Network Engineer

Job Title: Technical Infrastructure & Network Engineer (Computer-Aided Dispatch & Mobile Data System) Project Overview: This role supports a massive, mission-critical technology initiative for the City of Chicago: the implementation and long-term maintenance of a comprehensive Computer-Aided Dispatch (CAD) and Mobile Data System (MDS) . This unified system will serve the emergency 9-1-1 dispatch operations for the Chicago Police Department, Chicago Fire Department, Emergency Medical Services (EMS), and Airport emergency dispatch. Role Summary: As the Technical Infrastructure & Network Engineer , this person will be a critical technical resource responsible for the end-to-end hardware and network infrastructure of the City’s new CAD/MDS platform. Placing a heavy emphasis on full lifecycle execution, this role will drive the preparation for system deployment, lead the physical and logical network/server deployment, and transition into a primary support and maintenance role once the system is fully operational. You will ensure the flawless connectivity and 99.995% uptime of a private, closed network consisting of over 250 nodes spanning the primary Office of Emergency Management and Communications (OEMC) center, a disaster recovery site at O’Hare, Midway Airport, and the Crime Prevention and Information Center (CPIC). Key Responsibilities Phase 1: Preparation for Deployment Network & Infrastructure Assessment: Conduct a comprehensive assessment of the existing OEMC network infrastructure—including routers, switches, and remote nodes—to determine compatibility with the new system’s requirements. Site & Hardware Preparation: Prepare the facility to house server hardware and network infrastructure. Review hardware specifications, verify power and cabling requirements, and collaborate on the development of a Mobile Kit Matrix for vehicle deployments. Design & Documentation: Assist in determining network design, including routing protocols, subnet masks, network redundancy, and router/switch configurations, and create detailed "as-built" networking and server documentation. Phase 2: Full System Deployment Server & Storage Integration: Perform basic server integration, including racking Dell servers (e.g., PowerEdge, VxRail, and IDPA 4400 appliances), configuring SAN storage arrays (RAID and LUN creation), and joining servers to the existing domain or establishing new domain controllers (including DNS and DHCP configuration). Network Equipment Installation: Install and configure Cisco Nexus 9300 series switches, routers, firewalls, data communication lines, and remote support connectivity tools. Virtualization Setup: Deploy and configure the VMware vSphere environment, including vCenter, vMotion, and High Availability (HA) clusters across the primary and disaster recovery sites. Mobile Network Deployment: Support the deployment and connectivity testing of ruggedized mobile data computers and in-vehicle routers (e.g., Cradlepoint IBR1100) across 3,400 Police, Fire, and EMS vehicles, ensuring secure VPN (NetMotion) and wireless carrier connectivity. Phase 3: Post-Deployment Support and Maintenance Ongoing Network & Hardware Support: Monitor, manage, and maintain the CAD system’s dedicated network infrastructure (LANs, WANs, and wireless networks) and hardware components. System Health & Upgrades: Perform preventative maintenance on servers and databases. Apply operating system updates, firmware upgrades, and security patches to network switches and servers. Hardware Refreshes: Lead hardware refresh initiatives scheduled to occur no sooner than two and five years post-system acceptance to keep the infrastructure aligned with current‑generation capabilities. Disaster Recovery & Failover Management: Maintain and test the fully functional disaster recovery site at O’Hare and oversee the automated VMware and SQL AlwaysOn failover environments. Rotational 24x7 Support: Provide rotational 24x7, mission‑critical support to ensure continuous operation of the 9‑1‑1 dispatch environment, adhering to strict Service Level Agreements (SLAs). Required Skills & Qualifications Network Engineering: Deep expertise in enterprise networking, particularly with Cisco Nexus switches (NX‑OS) and configuring routing protocols, VLANs, subnet masks, and redundancy in a high‑availability environment. Hardware & Storage: Extensive hands‑on experience with enterprise‑grade server and storage hardware, specifically Dell PowerEdge blade servers, Dell VxRail appliances, and SAN deployments. Virtualization: Strong proficiency in deploying and managing VMware vSphere, vCenter, High Availability (HA), and Distributed Resource Scheduler (DRS). Systems Administration: Advanced knowledge of Microsoft Windows Server environments, Active Directory, DNS, DHCP, and SSL certificate management. Mobile/Wireless Networking: Experience managing mobile connectivity, including 3G/4G/LTE cellular networks, in‑vehicle Cradlepoint routers, and secure mobile VPN software (e.g., NetMotion). Mission‑Critical Experience: Proven ability to deploy and maintain infrastructure in a 24/7/365 life‑safety or emergency communications center (PSAP) environment where downtime directly impacts public safety. #J-18808-Ljbffr