Network Engineer

**Job Title:** Network Engineer **Position Type:** Full\-Time, Remote **Working Hours:** U.S. client business hours (with flexibility for on\-call support and critical incident response) **About the Role:** Our client is seeking a Network Engineer to design, configure, secure, and maintain enterprise networks. This role requires strong technical expertise in routing, switching, firewalls, and network monitoring. The Network Engineer ensures networks are high\-performing, secure, and resilient, while supporting daily operations and long\-term infrastructure planning. **Responsibilities:****Network Configuration \& Maintenance:** * Configure and manage routers, switches, and firewalls (Cisco, Juniper, Palo Alto, Fortinet). * Implement VLANs, VPNs, QoS, and routing protocols (OSPF, BGP, EIGRP). * Apply firmware upgrades and ensure device patching. **Monitoring \& Troubleshooting:** * Monitor performance with SolarWinds, Nagios, PRTG, or Zabbix. * Use packet analyzers (Wireshark, TCPdump) to diagnose latency, packet loss, or routing issues. * Resolve escalated tickets and provide root cause analyses. **Security \& Compliance:** * Enforce firewall rules, access control lists (ACLs), and intrusion prevention (Snort, Suricata). * Support compliance requirements (PCI\-DSS, HIPAA, SOX, GDPR). * Implement network segmentation and Zero Trust security models. **Performance \& Optimization:** * Conduct bandwidth and capacity planning. * Optimize load balancing and failover systems. * Maintain ≥99\.9% uptime across client environments. **Documentation \& Governance:** * Maintain updated network diagrams, runbooks, and topology maps (Visio, Lucidchart). * Document changes through ITIL or change management processes. **Collaboration \& Projects:** * Partner with DevOps and cloud teams to integrate hybrid cloud networking (AWS VPCs, Azure VNets, GCP). * Support office expansions, migrations, and new data center buildouts. * Provide recommendations for hardware and vendor selection. **What Makes You a Perfect Fit:** * Strong troubleshooting instincts and calm under pressure. * Detail\-oriented engineer who documents thoroughly. * Excellent communicator, able to explain technical issues clearly. * Proactive mindset to prevent outages before they occur. **Required Experience \& Skills (Minimum):** * 3\+ years in network engineering. * Cisco CCNA/CCNP or equivalent hands\-on experience. * Knowledge of routing protocols (OSPF, BGP) and enterprise networking concepts. * Familiarity with network monitoring platforms. **Ideal Experience \& Skills:** * CCNP/CCIE, Palo Alto, or Fortinet certifications. * Experience with cloud networking (AWS VPC, Azure VNets, hybrid networks). * Familiarity with automation tools (Python, Ansible, Terraform for networking). * Background supporting multi\-site enterprise networks. What Does a Typical Day Look Like? A Network Engineer’s day revolves around ensuring networks are stable, secure, and optimized. You will: * Monitor network health using dashboards and alerts, responding to issues immediately. * Review and resolve escalated tickets on connectivity or performance. * Configure devices and services (firewall updates, VPN setup, routing changes). * Collaborate on migrations, new setups, or cloud integrations. * Update diagrams and documentation post\-change. * Plan for capacity upgrades and propose network improvements. **In essence:** you are the guardian of connectivity and security, ensuring clients have fast, stable, and safe networks every day. **Key Metrics for Success (KPIs):** * Network uptime ≥ 99\.9%. * Mean Time to Resolution (MTTR) within SLA. * Zero missed critical patches or compliance violations. * Accurate, up\-to\-date network documentation. * Positive end\-user feedback on performance. **Interview Process:** * Initial Phone Screen * Video Interview with Pavago Recruiter * Technical Task (e.g., troubleshoot a simulated network diagram or configure a VLAN) * Client Interview with Engineering/IT Team * Offer \& Background Verification