Senior Network Administrator - ref. t33251723

Overview:

Join our dynamic ITility team and put your skills and passion to work! We are seeking a talented Senior Network Administrator to provide essential network infrastructure support. You’ll be working on our prime contract supporting the USMEPCOM, a major command within the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD), responsible for screening and processing applicants into the U.S. Armed Forces. USMEPCOM operates 65 Military Entrance Processing Stations (MEPS) across the U.S., serving as the critical link between recruitment and training for the armed forces.

This hybrid position is based near Waukegan, IL, with an expectation of 2-3 days onsite per week, subject to adjustment as needed.

At ITility, we help our customers command the future by thinking beyond perceived limits to create new, unexpected ways to protect and defend our nation. We inspire and empower people to create significant solutions that secure what matters to our customers and communities, here and around the globe.

We Value:

• The Drive to Perform Beyond Perceived Limits.
• The Desire to Find Significance in All We Do.
• The Passion and Compassion That Powers Both.

Responsibilities:

The role demands hands-on technical expertise and the ability to develop and execute strategic networking initiatives while working closely with cross-functional teams.

Network Design & Architecture:

• Design and implement scalable, secure, and resilient network architectures to support business requirements.
• Lead network design reviews, assessments, and optimizations to ensure alignment with industry best practices.
• Design and implement advanced network solutions, including LAN, WAN, SD-WAN, VPN, and cloud networking.

Network Implementation:

• Deploy and configure routers, switches, firewalls, load balancers, and wireless networks.
• Implement and manage network automation, orchestration, and monitoring tools.
• Oversee and perform network hardware upgrades, capacity expansion, and refresh projects.

Troubleshooting & Maintenance:

• Monitor network performance and ensure high availability and redundancy across all network systems.
• Analyze, diagnose, and resolve complex network issues in a timely manner, including performance bottlenecks and security vulnerabilities.
• Manage incident resolution and root cause analysis for high-priority issues.
• Perform regular maintenance, including backups, firmware updates, and patch management.

Security & Compliance:

• Implement and maintain network security policies, including firewalls, VPNs, encryption, intrusion detection/prevention systems (IDS/IPS), and Zero Trust models.
• Ensure the network is compliant with relevant security standards (e.g., DoD STIGs, HIPAA).
• Conduct periodic network vulnerability assessments and remediate findings.

Project Management:

• Lead and manage networking projects from inception to completion, including migrations, upgrades, and expansion.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to gather requirements and provide network solutions that align with business goals.
• Manage third-party vendors and service providers for network services and hardware procurement.

Cloud Networking:

• Design and integrate hybrid and multi-cloud networking solutions with AWS, etc.
• Implement cloud-based load balancing, network security, and virtual private networks (VPNs).
• Maintain cloud connectivity and troubleshoot issues related to cloud infrastructure.

Documentation & Reporting:

• Create and maintain comprehensive network diagrams, runbooks, and configuration documentation.
• Provide detailed reports on network performance, capacity planning, and incident resolution.
• Update operational procedures, disaster recovery plans, and business continuity documentation.

Team Leadership & Mentorship:

• Provide mentorship and guidance to junior network engineers and IT staff.
• Conduct training sessions and knowledge-sharing workshops to enhance the team’s skills.
• Act as a technical escalation point for complex network issues.

Continuous Improvement & Innovation:

• Stay current with industry trends, emerging technologies, and best practices in network engineering.
• Identify opportunities to improve network performance, security, and cost-effectiveness.
• Recommend and implement innovative solutions for network automation and optimization.

Qualifications:

Experience:

• 5+ years of hands-on experience in network engineering.
• Proven experience in designing, implementing, and maintaining enterprise-scale networks.
• Experience with cloud-based networking and hybrid cloud environments.
• Familiarity with software-defined networking (SDN) and network function virtualization (NFV).

Education & Certification:

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or related field (or equivalent experience).
• Relevant certifications such as:
• Cisco Certified Network Associate or Cisco Certified Network Professional (required).
• CompTIA SEC+ or Certified Information Systems Security Professional (required).

Technical Skills:

• Networking Protocols: In-depth knowledge of networking protocols (TCP/IP, OSPF, BGP, EIGRP, MPLS, etc.).
• Network Devices: Experience with routers, switches, firewalls (Cisco, Palo Alto), and load balancers (F5).
• Cloud Networking: Experience with cloud platforms (AWS) and cloud networking services (VPC, VPN, Direct Connect, ExpressRoute).
• SD-WAN: Knowledge of SD-WAN architecture (controller, edge, and orchestration layers. Site-to-site and cloud integration. Understanding of overlay/underlay networks, application-aware routing, and redundancy and high availability.
• Security: Strong understanding of network security, including firewalls, VPNs, IDS/IPS, and security standards (ISO, NIST, etc.).
• Automation & Scripting: Experience with network automation tools (e.g., Ansible, Terraform) and scripting languages (Python, Bash).
• Monitoring Tools: Familiarity with network monitoring and troubleshooting tools (SolarWinds, Wireshark, etc.).

Soft Skills:

• Excellent troubleshooting and problem-solving skills.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills to interact with technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Leadership and mentoring abilities, particularly in developing junior staff.
• Strong project management skills and ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Ability to work effectively in a team and collaborate with other IT departments.

ITility is an Equal Opportunity Employer:

ITility is committed to providing a work environment that is non-discriminatory, harassment free, fair, ethical and inclusive.

This policy covers conduct occurring at ITility’s offices, client sites, other locations where ITility is providing services, and to all work-related activities.