Network Engineer Contract Jobs in Manchester, CT

Job Description: Network Engineer, Senior Network Engineer Search #: 499335Work type: Full-timeLocation: UConn HartfordCategories: Information Technology ORGANIZATIONAL OVERVIEW The Connecticut Education Network (CEN) is Connecticut’s trusted internet partner, dedicated to empowering our member community and driving their success. For over 25 years, we’ve upheld this commitment—growing our network and earning a reputation as one of the state’s most valued and high-performing Internet Service Providers. Join CEN and experience a culture built on innovation, collaboration, and purpose. Imagine loving what you do, where you do it, and contributing to a mission that delivers exceptional value to Connecticut. At CEN, meaningful work is more than a job—it’s a calling. We’re seeking a talented professional to join our network services team, bringing expertise and creativity to advance our network architecture and deliver impactful solutions to some of the most vital sectors: K-20 education, state and local government, healthcare, cultural institutions, and more. We offer a flexible, family-friendly work environment, including hybrid work-from-home options, 7-hour workdays, and a culture that values work-life balance. Our sense of community extends beyond Connecticut. We collaborate with state-level research and education networks nationwide, sharing best practices and tackling challenges together—unlike the competitive private sector, we thrive on partnership over profit. Professional growth matters to us. We invest in your development through vendor training, hands-on labs, industry conferences, and leadership programs. Our goal is simple: help you become the best version of yourself. Our members know us by name—and we know their networks. They are some of our strongest advocates at local and state levels, championing shared economies of scale that drive transformative technologies and value for all. JOB SUMMARY CEN, through UConn Information Technology Services (ITS), is seeking two (2) Network Engineers to join our Network Services team. Reporting to the Network Services Manager, you’ll manage a Tier 2 service-provider network offering services such as dedicated internet, internet, exchange peering, content caching, l2/3 VPNs, cloud connect onramps, managed firewall, hosted DNS, content filtering, and more. We’re looking for someone who is highly motivated, collaborative, and skilled at evaluating complex, interconnected network systems. This role offers a fast-paced, rewarding environment where you’ll grow professionally while advancing CEN’s mission and brand. Our office is located at 55 Farmington Ave, Hartford, CT, and as part of UConn, you’ll enjoy excellent benefits and work-life balance. UConn is consistently ranked as the top public university in New England and among the nation’s best, recognized as a Carnegie Foundation Research University—a distinction shared by only the most prestigious institutions. SALARY$80,790 – $105,027 Network Engineer (P6, Network Administrator 2) $90,485 - $117,630 Senior Network Engineer (P7, Network Administrator 3)Final salary will be based on the successful candidate's background and experience. Note: Please indicate the specific role you’re applying for in the cover letter. All minimum qualifications must be met at the applicable level to be eligible for consideration at that level. BENEFITS INCLUDEDefined contribution with employer match or defined benefit program retirement optionsExcellent and affordable healthcare options35-hour work week22 paid vacation days per year, in addition to paid sick leave and 13 paid holidaysAnnual merit increase programEmployee and dependent tuition waiversA highly desirable work environment and work-life balance DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES Network Engineer (Network Administrator 2)Ensure the continuous, uninterrupted availability, security, and functionality of the network.Perform installation, provisioning, and decommissioning of devices and services.Troubleshoot and resolve network related problems, occasionally under extreme pressure.Manage timely response to service requests and incidents within ticketing systems.Produce and maintain diagrams, records, as-built documentation, and operating procedures.Maintain and monitor inventory, assets, and tracking of equipment, parts, and materials.Participate in on-call rotation, including after-hours escalation support as needed.Maintain vendor relationships, manage contract installations, and liaise with end users.Lead, execute, and contribute to all aspects of projects from inception to completion.Create, debug, test, and deploy network automation scripts and programming languages.Contribute to and execute business continuity/disaster recovery plans as needed.Perform optimizations including tuning, upgrading, troubleshooting, capacity planning, etc.Oversee network implementation processes, including setting schedules and budgets.Research network technologies and stay up to date on advancement in the field.Lead testing and recommend purchases of hardware, software, security, and related products.Contribute to technical specifications and requirements for procurement documents.Participate in virtual and/or physical events and presentations to peers and/or CEN community.May provide leadership, supervision, training, and/or professional development plans for staff.May represent team and organization on advisory boards, councils, forums, etc.Must have a driver’s license and ability to travel to sites within CT, New England, and New York.Perform other duties as required. Network Engineer (Network Administrator 3)Lead long-range planning of the overall network, architecture, security, and capacity.Lead outage resolution and post incident reviews including detailed root cause analysis.Lead design and implement complex network systems including physical and logical topology.Lead business continuity/disaster recovery planning, testing, and execution.Present network plans to management staff/key stakeholders aligning strategy and need.Serve final as escalation point for incidents, requests, design reviews, and vendor escalations.Mentor and guide junior engineering staff and help with cross-team competency.Serve as a subject matter expert (SME) on optical, packet, security, and/or cloud services.Write technical specifications and requirements for procurements needs and documents.Perform other duties as required. RELATED SKILLS AND COMPETENCIESProblem Solving: Demonstrates sound analytic and diagnostic skills dealing with issues that are defined and/or where information is available but must be further manipulated. Once decisions are made, will follow and direct action to implement intended results. Breaks a problem down to manageable pieces and implements effective, timely solutions. Openly and directly confronts issues until resolved.Team Orientation: Builds relationships with peers and other departments to achieve objectives. Balances team and individual responsibilities. Exhibits objectivity and openness to others’ views. Gives and welcomes feedback. Puts success of team above self. Responsibilities are assigned with some latitude for setting priorities and decision-making using established policies and procedures. Results are reviewed with next-level team lead/manager for clarification and direction before proceeding.Productivity, Planning, and Time Management: Is proficient in office productivity software such as O365 suite, MS Teams, Google Apps, etc. for collaboration, word processing, spreadsheets, presentation, e-mail etc. Works with the project or team lead in identifying those tasks that are most important, establishes clear priorities and understands the larger picture. Executes tasks and creates documentation as required.Physical Demands: This position involves extended periods of sitting and the extensive use of computer and the office equipment. May involve stooping, kneeling, crouching and/or working on step ladders. Involves close vision, color vision, depth perception, and focus adjustment. Must be able to lift 40 lbs. to shoulder height and must have a valid license and ability to drive. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS Network Engineer (Network Administrator 2)Bachelor’s Degree in a related field and 4 years of related experience, OR an equivalent combination of education and experience.Experience leveraging BGP, OSPF, and/or ISIS in medium to large scale enterprise networks.Demonstrated written and verbal communication skills.Demonstrated understanding of OSI Layers 1 – 4 and TCP/IP protocols.Demonstrated ability to troubleshoot complex inter-related network systems. Senior Network Engineer (Network Administrator 3) (Inclusive of Network Engineer)Bachelor’s Degree in STEM and 6 years of directly related experience, OR an equivalent combination of education and experience.3 years’ total experience must have been as the lead or senior network engineer in support of a large-scale network.Experience leveraging MPLS and traffic engineering.Experience leveraging VRFs in complex network environments.Proven experience in providing high profile outage resolution and post incident reviews. PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS Network Engineer (Network Administrator 2)Master’s Degree (MD) in a related field.5+ years’ experience in an enterprise network environment or Service Provider network.CCNP, or equivalent level certification or better, Service Provider track preferred.Career certification(s) in cybersecurity, programming, and/or cloud provider service.Demonstrated scripting ability utilizing one or more of: Bash, Python, Perl, Ansible.Experience with Cisco ONS 15454/NCS2k and/or other optical networking platforms.Experience with web content filtering, associated regulations and technologies.Demonstrated advanced knowledge of DNS configurations and troubleshooting.Working knowledge of network security concepts and technologies, including but not limited to firewalls, IDS/IPS, proxy servers, access control systems, and web application firewalls.Demonstrated experience with Network flow data (i.e., NetFlow, sFlow, IPFIX) or related forms of flow records and session summary data. Senior Network Engineer (Network Administrator 3) (Inclusive of Network Engineer)Advanced Degree (Masters or Doctorate) in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) discipline or related to computer networking.7+ years’ experience in a large-scale service provider or multi-discipline enterprise network environment. CCIE and/or JNCIE certification; Service Provider track preferred.Demonstrated ability to write specifications, document existing and planned systems.4 years’ programming experience, which includes working directly with network systems.Experience developing and/or maintaining emergency/incident response plans.Project Management certification or demonstrated project management experience.Familiar with IT Security frameworks and relevant regulatory obligations and audit requirements (GDPR, SOX, NIST, ISO 31000, PCI, FERPA, and/or AICPA/SOC2). APPOINTMENT TERMS This is a full-time, annually renewable (end-dated) position. The University offers a competitive salary, outstanding benefits, including employee and dependent tuition waivers at UConn, and a highly desirable work environment. Salary will be commensurate with the successful candidate’s background and experience. Other rights, terms, and conditions of employment are contained in the collective bargaining agreement between the University of Connecticut and the University of Connecticut Professional Employees Association (UCPEA). TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT Employment of the successful candidate is contingent upon the successful completion of a pre-employment criminal background check. TO APPLY Please apply online at Faculty and Staff Positions, Search #499335. Interested candidates should submit a letter of application and resume that demonstrate how you meet the minimum qualifications and any preferred qualifications you may have for this position, and a list of contact information, including phone numbers for three professional references. Please reference search #499335 in your application. Screening will begin immediately. This job posting is scheduled to be removed at 11:55 p.m. Eastern time on August 12, 2026. In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification document form upon hire. Employment of the successful candidate is contingent upon the successful completion of a pre-employment criminal background check. All employees are subject to adherence to the State Code of Ethics. All members of the University of Connecticut are expected to exhibit appreciation of, and contribute to, an inclusive, respectful, and diverse environment for the University community. The University of Connecticut aspires to create a community built on collaboration and belonging and has actively sought to create an inclusive culture within the workforce. The success of the University is dependent on the willingness of our diverse employee and student populations to share their rich perspectives and backgrounds in a respectful manner. This makes it essential for each member of our community to feel secure and welcomed and to thoroughly understand and believe that their ideas are respected by all. We strongly respect each individual employee’s unique experiences and perspectives and encourage all members of the community to do the same. All applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, ethnicity, religion, age, sex, marital status, national origin, ancestry, sexual orientation, genetic information, physical or mental disabilities, veteran’s status, status as a victim of domestic violence and/or sexual assault and/or trafficking in persons as defined by Connecticut law, prior conviction of a crime, workplace hazards to the reproductive systems, or gender identity or expression. The University of Connecticut is an AA/EEO employer including for Disability and Veteran status. Advertised: Jul 29 2026 Eastern Daylight TimeApplications close: Aug 12 2026 Eastern Daylight Time