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Senior Network Engineer Jobs in Illinois (NOW HIRING)

Motion Recruitment

Sr. Network Engineer

Chicago, IL

$107K - $146K/yr

Senior Network Engineer (Contract): A mission-driven national organization dedicated to advancing professional standards, education, and public service is seeking a Senior Network Engineer (Contract ...

New

GCyber

Senior Network Engineer

Scott Air Force Base, IL · On-site

$140 - $190/hr

The Senior Network Engineer is responsible for managing and maintaining network availability, security, and performance across multiple sites and classifications. This position is full time onsite at ...

GCyber

Senior Network Engineer

Scott Air Force Base, IL · On-site

$100K - $137K/yr

GCyber is hiring a Senior Network Engineer to serve as the program's network design authority for a high-profile Air Force network program supporting a critical mission. The Senior Network Engineer ...

Access One Inc.

Senior Network Engineer

Chicago, IL · On-site

$120K - $150K/yr

The Senior Network Engineer will be responsible for designing, implementing, maintaining, and troubleshooting network and infrastructure environments across a diverse portfolio of clients. The ideal ...

Early Warning Services

Sr. Network Engineer

Chicago, IL · Hybrid

$107K - $146K/yr

The Senior Network Engineer designs, builds, implements, automates, and supports complex network solutions that enable secure, scalable, and highly available enterprise systems. This role provides ...

INA Solution Inc

Sr. Network Engineer

Edwardsville, IL · On-site

$60K - $80K/yr

Network Engineer Overview We are seeking an experienced Sr. Network Engineer to support the delivery, integration, and deployment of complex network and data center technology solutions. This role ...

Addison Group

VOIP Senior Network Engineer

Chicago, IL · On-site

$125K - $140K/yr

Role: Senior Network Engineer - VoIP / Unified Communications Location: Chicago, IL - Onsite Salary: $125,000 -$140,000 / year Benefits: This role is eligible for health, medical, retirement ...

Impact Networking

Senior Network Engineer

Bolingbrook, IL · On-site

$110 - $160/hr

Job Overview The TOC Senior Network Engineer will be part of the Impact Networking MIT organization under Service Operations. This role involves customer support for network issues following Impact ...

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Senior Network Engineer information

See Illinois salary details

$41.2K

$120K

$169.6K

How much do senior network engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 2, 2026, the average yearly pay for senior network engineer in Illinois is $119,951.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $100,800.00 and $138,100.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a senior network engineer?

Senior Network Engineers are experienced IT professionals responsible for designing, implementing, and managing complex computer networks within organizations. They oversee network infrastructure, troubleshoot issues, ensure network security, and optimize performance. Typically, they lead network projects, mentor junior staff, and collaborate with other IT teams to support business operations. Their expertise covers a range of technologies, including routers, switches, firewalls, and cloud networking.

What does a senior network engineer do?

A senior network engineer builds and maintains data communication networks for a company or organization. As a senior network engineer, you have several years of industry experience and lead a team of junior network engineers and network administrators to ensure both the local area network (LAN) and wide area network (WAN) are functioning properly. Your job duties include installing software and hardware, creating a layout plan for cables, and troubleshooting and solving problems that arise with the networks for which you are responsible.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a senior network engineer, and why are they important?

To excel as a Senior Network Engineer, you need a deep understanding of network architecture, protocols, security, and typically a bachelor's degree in computer science or a related field. Expertise in configuring and troubleshooting routers, switches, firewalls, and experience with tools like Cisco IOS, Juniper, or cloud networking platforms, along with certifications such as CCNP or CCIE, are highly valued. Strong problem-solving abilities, communication skills, and leadership are crucial for designing solutions and collaborating with IT teams. These competencies ensure reliable, secure, and scalable network infrastructures that support critical business operations.

What are some common challenges faced by senior network engineers when managing large-scale network infrastructures?

Senior Network Engineers often encounter challenges such as integrating new technologies into legacy systems, ensuring network security across a growing number of devices, and maintaining high availability while performing upgrades or troubleshooting. Balancing the demands of multiple stakeholders—like IT, security, and business units—can also be complex. Staying updated with evolving protocols and proactively identifying potential performance bottlenecks are crucial parts of effectively managing large-scale environments.

What is the difference between Senior Network Engineer vs Network Administrator?

AspectSenior Network EngineerNetwork Administrator
CertificationsCCNP, CCIE, Cisco certificationsCCNA, CompTIA Network+
Work EnvironmentDesign, implement, and troubleshoot complex networksMaintain and support existing network infrastructure
ResponsibilitiesNetwork architecture, advanced troubleshooting, project leadershipNetwork setup, monitoring, routine maintenance

While both roles involve network management, a Senior Network Engineer focuses on designing and implementing complex network solutions, often leading projects. In contrast, a Network Administrator primarily maintains and supports existing networks, ensuring smooth daily operations.

More about Senior Network Engineer jobs

What are the most commonly searched types of Network Engineer jobs in Illinois?

The most popular types of Network Engineer jobs in Illinois are:

What are popular job titles related to Senior Network Engineer jobs in Illinois?

For Senior Network Engineer jobs in Illinois, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Senior Network Engineer jobs in Illinois look for?

The top searched job categories for Senior Network Engineer jobs in Illinois are:

What cities in Illinois are hiring for Senior Network Engineer jobs?

Cities in Illinois with the most Senior Network Engineer job openings:

Senior Network Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Senior Network Engineer job openings in Illinois as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 65% Full Time, 29% Part Time, and 5% Contract. Highlights an 92% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 5% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $119,951 per year, or $57.7 per hour.

Sr. Network Engineer

Motion Recruitment

Chicago, IL

$107K - $146K/yr

Contractor

Posted yesterday

New

Job description

Senior Network Engineer (Contract):
A mission-driven national organization dedicated to advancing professional standards, education, and public service is seeking a Senior Network Engineer (Contract) to join their IT Infrastructure team. This individual will be responsible for designing, implementing, managing, and maintaining enterprise network infrastructure across on-premises, offsite, and cloud environments.
In this role, you'll work on complex networking initiatives involving routing protocols, firewalls, SD-WAN, wireless networking, VoIP, DNS, DHCP, and cloud connectivity while supporting critical business operations. You'll have the opportunity to contribute to infrastructure modernization efforts, provide technical leadership, and help ensure highly available, secure, and scalable network services across the organization.
If you're an experienced network engineer looking for a challenging contract opportunity where you can make a significant impact, apply today.
Required Skills & Experience
  • 5+ years of network engineering experience with a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or related field, or 8+ years of relevant experience with equivalent education/certifications
  • Strong knowledge of routing protocols, ACLs, firewall policies, SD-WAN, WAPs, web application firewalls, DHCP, DNS, and VoIP/SIP technologies
  • Experience designing, implementing, managing, and maintaining enterprise network infrastructure
  • Ability to troubleshoot complex network and data communication issues
  • Comfortable performing cabling, lifting, racking, and maintaining physical network hardware
  • Willingness to participate in on-call rotations and work onsite as needed
Desired Skills & Experience
  • Experience supporting hybrid cloud and multi-site network environments
  • Strong project planning, documentation, and implementation skills
  • Experience developing test plans and network implementation strategies
  • Excellent communication skills with the ability to provide recommendations and communicate infrastructure changes to stakeholders
  • Experience with network modeling, analysis, and capacity planning

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