Network Engineer Project Lead

Network Engineer Project Lead

The Network Engineer Project Lead will provide daily network engineering operations and support for the University of South Carolinas enterprise wired and wireless network infrastructure. The role includes monitoring maintaining configuring troubleshooting and supporting switching routing wireless networking firewalls VPNs and network connectivity services. Responsibilities also include network equipment deployment incident resolution system upgrades and patching performance optimization network security support and maintaining technical documentation and network diagrams. The engineer will collaborate with network security infrastructure teams vendors and stakeholders to ensure reliable secure and highly available network services.

• Monitor maintain and support enterprise wired and wireless network infrastructure including switching routing and connectivity services across campus environments to ensure availability reliability and performance.
  
• Perform field installation and deployment of network equipment including configuring racking stacking cabling and testing switches.
  
• Diagnose troubleshoot and resolve network issues through monitoring analysis and root cause investigation.
  
• Investigate and resolve network incidents through remote analysis and field-based troubleshooting including testing network equipment and validating configurations.
  
• Coordinate network repairs to maintain service availability and escalate complex technical issues as appropriate.
  
• Participate in on-call support activities to ensure continuity and availability of network services.
  
• Perform routine network maintenance including system upgrades patching configuration changes and performance optimization.
  
• Minimize service interruptions during maintenance activities while adhering to established operational best practices.
  
• Maintain accurate operational documentation network diagrams incident records and runbooks.
  
• Collaborate with network engineering and architecture security infrastructure teams vendors and stakeholders to support reliable technology services.
  
• Communicate technical information effectively to technical teams vendors and stakeholders.
  
• Support and maintain network security technologies including firewalls VPNs and related security controls.
  
• Assist with troubleshooting and responding to network security-related incidents in accordance with established procedures and standards.
  

Education and Certifications:

• Bachelors degree or equivalent work experience.
  
• Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA)
  
• Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP)
  
• Juniper Networks Certified Associate (JNCIA)
  
• Juniper Networks Certified Specialist / Professional (JNCIS / JNCIP)
  
• Aruba Certified Network Technician (ACNT)
  
• Aruba Certified Switching Associate (ACSA)
  
• Aruba Certified Mobility Associate (ACMA)
  
• Fortinet Certified Associate (FCA)
  
• Fortinet Certified Professional (FCP)
  

Required Skills:

• 2 years of experience with enterprise network technologies including switching routing wireless networking and TCP/IP protocols.
  
• 2 years of experience configuring monitoring and troubleshooting Cisco Juniper Aruba AND Fortinet network devices.
  
• 2 years of experience diagnosing and resolving network connectivity performance and security-related issues using standard troubleshooting methodologies and tools.
  
• 2 years of experience with network security including firewalls VPNs access controls and security best practices.
  
• 2 years of experience installing configuring and supporting network infrastructure equipment including field deployment activities such as racking stacking cabling and testing.
  
• 2 years of experience maintaining technical documentation network diagrams and operational records.
  
• 2 years of experience with routing protocols and technologies including OSPF BGP VLANs spanning tree and high-availability architectures.
  

Preferred Skills:

• Experience supporting large-scale enterprise or higher education network environments.
  
• Experience with wireless network administration and troubleshooting in dense-user environments.
  
• Experience supporting network security technologies including firewalls VPNs Network Access Control (NAC) and multi-factor authentication solutions.
  
• Familiarity with network monitoring logging and performance management tools.
  
• Experience with network automation scripting or infrastructure management tools including Python Ansible and APIs.
  
• Experience performing network upgrades migrations and lifecycle replacement projects.
  
• Experience working in ITIL-based operational environments including incident problem and change management processes.
  

Additional Skills:

• Strong analytical problem-solving and customer service skills.
  
• Ability to communicate technical information effectively and collaborate with technical teams vendors and stakeholders.
  
• Ability to work independently prioritize tasks and respond effectively in a fast-paced operational environment.
  
• Experience mentoring junior technical staff and providing technical leadership during operational incidents.