Senior Network & Systems Engineer

Senior Network & Systems Engineer

The Senior Network & Systems Administrator serves as a primary technical authority for the District's technology infrastructure. This role is responsible for the architecting, implementation, security, and high-level tier-3 maintenance of Local Area Networks (LANs), Wide Area Networks (WANs), wireless networks, virtualized servers, cloud environments, and endpoint systems. The ideal candidate brings extensive technical experience to ensure system reliability, enterprise-grade security, and seamless support for instructional and administrative operations across all District sites.

Qualifications & Requirements

• Education & Experience: Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or a closely related field, paired with a minimum of 5 to 7+ years of progressive hands-on experience in network engineering and systems administration. Equivalent combinations of advanced certifications and extensive field experience will be considered.
• Certifications (Preferred/Recommended): Industry-recognized credentials such as Ci CompTIA Network+/Security+, Microsoft Certified: Azure Administrator, or VMware VCP.
• Background Check: Clear criminal background check free of felony convictions and capable of passing a physical examination as prescribed by the Board.
• Character: Strong ethical standard, high integrity, and proven dependability in a public education environment.

Critical Skills & Expertise

Network & Infrastructure Engineering

• Advanced administration of enterprise LAN/WAN/WLAN architectures, subnets, VLANs, VPNs, routing protocols, and firewalls.
• Expertise with managed switches, routers, access points, and network security appliances.
• In-depth knowledge of DNS, DHCP, IPAM, Active Directory, and Group Policy Management.

Systems & Cloud Administration

• Enterprise administration of Windows Server OS, Linux environments, virtualization platforms (Hyper-V/VMware), and cloud ecosystems (Microsoft 365, Azure, or Google Workspace).
• Experience managing centralized endpoint management systems (MDM), automated software deployment, and patch management.
• Solid background in network backup routines, disaster recovery planning, and system redundancy.

Security, Compliance & Automation

• Implementation of cybersecurity best practices, network access control (NAC), content filtering, and threat detection.
• Proficiency in scripting and automation tools (e.g., PowerShell, Bash) to streamline administrative workflows.
• Familiarity with data privacy, backup verification, and emergency recovery operations.

Essential Job Functions & Skills

• System Architecture: Design, configure, and optimize local and wide-area infrastructure to support high-density user environments.
• Tier-3 Technical Escalation: Diagnose and resolve complex network outages, hardware failures, and systemic software issues that exceed lower-tier support capacity.
• Strategic Planning: Plan and organize large-scale infrastructure projects, technology rollouts, and hardware refresh cycles while adhering to established timelines.
• Communication & Collaboration: Communicate complex technical concepts clearly to both technical staff and non-technical district stakeholders.
• Physical Capability: Ability to lift and move heavy rack-mounted equipment (up to 50 lbs), navigate wiring closets, and perform installations safely.

Responsibilities

Network & Systems Management

1. Architect, configure, monitor, and maintain the District's core network infrastructure, servers, storage systems, and internet connectivity to ensure high availability.
2. Manage and optimize Active Directory, domain controllers, cloud tenant services, email environments, and identity/access management systems.
3. Conduct proactive monitoring of network bandwidth, server loads, and hardware health to preemptively identify and resolve performance bottlenecks.

Security, Backup & Disaster Recovery

1. Manage District firewalls, intrusion prevention systems, content filters, and endpoint protection solutions to secure administrative and student data.
2. Establish, test, and execute robust backup, restoration, and disaster recovery plans to maintain business and instructional continuity.

Project Management & Support

1. Research, evaluate, and recommend new hardware/software solutions to align technology infrastructure with educational and administrative goals.
2. Serve as the technical escalation point for complex support tickets; collaborate with external vendors and software providers to resolve high-level infrastructure issues.
3. Maintain accurate, up-to-date documentation regarding network topologies, system configurations, IP schemes, software licensing, and hardware inventory.

Mentorship & Operations

1. Provide technical guidance, operational insights, and informal mentorship to junior technology support staff and field technicians.
2. Perform other infrastructure-related duties as assigned by the Technology Coordinator.

Professional Expectations

• Complete required professional development, safety training, and in-service sessions.
• Display consistent self-control, professionalism, and tact when interacting with staff, students, parents, and community members.
• Maintain a clean, organized, and secure workstation/server room environment.
• Adhere to District policies regarding attendance, punctuality, ethical conduct, and safety standards.

Terms of Employment

• Work Year: Designated by the current school calendar and board policy, including paid holidays as applicable.
• Salary: Commensurate with the adopted classified personnel salary schedule based on experience and certifications.
• Benefits: Sick leave and personal leave provided as outlined in Board policy.
• Status: At-Will Employee under the direction of the Superintendent.

Evaluation

Performance of this job will be evaluated in accordance with provisions of the Board's policy on Evaluation of Classified Personnel.

The information contained in this job description is for compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (A.D.A.) and is not an exhaustive list of the duties performed for this position.