SUMMARY:
Under the general direction of the IT Manager the IT Network Solutions Engineer is responsible for the design, implementation, administration, optimization, security, and ongoing reliability of the organization's network and connectivity infrastructure.
This position expands upon traditional network administration responsibilities by providing greater emphasis on network engineering, solutions design, infrastructure modernization, cybersecurity, troubleshooting, project execution, documentation, and long-term technology planning.
The Network Solutions Engineer serves as a technical resource for the organization and works closely with IT leadership, systems administration, cybersecurity, vendors, and business stakeholders to ensure that network infrastructure is reliable, secure, scalable, and aligned with business requirements.
The position requires a balance of strategic thinking and hands-on technical execution. The Network Solutions Engineer will require to be expected to identify infrastructure needs, develop practical solutions, implement improvements, and maintain the reliability of existing systems.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following:
- Design, configure, implement, and maintain LAN, WAN, wireless, VPN, Internet, and related network infrastructure across the Santa Clara Development Corporation to support business initiatives.
- Working knowledge of industry standards/guidelines such as ISO 27002, DEFARS, NIST 800-171, 800-53 and NIST CSF.
- Administer enterprise network equipment including switches, routers, firewalls, wireless infrastructure, and associated management platforms.
- Develop and maintain network architecture, topology diagrams, IP addressing schemes, VLANs, routing, switching, DNS, DHCP, VPN, and related services.
- Analyze network performance, capacity, availability, and utilization and recommend improvements.
- Identify network vulnerabilities, single points of failure, outdated infrastructure, and capacity constraints.
- Participate in infrastructure lifecycle planning and technology refresh initiatives.
- Evaluate new networking technologies and determine their applicability to organizational requirements.
- Translate business and operational requirements into practical technology solutions.
- Lead or participate in network-related projects from requirements gathering through implementation and operational handoff.
- Develop technical designs, implementation plans, migration strategies, and project documentation.
- Coordinate network installations, upgrades, expansions, and system integrations.
- Work with vendors and service providers to evaluate products, troubleshoot issues, and implement solutions.
- Assist with budgeting and capital planning for network and infrastructure initiatives.
- Identify opportunities to improve reliability, performance, security, and operational efficiency.
- Implement and maintain network security controls in coordination with IT security requirements.
- Support firewall, VPN, network access control, segmentation, and secure remote-access solutions.
- Monitor network infrastructure for security and operational issues.
- Participate in vulnerability remediation and cybersecurity initiatives affecting network infrastructure.
- Maintain appropriate access controls and configuration standards.
- Support incident response and investigation involving network infrastructure.
- Provide advanced technical support for network-related incidents and infrastructure issues.
- Troubleshoot complex connectivity, routing, switching, wireless, VPN, and performance problems.
- Monitor network availability and infrastructure health.
- Participate in scheduled maintenance, upgrades, and emergency response activities.
- Establish and maintain network configuration standards and operational procedures.
- Provide escalation support for issues that exceed standard helpdesk or systems-administration capabilities.
- Maintain accurate network diagrams, configuration documentation, inventories, standards, and procedures.
- Document network changes and maintain appropriate change-management records.
- Develop technical procedures and knowledge-based documentation.
- Maintain current documentation for critical network infrastructure and recovery procedures.
- Ensure network configurations and operational knowledge are not dependent upon a single individual.
- Work with departments throughout the organization to understand connectivity and technology requirements.
- Communicate technical issues and proposed solutions in terms that business stakeholders can understand.
- Provide recommendations to IT leadership regarding network infrastructure, technology investments, risks, and priorities.
- Participate in strategic IT planning and infrastructure roadmaps.
- Diagnoses, resolves, and documents, hardware and software network problems in a timely and accurate manner and provides end user training and support where required in accordance with the SCDC mission, vision, and core values.
- Manage assigned projects and program components to deliver services in accordance with established objectives using project management standards such as Agil, PMP, etc.
- Prepares and maintains records and documentation for assigned systems, network policies and procedures, and other related topics.
- Must be a Team Player.
- Display strong verbal and written communication skills
- Proven ability to handle conflict situations.
- Aids the IT Systems Administrator in administration and maintenance of applications and storage infrastructure including, but not limited to DNS, DHCP, AD, VMware, SANs.
- Provides second-level technical support to users concerning network system operations escalated by other IT department staff.
- Monitors support ticketing system for all ticket status’, which includes updating notes, communicating with requesters, aiding other IT team members and completing all assigned tickets.
- Supports the IT Application Support Team in the installation, maintenance, and troubleshooting of Enterprise and Desktop hardware and software.
- Provides backup support for IT team members, including the handling of all incoming support calls, emails and walk-ins as required to maintain department SLAs.
- Performs other duties as assigned.
- 24/7/365 Availability, Rotating Schedules, and Overtime Required as needed to work odd hours to accommodate projects, system maintenance, critical issues, emergencies, etc.
- Participate in the regular on call after hours IT support schedule.
ADDITIONAL SKILLS AND ABILITIES
The essential mental functions described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
- Maintains a strict level of confidentiality regarding company information.
- Strong organizational skills.
- Knowledgeable of networking concepts such as TCP/IP, DNS, DHCP, and VPNs.
- Knowledgeable of telephony systems (VoIP, PBX, etc.)
- Knowledgeable of server operating systems (Windows, Linux) and virtualization.
- Familiarity with working with regulatory compliance governance.
- Ability to analyze network performance and implement improvements.
- Ability to communicate technical information clearly to non-technical staff.
- Demonstrated ability to learn new systems, software, and communication platforms through a combination of self-study, on-the-job training, and vendor-led coursework.
- Demonstrated understanding of Information Security topics related to providing secure, robust communication systems.
- Strong analytical and organizational skills.
- Ability to work and collaborate effectively in a small-team setting.
- Proven ability to provide outstanding customer service.
- Must have excellent problem-solving abilities.
- Must be a detail oriented, organized individual with the ability to multi-task.
- Must be able to work in a fast-paced environment.
- Must be able to deal with stressful situations in a professional manner.
EDUCATION / EXPERIENCE
- Associate degree in Computer Science or related field, and two years hands on network engineering experience in an enterprise environment required; or equivalent combination of education, training, and experience.
- Bachelor’s degree in information technology, Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Network Engineering, or a related technical discipline. (Preferred)
- 3–5+ years of progressively responsible experience in network administration, network engineering, infrastructure engineering, or a related field.
- Demonstrated experience administering enterprise network infrastructure.
- Strong understanding of TCP/IP, routing, switching, VLANs, DNS, DHCP, VPN, and wireless networking.
- Experience with network monitoring, troubleshooting, configuration management, and documentation.
- Ability to diagnose complex network and infrastructure problems independently.
- CCNA, CCNP, Network+, Security+, or comparable industry certification.
- Experience with Cisco, Aruba, Fortinet, Palo Alto, Meraki, or comparable enterprise networking technologies.
- Experience with network security, segmentation, firewalls, VPNs, and access-control technologies.
- Experience with cloud networking or hybrid infrastructure.
- Experience with virtualization and data-center infrastructure.
- Experience with network monitoring and management platforms.
- Experience developing network architecture and technical standards.
- Experience leading infrastructure projects.
- Familiarity with ITIL, change management, or other structured IT service-management practices.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills.
- Ability to manage multiple priorities and projects while maintaining operational responsibilities.
- Knowledge of Microsoft Operating systems; Windows 10 to present version.
- Knowledge on Microsoft Windows Server 2012 to present version.
- Knowledge of network design principles and practices include administration of VLANs and routers in complex and security conscious networks.
- Excellent communication skills and experience effectively communicating with technical and non-technical audiences.
- Demonstrated efficient and effective use of research, analytical, problem-solving and task prioritization skills to solve complex computing service incidents, problems & requests as required.
- Knowledge of applicable Santa Clara Pueblo Gaming and Regulatory Commission.
- Excellent written, oral, interpersonal communication & MS Office skills.
- Highly self-motivated and directed, with keen attention to detail and sense of initiative.
EDUCATION/EXPIERENCE (Continued)
- Able to prioritize and execute tasks in a high-pressure environment.
- Strong customer service orientation.
- Ability to work in a team-oriented, collaborative environment
TECHNICAL EXPERTISE:
Three to five (3-5) years’ hands-on administration experience with Windows Server 2012 to current supported version required, Unix/Linux administration preferred, and Microsoft Desktop support.
Windows Server Components; Active Directory, DHCP, DNS, Group Policies controls.
Server virtualization, VMware vSphere 7.0 to present version preferred.
Microsoft Communication and Collaboration products; Office 365 Exchange and SharePoint configuration & administration a plus.
Remote server and system administration tools.
Database administration; SQL Server 2012 to current supported version.
Fiber Channel or iSCSI SAN solutions and Blade Systems infrastructure.
Experience with data center infrastructure.
Cisco networking experiences a plus.
ADDITIONAL SKILLS AND ABILITIES:
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Strong personal credibility with demonstrated ability to build trusted relationships with client groups.
Responsible for maintaining a consistent, regular attendance record.
LANGUAGE SKILLS:
Ability to read, analyze, and interpret simple documents such as safety rules and regulations, technical procedure manuals, instructions, basic correspondence, email, reports, and memos.
REASONING ABILITY:
Ability to apply commonsense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form and to deal with problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situations.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS / WORK ENVIRONMENT:
The physical demands and work environment described here are representative of those that must be met by an Employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.
Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Ability to work at network equipment locations, telecommunications rooms, data centers, and other infrastructure locations as required.
Ability to lift and move networking equipment and associated materials within reasonable job requirements.
May require occasional after-hours work, scheduled maintenance, or participation in an on-call rotation depending on organizational requirements.
The Employee is frequently required to lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.
The Employee is frequently required to risk danger of electrical shock and/or radiation (from computers, networking components, wireless components).
The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. When on the casino floor the noise level increases to loud.
Employee is exposed to second hand cigarette smoke.
Levels of interaction:
- Face-to-face / in person: High level of interaction with other employees, high with guests and vendors.
- Telephone interaction: High level of interaction with employees, vendors and guests.