Role Purpose
The DNS Engineer is a technical authority responsible for the design, reliability, security, and performance of enterprise and internet‑facing DNS services. The role provides L3 escalation for complex DNS issues, leads root‑cause analysis across multiple layers, and drives continuous improvement in DNS architecture, operational readiness, and service assurance.
This role works in a shared delivery environment, partnering with platform, infrastructure, automation, and security stakeholders to achieve end‑to‑end DNS outcomes.
Key Responsibilities
1) DNS Technical Authority
- Define and maintain DNS architecture, standards, and design patterns across authoritative and recursive DNS services.
- Ensure DNS correctness, resilience, and performance under normal operation and failure scenarios.
- Review and approve significant DNS changes and design decisions.
2) L3 Escalation & Problem Management
- Act as the escalation point for complex or systemic DNS incidents (intermittent failures, correctness issues, performance degradation).
- Lead deep diagnostics across DNS protocol behaviour, routing dependencies, client resolver behaviour, and platform/runtime interactions.
- Produce high‑quality RCAs and drive permanent fixes through design, automation, and operational improvements.
3) DNS Service Security
- Own DNS security design and assurance relevant to the DNS service, including DNSSEC strategy and operational readiness.
- Implement and govern policy‑based controls (e.g., response policy / filtering approaches) where required.
- Support security and DDoS mitigation initiatives with DNS subject matter expertise.
4) Service Observability & Operability
- Define telemetry and monitoring requirements for DNS services (latency, response codes, error patterns, saturation indicators).
- Improve operational readiness through diagnostics, runbooks, and failure scenario testing.
- Provide technical guidance during incidents to restore service safely and quickly.
5) Multi‑Platform DNS Capability (Including F5 DNS)
- Provide DNS SME capability across multiple DNS delivery platforms, including:
- Open‑source / software DNS servers (authoritative and recursive) .
- F5 BIG‑IP DNS deployments where used
- Ensure consistent DNS behaviour, reliability, and security controls across platforms.
- For F5 BIG‑IP DNS specifically, support DNS functionality such as:
- DNS listeners and service configuration
- Health monitoring and availability‑driven behaviour
- Policy/logic controlling DNS response selection where applicable
- Integration considerations with adjacent network and security controls
6) Cross‑Team Collaboration
- Translate DNS service requirements into actionable inputs for platform/infrastructure teams.
- Evaluate DNS impact of OS, runtime, dependency, and platform changes.
- Influence stakeholders using clear technical reasoning, evidence, and risk articulation.
Required Skills & Experience
DNS Expertise (Core)
- Expert understanding of DNS protocol behaviour (authoritative vs recursive, caching semantics, TTL behaviour, EDNS, failure modes).
- Strong experience operating DNS services in production at scale.
- Hands‑on experience with at least one enterprise DNS implementation (e.g., BIND, Unbound or equivalent).
F5 DNS Expertise (Required for this role)
- Practical, hands‑on knowledge of F5 BIG-IP DNS configuration and operations, including:
- DNS service configuration, objects, and operational troubleshooting
- Health monitors and dependency modelling
- High availability considerations and safe change practices
- Behavioural troubleshooting when DNS response selection differs by client, network, or health state
Routing / Network Fundamentals
- Strong understanding of IP networking fundamentals relevant to DNS delivery (reachability, latency, routing behaviour, failure domains).
- Ability to diagnose issues that present as DNS symptoms but originate from network or dependency layers.
Platform / OS / Runtime Knowledge (Capability, not ownership)
- Working knowledge of Linux runtime fundamentals relevant to DNS services (process behaviour, networking, resources, libraries/dependencies).
- Ability to assess DNS impact of OS/library upgrades, configuration changes, and runtime constraints.
- Familiarity with virtualised or appliance‑based service delivery environments and operational change management.
Engineering & Operational Discipline
- Strong incident leadership and structured troubleshooting skills.
- Experience producing RCAs and driving problem management to prevent recurrence.
- Ability to communicate clearly with technical and non‑technical stakeholders.
Experience Level
- Typically 8+ years with significant DNS depth.
- Demonstrated ability to operate as a senior SME and technical authority in a 24×7 production environment.
Measures of Success
- Reduced recurrence of DNS incidents and faster restoration during major events.
- Improved DNS correctness, performance, and resilience across platforms.
- Strong operational readiness: monitoring, diagnostics, and safe change practices.
- Effective cross‑team collaboration that improves end‑to‑end outcomes.
