Senior Network Engineer
Hybrid (3 Days/Week Onsite)
Position Summary
Our client is seeking a highly skilled Senior Network Engineer to take ownership of the organization's enterprise network infrastructure, ensuring the security, reliability, scalability, and performance of all network services across on-premises and cloud environments.
This role serves as the technical lead and highest level of network escalation, overseeing the Managed NOC provider and resolving complex Level 3 network issues. The ideal candidate brings strong hands-on experience with Zscaler, Zero Trust networking, Fortinet technologies, and Azure networking, along with a proven ability to design, implement, troubleshoot, and optimize modern enterprise network environments.
Candidates with a progression from Systems Engineer to Network Engineer backgrounds are encouraged to apply, particularly those who have evolved into owning and architecting enterprise networking solutions.
This individual will play a critical role in shaping network strategy, managing vendor relationships, driving network modernization initiatives, and serving as the subject matter expert for all networking technologies across the organization.
Key Responsibilities
Network Ownership & Engineering
- Serve as the primary owner and technical authority for the enterprise network environment.
- Design, implement, maintain, and optimize secure, highly available network infrastructure across corporate locations, data centers, and cloud platforms.
- Lead network modernization initiatives, including Zero Trust, cloud networking, SD-WAN, network segmentation, and security enhancements.
- Develop and maintain network architecture standards, documentation, and best practices.
- Evaluate emerging technologies and recommend solutions that improve security, performance, and scalability.
Operations & Escalation Management
- Act as the highest level (Level 3) escalation point for all network-related incidents and complex technical issues.
- Provide oversight and technical direction to the outsourced NOC team responsible for Level 1 and Level 2 support.
- Ensure timely resolution of critical outages, performance issues, and infrastructure incidents.
- Lead root cause analysis efforts and implement long-term corrective actions.
- Maintain proactive network monitoring and performance management processes.
Security & Zero Trust Networking
- Support and expand the organization's Zero Trust networking strategy.
- Administer and optimize Zscaler solutions, secure remote access, network segmentation, and access controls.
- Partner with security teams to strengthen network security posture across all environments.
- Implement best practices for firewall management, secure connectivity, and threat mitigation.
Cloud Networking
- Design and support Azure networking components, including hybrid connectivity, virtual networks, network security groups, VPNs, ExpressRoute, and cloud-based network services.
- Collaborate with cloud and infrastructure teams to support cloud-first initiatives.
- Provide guidance on cloud network architecture and connectivity strategies.
- Azure cloud engineering experience is highly desirable.
Vendor & NOC Management
- Manage relationships with network service providers, telecommunications carriers, hardware vendors, and managed service partners.
- Oversee the performance and effectiveness of the outsourced NOC team.
- Coordinate upgrades, maintenance activities, and network implementation projects with vendors and partners.
- Participate in vendor evaluations, support escalations, and contract discussions.
Required Qualifications
- 7+ years of progressive experience in network engineering, infrastructure engineering, or related roles.
- Hands-on experience supporting and implementing Zero Trust networking architectures.
- Strong expertise administering and troubleshooting Zscaler security platforms.
- Advanced experience with Fortinet networking and security hardware, including FortiGate firewalls and related technologies.
- Strong experience designing and supporting enterprise networking environments.
- Hands-on experience managing:
- LAN/WAN environments
- SD-WAN technologies
- VPN solutions
- Network segmentation
- Routing and switching technologies
- Wireless networking infrastructure
- Experience supporting dynamic routing protocols, including:
- Demonstrated experience troubleshooting complex network issues and serving as a senior escalation resource.
- Experience managing third-party vendors, managed service providers, and NOC operations.
- Strong understanding of network security principles and best practices.
- Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
Preferred Qualifications
- Azure networking experience strongly preferred.
- Azure cloud engineering experience highly desirable.
- Experience supporting hybrid cloud networking environments.
- Cisco Meraki wireless experience.
- Experience with SASE, Secure Access technologies, and network modernization initiatives.
- SolarWinds or similar network monitoring tools.
- Previous experience progressing from Systems Engineer to Network Engineer roles.
- Relevant certifications such as:
- Fortinet NSE/FCP
- Microsoft Azure Network Engineer Associate
- CCNP Enterprise
- Zscaler Certifications