and internal teams.

What they are checking: Project coordination skill, which the posting names alongside technical design.

A change you made caused an unexpected outage. Walk me through what you did.

What they are checking: Honesty, fast recovery and learning from mistakes in a high-stakes environment.

How do you keep current on networking and cloud technologies?

What they are checking: Commitment to learning in a field moving from hardware to software-defined and cloud networking.

What would you do

Security wants to segment a network that application teams say is too risky to touch. How do you move it forward?

What they are checking: Balancing security architecture goals with operational risk and stakeholder concerns.

About the work

Walk me through how you would troubleshoot an application outage that the app team blames on the network.

What they are checking: Structured, layer-by-layer troubleshooting and use of evidence across routing, switching and firewalls.

Explain how Cisco ACI differs from traditional switching, and what you have found hardest about operating it.

What they are checking: Hands-on ACI experience with tenants, contracts and policy rather than surface familiarity.

How do you plan a firewall rule change on Cisco FTD in a production environment that cannot go down?

What they are checking: Change management discipline, testing and rollback planning in critical financial infrastructure.

How would you connect on-premises data centers to AWS securely and with redundancy?

What they are checking: Hybrid network design using Direct Connect, VPN and routing with resilience in mind.

How does network design support business continuity for a clearinghouse?

What they are checking: Understanding of redundancy, failover sites and testing in a systemically important organization.

How do you write a technical implementation plan that someone else on the team could execute at 2 a.m.?

What they are checking: Clear documentation habits that make changes safe and repeatable.

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The full job description

As published by Options Clearing Corporation.

To be considered for this position, applications and resumes are accepted only through our careers site by directly applying to the posted job. We do not accept unsolicited resumes or sales solicitations from staffing agencies. Any OCC employee wishing to submit a referral must do so through their Workday account. Any resume submitted outside of an active job posting will not be considered for employment. What You'll Do: This role is responsible for supporting, administering, and overseeing network support, design, and analysis of new and existing architectures — including routing/switching configuration, Cisco FTD firewall administration, Cisco ACI management, and network-related business continuity planning. The role also involves developing systems specifications, technical implementation plans, and coordinating complex installation projects with clients and vendors, while working with a team on network and security architecture design for both on-premise and Cloud environments Primary Duties and Responsibilities: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each primary duty satisfactorily. Support the network infrastructure lifecycle, including routing, switching, Cisco FTD firewalls, Cisco ACI, and cloud-based (AWS) solutions — covering deployment, troubleshooting, and ongoing maintenance. Assist in implementing network changes to maintain security, performance, and compliance with governance frameworks (NIST-CSF, COBIT). Partner with vendors, carriers, and engineering teams to resolve issues and support large-scale projects. Maintain documentation and provide on-call support to help ensure reliability and business continuity Supervisory Responsibilities: None Qualifications: The requirements listed are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the primary functions. • [Required] Excellent presentation skills including planning, material preparation and public speaking • [Required] Demonstrated capability to tailor communications to the technical level of the audience • [Required] Clear, concise and precise written and verbal communication skills to effectively communicate with people of various backgrounds • [Required] Strong interpersonal, leadership, project management and mentoring skills • [Required] Strong ability to use solution-oriented approach towards problem resolution • [Required] Ability to work independently and be a team player Technical Skills: • [Required] Strong foundation in Network protocols (BGP, OSPF, ISIS) and concepts (WAN/LAN/IP/VPN/IPAM/DNS), with the ability to apply this knowledge to expand and support existing network infrastructure • [Required] Advanced experience with Cisco network products, including lifecycle management (deployment, upgrades, and ongoing support) of IOS, NX-OS, XR, and FTD platforms • [Required] Strong network troubleshooting skills to support day-to-day operations, including packet capture, analysis, and review. • [Required] Experience supporting cloud connectivity (AWS, Azure) within a hybrid infrastructure environment • [Preferred] Scripting experience (Python, Ansible, Github or industry equivalent) to support automation and maintenance of existing infrastructure. Education and/or Experience: • [Required] Bachelor’s degree, preferably in technical discipline (Computer Science, Mathematics, etc.) or equivalent combination of education and experience. • [Required] 5+ years of experience in IT systems installation, operations, administration, and maintenance of virtualized servers / cloud systems Certificates or Licenses: • [Preferred] Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP/CCDP) equivalent field experience • [Preferred] Relevant industry certifications such as AWS, Microsoft Azure or Google • Cloud • [Preferred] AWS certifications such as DevOps Engineer, Solutions Architect, Advanced Networking, or Security or equivalent field experience About Us The Options Clearing Corporation (OCC) is the world's largest equity derivatives clearing organization. Founded in 1973, OCC is dedicated to promoting stability and market integrity by delivering clearing and settlement services for options, futures and securities lending transactions. As a Systemically Important Financial Market Utility (SIFMU), OCC operates under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), and the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. OCC has more than 100 clearing members and provides central counterparty (CCP) clearing and settlement services to 19 exchanges and trading platforms. More information about OCC is available at www.theocc.com. Benefits A highly collaborative and supportive environment developed to encourage work-life balance and employee wellness. Some of these components include: • A hybrid work environment, up to 2 days per week of remote work • Tuition Reimbursement to support your continued education • Student Loan Repayment Assistance • Technology Stipend allowing you to use the device of your choice to connect to our network while working remotely • Generous PTO and Parental leave • 401k Employer Match • Competitive health benefits including medical, dental and vision Visit https://www.theocc.com/careers/thriving-together for more information. Compensation • The salary range listed for any given position is exclusive of fringe benefits and potential bonuses. If hired at OCC, your final base salary compensation will be determined by factors such as skills, experience and/or education. • In addition, we believe in the importance of pay equity and consider internal equity of our current team members as part of any final offer. • We typically do not hire at the maximum of the range in order to allow for future and continued salary growth. We also offer a substantial benefits package as noted on www.theocc.com/careers • All employees may be eligible for a discretionary bonus. Discretionary bonuses are based on various factors, including, but not limited to, company and individual performance and are not guaranteed. Salary Range $108,600.00 - $154,500.00 Incentive Range 8% to 15% This position is eligible for an annual discretionary incentive compensation award, for which the target range is listed above (see Incentive Range ). The amount of such award, if any, will be based on various factors, including without limitation, both individual and company performance. Step 1 When you find a position you're interested in, click the 'Apply' button. Please complete the application and attach your resume. Step 2 You will receive an email notification to confirm that we've received your application. Step 3 If you are called in for an interview, a representative from OCC will contact you to set up a date, time, and location. For more information about OCC , please click here . OCC is an Equal Opportunity Employer

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