Network Operations Center Technician

NOC Technician – Network Operations Center Location: Des Moines, IA (Onsite) Pay Rate: Up to $38/hour Employment Type: Long-Term Contract Shift: Overnight, Tuesday–Saturday, 12:00 AM–8:30 AM Job Overview We are seeking an experienced NOC Technician to monitor, troubleshoot, and support enterprise IT infrastructure, including network, server, voice, and data systems. This role is responsible for proactively identifying alerts, responding to incidents, coordinating technical resolutions, and maintaining service availability in a network operations center environment. The ideal candidate has hands-on experience troubleshooting enterprise networking equipment and technologies, strong analytical skills, and the ability to manage multiple incidents in a fast-paced environment. Key Responsibilities Proactively monitor IT infrastructure, network devices, servers, and voice and data systems for alerts, outages, and performance issues. Troubleshoot network and infrastructure incidents, identify root causes, and coordinate timely resolutions with internal IT teams, vendors, carriers, and external service providers. Monitor, prioritize, document, and escalate incidents and service requests through a ticketing system in accordance with established Service Level Agreements (SLAs). Configure, maintain, and troubleshoot routers, switches, firewalls, multiplexers, and other networking equipment. Support enterprise network environments, including LAN, WAN, WLAN, data center networking, routing, and switching. Apply knowledge of network protocols and technologies, including 802.1Q, HSRP, OSPF, BGP, NAT, ACLs, IPsec, and SNMP. Coordinate planned outages, network maintenance, and infrastructure changes with relevant technical teams and service providers. Collaborate with other IT support groups to ensure effective incident management and service continuity. Provide limited after-hours Service Desk rollover support as needed. Prioritize multiple concurrent alerts and incidents while maintaining clear communication and timely follow-through. Required Qualifications Three or more years of experience in a Network Operations Center (NOC) or similar technical support environment. Hands-on experience configuring, monitoring, and troubleshooting routers, switches, firewalls, and other network devices. Strong understanding of the OSI model and TCP/IP networking fundamentals. Working knowledge of enterprise routing, switching, LAN/WAN/WLAN, and data center networking. Familiarity with network protocols and technologies such as 802.1Q, HSRP, OSPF, BGP, NAT, ACLs, IPsec, and SNMP. Ability to analyze network alerts, diagnose infrastructure issues, and coordinate incident resolution. Strong written and verbal communication, analytical, and problem-solving skills. Ability to prioritize competing incidents and manage multiple tasks in a 24/7 operations environment. Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related field, or equivalent relevant experience. Preferred Qualifications Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) certification a plus. Additional networking certifications, such as CCNP or CCIE, are a plus. Familiarity with utility energy management systems and operational technology (OT) networks. Work Schedule Primary shift: Tuesday through Saturday, midnight to 8:30 AM. Includes a 30-minute lunch and two 15-minute breaks. Candidates should be flexible to cover alternate shifts when team members are on PTO or staffing needs arise. Schedules are generally provided approximately one month in advance. Compensation Up to $38 per hour. Long-term contract opportunity. Compensation does not include benefits or paid time off (PTO). Ideal Candidate The successful candidate will bring a strong NOC background, hands-on enterprise networking experience, and the ability to respond quickly and effectively to infrastructure alerts. Candidates with a CCNA certification and experience supporting complex routing, switching, and firewall environments are strongly encouraged to apply.