Network/Systems Engineer I [ESP3535]

The Network and Systems Engineer I is responsible for designing, managing, and maintaining the district's IT infrastructure, including the Local Area Network (LAN), Wide Area Network (WAN), Wireless Network (WLAN), and server environments. This role ensures high system availability, security, and performance through proactive administration, troubleshooting, and optimization of network and server systems. Key responsibilities include technical and security support, network administration, system administration, performance tuning, virtualization, and storage management. Additional duties involve administering Windows Active Directory and other server services, implementing cybersecurity measures, managing user identities, backups, disaster recovery procedures, and enforcing policies to safeguard staff and student data., * Configure, monitor, and maintain the district's LAN, WAN, and WLAN to ensure secure and efficient connectivity.

• Evaluate, install, and troubleshoot network wiring configurations, including conducting performance tests.
• Managing network security, firewall configurations, and intrusion detection/prevention systems to mitigate cyber threats.

Server & Systems Management

• Deploy, configure, monitor, and maintain enterprise-level Windows and Linux servers, ensuring system integrity, security, and high availability.
• Administer and optimize Active Directory, Group Policies, DNS, DHCP, IIS, SQL Server, and other essential server services.
• Manage file storage, email, web services, FTP, and Google applications, ensuring data integrity and availability.
• Monitor system logs and performance metrics, conduct proactive maintenance, and troubleshoot server-related issues.

Virtualization, Storage, Cloud, and Backup

• Configure, maintain, and monitor virtualized environments and cloud services.
• Design and maintain data storage environments and cloud platforms to optimize performance and scalability.
• Administer and monitor Storage Area Networks (SAN), Network Attached Storage (NAS), and cloud storage solutions.
• Implement and manage business continuity and disaster recovery (DR) plans, ensuring data integrity through automated backups and contingency planning.
• Conduct regular backup audits and recovery testing to validate the effectiveness of disaster recovery strategies.

Security & Compliance

• Managing firewalls, intrusion prevention systems, and web content filtering to safeguard student and staff data.
• Research, implement, and maintain cybersecurity best practices, ensuring compliance with educational IT security standards.
• Deploy, test, and automate software updates and security patches for operating systems and applications.
• Support the implementation of security models, MFA, and role-based access controls.

Hardware & Infrastructure Support

• Diagnose and replace defective hardware components for servers, networking equipment, and client devices.
• Maintain and monitor power backup systems (UPS, battery backups) to prevent system downtime.
• Support IoT and smart classroom technologies, ensuring network and system compatibility.

Scripting & Automation

• Develop and maintain scripts for automation using PowerShell, Python, Bash, or other scripting languages to streamline network and system administration.
• Automate identity management tasks, provisioning, and system maintenance to enhance efficiency.

User Support & Training

• Troubleshoot and resolve technical issues for staff, faculty, and students, ensuring minimal disruption to learning environments.
• Provide training and support to district IT personnel, particularly site technicians, on essential network and system functions.

Project & Policy Participation

• Contribute to planning, design, and implementation of new IT projects, infrastructure upgrades, and emerging technologies.
• Assist in developing IT policies, security standards, and best practices to align with industry and educational regulations.
• Research and recommend hardware, software, and networking solutions for short- and long-term district technology planning.

Documentation

• Create and maintain comprehensive procedural documentation for all network, server, and security systems.
• Maintain detailed change logs, incident reports, and performance analytics to improve IT operations and decision-making.

Other Duties as assigned

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Network Engineering or related field is preferred but not required.
• Five (5) years of experience in network and systems administration positions or a similar IT role.
• One (1) Technology related certifications from Cisco Microsoft, Comptia, VMWare, or other Industry recognized certifications.
• Any combination of Education and Experience.

Preference will be given to those with:

• Experience in K-12 public education or a related educational setting.
• Strong knowledge of network protocols (TCP/IP, VLANs, VPNs, DNS, DHCP, HTTP/S, FTP, SMTP).
• Experience managing firewalls, routers, switches, and wireless access points.
• Proficiency in Active Directory administration, group policy management, and role-based access controls.
• Experience working with Windows Server, Linux environments, Active Directory, virtualization technologies, and enterprise networking.
• Familiarity with cybersecurity frameworks, data encryption, MFA, and endpoint security solutions.
• Strong documentation, communication, and teamwork skills.
• Ability to work extended hours or non-standard schedules as needed to meet critical reporting deadlines (typical schedule: 8 hours/day, 40 hours/week).

• Frequent visual concentration for detailed tasks such as reviewing data, figures, and diagrams.
• Periodical interruptions and distracting influences: for example, people, phone calls, noise and so forth.
• Periodical pressures related to establishing priorities, meeting deadlines or fulfilling scheduling requirements.
• Work is regularly carried out in mildly disagreeable conditions and may involve exposure to noise, ventilation, crowded areas, outside weather, and so forth.
• Occasionally the job requires significant physical exertion using heavy tools/equipment or handling heavy materials/objects.
• The job occasionally requires light physical exertion including walking, standing, motor vehicle operation and other forms of light physical activity.
• This role requires travel to different locations.