Network Engineer

Networking Engineer

Networking is everywhere in our products, from robot level Ethernet switch ICs and radios to complete warehouse wireless networks to site to site solutions. On the product IT Network Team, you will work with all of it. You will gain a deep understanding of how devices communicate with one another at all levels of our products and use your expertise to drive our product development to ensure our customer installations are successful. In this role you will get to work with a wide array of different devices and technologies. Some of these will be standard IT networking equipment and others will be dedicated industrial equipment that is purpose-built to enable automation specific needs such as human safety system communication. You will be a part of Alert’s IT and Electrical Engineering Team and will work closely with design engineers and site deployment teams.

It’s important that the Network Engineer have significant previous experience in architecture, documentation, implementation, troubleshooting, and monitoring of industrial wired and wireless networks for similar types of applications to Alert’s. Familiarity with past and emerging standards such as WiFi 6, CBRS, vendor-specific protocol solutions, and module-level offerings is critical to the Network Engineers success.

What Will You Do?

• Act as a company-wide computer networking expert and be responsible for the successful implementation of networking (wireless and wired) solutions for Alert’s automation systems.
• Architect, design, document, test, and troubleshoot computer networks used in Alert’s industrial automation products.
• Enable successful wireless and wired network installations at customer sites by performing WiFi site surveys and simulation, WiFi antenna selection and placement, tuning component configurations, managing RF spectrum/channel use, implementing monitoring and data collection solutions, and providing debugging support.
• Collaborate cross-functionally to develop product requirements, participate in design reviews, provide internal training, and drive issue resolution.
• Drive networking component selection at the system and component levels to meet product requirements for both general networking and human safety system networking while considering reliability, serviceability, and cost.
• Work closely with Alert’s Information Technology Team to ensure successful customer site rollout and support by developing networking statistics reporting, monitoring, and alerting that integrates with Alert’s IT infrastructure.
• Stay apprised of the latest networking technology, protocol, and product advancements and evaluate them against Alert’s product needs.

What Are We Looking For?

• At least a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Networking, Information Technology, Electrical/Computer Engineering, or Computer Science, or the equivalent in relevant work experience.
• At least 10 years of directly related work experience.
• A proven track record of implementing high reliability computer networks for large-scale industrial (preferably related to automation) applications.
• Experience with industrial safety systems implemented over wireless networks that use PROFINET and PROFIsafe and a deep understanding of how they work.
• Knowledge of RF signal theory concepts as they relate to wireless communication such as attenuation, co-channel interference, electromagnetic interference, shadowing, and reflections.
• Strong channel management knowledge, understanding and experience working with DFS channels.
• Expertise with advanced networking technologies such as, NAT, Port Forwarding, LLDP, SNMP, 802.1x, VLAN, 802.1q, 802.1p, 801.11a – 802.11ac, WiFi 6, and various network topologies such as ring and daisy-chain.
• Demonstrate a strong ability to debug complex network issues and reach root cause by using industry standard tools such as tcpdump or Wireshark along with formal methodologies such as FMEAs, 8D, fishbones, 5 why analysis, etc.
• Understanding of security principals, protocols, and best practices is required, a strong background in security is a big plus.
• Some familiarity with network automation using Ansible, Python, and/or Bash.
• Strong written and verbal communication, problem-solving, and logical thinking skills.