Senior Network Engineer/Systems Engineer

The Senior Network Engineer / Systems Engineer, will serve as the hands-on technical lead for a major network infrastructure modernization initiative across three company locations. The primary focus of this position will be to assess the organization’s existing WAN and network environment, develop the recommended future-state architecture, and provide technical oversight throughout the implementation of the new environment.

Approximately 80% of the role will focus on network engineering, and the WAN infrastructure refresh, including evaluating the current (“as-is”) environment and overseeing a third-party vendor responsible for replacing aging Cisco network equipment with a modern Aruba-based switching and wireless infrastructure.

The successful candidate will have strong hands-on network engineering experience combined with the ability to operate at a project-lead level. This individual will work closely with internal IT resources, business stakeholders, and outside vendors to ensure the new network architecture provides the performance, reliability, security, scalability, and redundancy required by the organization.

Approximately 20% of the position will involve systems administration, primarily within Microsoft Windows Server and Active Directory environments.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIESNetwork Infrastructure & WAN Modernization - Approximately 80%

• Perform a comprehensive assessment of the existing network and WAN architecture across three locations, including current topology, connectivity, bandwidth, routing, switching, wireless infrastructure, redundancy, performance, and potential points of failure.
• Document the current-state (“as-is”) network environment and identify aging infrastructure, architectural limitations, performance concerns, security risks, and opportunities for improvement.
• Develop and/or validate the recommended future-state network and WAN architecture, ensuring appropriate levels of performance, scalability, security, availability, and redundancy.
• Serve as one of the organization’s technical leads and subject matter experts throughout the network infrastructure refresh.
• Review and validate vendor-proposed network designs, equipment selections, configurations, implementation plans, migration strategies, and technical recommendations.
• Ensure the proposed Aruba environment integrates effectively with the organization’s existing WAN, server, security, cloud, and application infrastructure.
• Coordinate network migrations and cutovers across all three locations while minimizing business disruption and maintaining network availability.
• Provide technical guidance regarding switching, routing, VLANs, WAN connectivity, wireless networking, network segmentation, redundancy, failover, and network security.
• Identify network performance bottlenecks and recommend architectural or configuration changes to improve reliability and performance.
• Monitor and validate network performance before, during, and after implementation to ensure the new infrastructure meets technical and business requirements.
• Troubleshoot complex network connectivity and performance issues and work with vendors, carriers, and internal IT resources to resolve problems.
• Create and maintain detailed network documentation, including network diagrams, topology maps, configurations, IP addressing, VLAN documentation, implementation records, and support procedures.
• Participate in technology planning, product evaluation, cost-benefit analysis, and vendor selection as required.
• Interact and negotiate with technology vendors, service providers, outsourcers, and contractors regarding network products and services.
• Ensure network architecture and implementation practices align with company security, disaster recovery, and business continuity requirements.

Systems Administration & Support - Approximately 20%

• Provide administration and troubleshooting support for Microsoft Active Directory and Windows Server environments.
• Support Windows Server operating systems running in physical and virtualized environments.
• Assist with Active Directory administration, Group Policy, DNS, DHCP, user authentication, permissions, and related Microsoft infrastructure services.
• Support VMware virtualized server environments as required.
• Assist with Microsoft 365 administration and integration with the company’s hybrid infrastructure.
• Support networked storage, backup, recovery, and related infrastructure systems as needed.
• Assist the IT team with escalated infrastructure issues requiring senior-level troubleshooting and analysis.
• Maintain appropriate systems documentation, configuration records, and operational procedures.
• Provide technical guidance and mentoring to junior IT team members when appropriate.

• Strong experience as a Senior Network Engineer, or similarly senior network infrastructure professional.
• Demonstrated experience assessing existing enterprise network environments and developing current-state and future-state network designs
• Experience leading or playing a significant technical role in a large-scale network infrastructure refresh, modernization, or migration project.
• Strong hands-on experience with Aruba networking technologies, including enterprise switches and wireless infrastructure.
• Experience migrating from or supporting Cisco routing and switching environments; experience with Cisco-to-Aruba migrations is highly desirable.
• Strong understanding of enterprise WAN architecture and multi-site networking.
• Advanced knowledge of Layer 2 and Layer 3 networking concepts, including TCP/IP, VLANs, routing, switching, DNS, DHCP, network segmentation, redundancy, and failover.
• Strong knowledge of enterprise wireless networking, including wireless design, access points, coverage, performance, and security.
• Experience working with and providing technical oversight to third-party network vendors, integrators, carriers, and service providers.
• Ability to review vendor designs and recommendations critically and ensure proposed solutions meet organizational requirements rather than relying solely on vendor direction.
• Experience developing network diagrams, technical specifications, implementation plans, and migration/cutover strategies.
• Strong network troubleshooting and performance-analysis skills.
• Working experience with Microsoft Windows Server and Active Directory administration.
• Experience with VMware virtualized environments. (Others such as HyperV would also be acceptable)
• Experience with Microsoft 365 administration and integration.
• Experience with networked storage, backup, disaster recovery, and business continuity environments.
• Understanding of infrastructure security principles, network security best practices, and applicable data privacy requirements.
• Strong project management and organizational skills with the ability to coordinate multiple locations, vendors, and technical resources.
• Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Ability to communicate complex network and infrastructure concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Ability to make independent technical decisions based on sound engineering judgment, knowledge, and experience.
• Highly self-motivated and capable of operating independently while working effectively within a collaborative IT team.
• Strong analytical, troubleshooting, and creative problem-solving abilities.
• Ability to prioritize and execute tasks effectively in a high-pressure environment.

SUPERVISION EXERCISED

None. This position will, however, provide technical leadership and vendor interface during the network modernization project and may provide guidance to junior IT team members.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here represent those an employee must meet to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations will be made consistent with applicable law to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

· Physical requirements normally associated with an onsite IT infrastructure position.

· Ability to use both hands regularly with sufficient dexterity to install, configure, and troubleshoot IT equipment.

· Occasional lifting, pushing, and pulling of approximately 20-25 pounds.

· Occasional work in a temperature-controlled server room environment (approximately 65-80 degrees)., * Network engineering: 8 years (Required)

• Systems engineering: 5 years (Required)
• Cisco routers: 5 years (Required)
• Microsoft Windows Server: 5 years (Required)
• Active Directory: 5 years (Required)
• VMware: 3 years (Required)

Language:

• English (Required)

• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Health savings account
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance