Assistant Network Engineer Jobs in Houston, TX (NOW HIRING)

About NOV

NOV delivers technology-driven solutions to empower the global energy industry. For more than 150 years, NOV has pioneered innovations that enable its customers to safely produce abundant energy while minimizing environmental impact. The energy industry depends on NOV's deep expertise and technology to continually improve oilfield operations and assist in efforts to advance the energy transition toward a more sustainable future.

At NOV, we are a globally diverse, happy family-driven to power the people who power the world.

Job Overview

The Network Engineer will directly support the Zscaler Platform Manager in executing product strategy, technical implementations, and customer-success initiatives across NOV's global network and security platforms. The role translates strategic vision into operational excellence through hands-on network engineering, Zero-Trust security deployment, and customer-facing delivery.

Job Description Strategic Implementation Support

Execute deployment plans aligned with the Zscaler Platform Manager's product roadmap and strategic direction.

Implement Zscaler's Zero Trust Exchange platform and broader network-security solutions using approved architecture and best practices.

Configure and deploy network and security services (routing, segmentation, firewalls, ZIA/ZPA, VPN) to meet enterprise requirements.

Support proof-of-concept (POC) deployments and pilot projects to validate technical feasibility.

Provide technical insights and field feedback that inform product-enhancement decisions.

Technical Excellence & Quality Assurance

Provide tier-2 and above support for complex network and Zscaler-related deployment issues, escalating advanced challenges when necessary.

Conduct system-health checks, capacity planning, and performance optimization across network and security platforms.

Troubleshoot multi-system problems (LAN/WAN, cloud connectivity, Zscaler services) using industry best practices.

Collaborate with cross-functional engineering teams on continuous-improvement initiatives.

Maintain technical documentation and configuration guides in line with standardization efforts.

Customer Success & Stakeholder Engagement

Deliver white-glove implementation services that align with customer-success objectives.

Provide technical advisory support via multiple channels while maintaining service-quality standards.

Conduct training sessions for IT staff and end users; develop playbooks and runbooks as needed.

Gather customer feedback and requirements to inform market analysis and product-development priorities.

Operational Support & Process Improvement

Execute deployment processes following standard operating procedures.

Identify opportunities for process optimization and efficiency improvements.

Participate in cross-functional collaboration initiatives and knowledge-sharing programs.

Contribute to the development of technical best practices and reference architectures.

Requirements Experience

Minimum 5 years of hands-on experience in enterprise networking (routing, switching, firewall administration, proxies, loadbalancers, and network-security operations).

Core Technical Skills

• Zscaler Expertise - Proven experience with Zscaler Internet Access (ZIA) and Zscaler Private Access (ZPA) configuration & management
• Firewall Management - Advanced experience with firewall rules, policies, and enterprise-security implementations
• Network Fundamentals - Strong knowledge of TCP/IP, routing protocols (BGP/OSPF), VLANs, QoS, and network segmentation
• VPN & Zero Trust - Comprehensive experience in VPN deployment, troubleshooting, and integration with Zero-Trust architectures
• Authenication Systems - Proficiency with SAML, OAuth, and modern authentication protocols; identity-provider integration (Okta, Azure AD)
• Cloud Platforms - Extensive knowledge of Azure and other cloud-security platforms; SaaS integration
• Virtualization - Experience with virtual-machine management and cloud-infrastructure deployment

Advanced Technical Capabilities

Deep understanding of internet protocols and information-security frameworks.

SIEM integration for log ingestion and correlation.

Automation proficiency (Python, Terraform, Ansible, and other scripting languages) for deployment and configuration management.

Familiarity with Microsoft 365 (Exchange, OneDrive, Intune, SharePoint) administration.

Preferred Certifications & Skills

Zscaler Certified (ZDTA, ZDTE, or equivalent)

Cisco CCNA/CCNP (or comparable networking certification)

Experience with Palo Alto, Cloudflare, Versa, SD-WAN, or other next-generation security vendors

Bilingual capabilities to support a diverse customer base

Advanced experience in Azure, AWS, OCI, and other cloud environments and cloud-security implementations

Professional Competencies

Advanced troubleshooting for complex, multi-system problems.

Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and documentation skills.

Strong organizational ability to manage multiple concurrent deployments.

Outstanding written and oral communication, able to translate technical concepts to varied audiences.

Proven ability to work independently with minimal oversight while maintaining high quality standards.

Personal & Cultural Attributes

Professional demeanor and collaborative team-player mentality aligned with NOV's inclusive culture.

Passion for continuous learning and fearless approach to emerging technologies.

Customer-service excellence mindset with a commitment to exceeding expectations.

Ability to thrive in fast-paced, dynamic environments with meticulous attention to detail.

Work Environment & Collaboration

Proficiency with virtual collaboration tools for customer engagement.

Ability to manage multiple ongoing deployments while supporting strategic initiatives.

Flexibility to rotate between roles and projects as business needs evolve.

Commitment to continuous learning to stay current with Zscaler updates and industry trends.

Equal Opportunity Employer

NOV is committed to building a diverse environment and is proud to be an equal-opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected-veteran status, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by law.

This position is not eligible for employer-sponsored work authorization. Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States without the need for current or future visa sponsorship.