Teraco is recruiting a Graduate Network Operations Engineer to support NAPAfrica and its interconnection services in the Western Cape. The market-related contract runs for one to two years and suits recent networking graduates. Candidates must understand core Internet technologies and remain available for shifts, weekends and public holidays when required.
Teraco has not published a closing date. Therefore, qualifying graduates should submit their applications promptly while the position remains available.
For someone passionate about how the Internet moves between networks, cloud providers and data centres, this role offers direct exposure to some of Africa’s largest Internet infrastructure platforms.
Why is Teraco recruiting a Graduate Network Operations Engineer?
The successful graduate will join the NAPAfrica Internet Exchange team in an entry-level technical position. The team operates Africa’s largest Internet Exchange Point and several associated interconnection services.
As part of the team, the graduate will help maintain platform availability while providing timely technical assistance to customers. Moreover, the role covers monitoring, incident management, service activation and routine network operations.
Teraco also provides structured technical mentoring. Consequently, the selected graduate can develop practical knowledge of:
- Internet Exchange operations
- Data centre networking
- Cloud interconnection
- Carrier networks
- Routing technologies
- Hyperscale connectivity
- Network monitoring and incident management
The experience could eventually support progression into Network Engineer or Internet Infrastructure Engineer positions.
What work will the graduate perform?
The Graduate Network Operations Engineer will provide first-line support across NAPAfrica, Africa Cloud Exchange and ExtraConnect services.
Daily responsibilities will include:
- Monitoring the health and availability of network platforms
- Responding to first-line technical support requests
- Escalating complex incidents to senior engineers
- Scheduling and provisioning new customer connections
- Supporting customer service activations
- Checking customer configurations before implementation
- Performing routine operational and preventative maintenance checks
- Updating operational documentation and knowledge-base articles
- Supporting planned maintenance windows
- Working with carriers, customers and cloud providers
- Collaborating with internal engineering teams to resolve service issues
- Improving operational processes and technical documentation
In addition, the graduate will need to communicate clearly with technical and non-technical customers. Strong customer service skills will therefore matter alongside technical ability.
Which networking skills does Teraco consider essential?
Candidates need a solid academic understanding of Internet and networking fundamentals. However, Teraco does not expect a recent graduate to arrive with advanced professional-level experience.
Applicants should understand:
- Transmission Control Protocol and Internet Protocol networking fundamentals
- The Open Systems Interconnection model
- Basic routing and switching
- The Linux command line
- Domain Name System concepts
- General Internet infrastructure fundamentals
These core skills will help the graduate monitor services, investigate problems and communicate effectively with senior engineers.
Which additional technical skills could strengthen an application?
Teraco will view several advanced technologies as advantageous. Therefore, candidates should include relevant coursework, personal projects, laboratory work or certifications in their curriculum vitae.
Useful additional knowledge includes:
- Border Gateway Protocol
- Virtual Extensible Local Area Network
- Ethernet Virtual Private Network
- Multiprotocol Label Switching
- Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing
- Internet Protocol version 6
- Python or another scripting language
- Virtualisation
- Network monitoring tools
- Cloud networking through Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure or Google Cloud
Applicants do not need to present every listed skill. Nevertheless, genuine exposure to any of these technologies could demonstrate curiosity and readiness to learn.
Which qualifications does Teraco accept?
Candidates need a bachelor’s degree or national diploma in a relevant technical discipline.
Teraco will consider qualifications in:
- Computer Science
- Information Technology
- Computer Engineering
- Electronic Engineering
- Telecommunications
- An equivalent technical field
The company would prefer candidates who graduated within the last two years. Furthermore, applicants should ideally have academic exposure to networking concepts.
Itumeleng’s Insider Tip: Do not simply list networking technologies on your curriculum vitae. Briefly mention how you used them during a laboratory exercise, academic assignment, certification course or personal project. Practical examples can make entry-level technical knowledge easier for a recruiter to recognise.
What personal qualities will help a graduate succeed?
Technical knowledge forms only one part of the role. Since the graduate will work with customers, carriers, cloud providers and internal engineers, communication and organisation will also play an important part.
A suitable candidate should demonstrate:
- A strong customer service mindset
- Excellent time-management skills
- Strong organisational ability
- Close attention to technical detail
- Confidence when explaining technical concepts
- Initiative and personal ownership
- An interest in Internet technologies
- A commitment to continuous learning
- The ability to work calmly during incidents
Additionally, candidates need to organise competing tasks without losing accuracy. Network operations often require timely decisions, clear documentation and careful escalation.
How demanding is the shift schedule?
NAPAfrica and its associated platforms operate around the clock. As a result, the successful graduate will participate in a shift roster that may include evenings, weekends and public holidays.
The engineer will also assist during planned maintenance windows and after-hours support periods.
Candidates should consider these working arrangements before submitting an application. Although the shift system requires flexibility, it also provides valuable exposure to real-time network operations and incident management.
What remuneration and contract terms does Teraco offer?
Teraco offers this position on a contract lasting between one and two years. The listing classifies the work level as skilled, despite its entry-level graduate focus.
The company describes the remuneration as market related rather than publishing a fixed salary or graduate stipend.
The successful candidate will work in the Western Cape and must remain available for the required shift roster.
How can graduates submit an application?
Candidates should prepare an updated curriculum vitae that clearly shows their qualification, graduation date, networking knowledge and relevant technical projects.
Applications must be submitted through the official Teraco online application portal using reference number Grad_NAP.
Before submitting, applicants should check that their contact information remains current and that their curriculum vitae reflects the essential networking skills listed in the advertisement.
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Final Thoughts
The Teraco Graduate Network Operations Engineer position offers recent technical graduates a rare opportunity to work close to the infrastructure that powers Internet connectivity across Africa.
Graduates with networking fundamentals, Linux exposure and a relevant bachelor’s degree or national diploma could gain valuable experience across routing, cloud connectivity, incident management and data centre networking.
However, the role requires flexibility because the NAPAfrica platforms operate continuously. Candidates who can manage shifts and want to build a long-term career in Internet infrastructure should submit their applications promptly.
