Network Engineer II

At Nicolet National Bank, our culture is based on the principles of community banking, putting the needs of our customers at the forefront of our decision‑making. Our Core Values drive everything we do, and we are committed to serving our customers with excellence. We believe that every job in our organization is critical to our success, and we are dedicated to creating a work environment where our employees feel valued, respected, and supported. With locations in Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota, Iowa, Colorado, and Florida we are proud to service our local communities and make a positive impact on the lives of our customers. At Nicolet National Bank, we believe that our people are our most valuable asset, and we are committed to investing in their growth and development. The Network Engineer is responsible for designing, implementing, and managing the bank's LAN/WAN and voice networking environment across on‑premises infrastructure. You will ensure the performance, reliability, and security of network and perimeter services, utilizing modern networking platforms and tools to build, optimize, and standardize network architecture and operational processes. In addition, this role will help support overall IT strategy, provide training and guidance to other team members, and partner with cross‑functional teams to deliver reliable services. This position can be located at any of our Iowa locations. As a Network Engineer, you will: Design, implement, support, and optimize Nicolet's LAN/WAN and voice network infrastructure, including devices and services from Cisco, Arista, Cato, and other OEMs. Plan and coordinate network architecture, configuration standards, and lifecycle activities, including modifications, implementations, and upgrades across all locations and systems. Develop and maintain network‑related disaster recovery capabilities, including design documentation and routine testing. Configure, maintain, and troubleshoot Microsoft Teams Phone, including PSTN connectivity (Direct Routing, Operator Connect, and Calling Plans) and related voice services. Design, upgrade, monitor, and validate network and perimeter security controls (e.g., firewalls, URL filtering, anti‑malware, email security/spam filtering) to support continuous, uninterrupted processing and compliance with network policy. Review and maintain network procedures and policies to ensure regulatory, audit, and security compliance. Support projects and operational improvements by providing technical leadership for new systems, upgrades, and process changes that improve reliability, security, and efficiency. Serve as an internal escalation resource for complex network and voice incidents, performing root‑cause analysis and coordinating resolution with stakeholders. Maintain professional vendor relationships and evaluate technologies, tools, and services to ensure solutions align with strategic and operational needs. Uphold Nicolet's philosophy and policies by maintaining appropriate controls to ensure full compliance with applicable laws and regulations, thereby fulfilling legal responsibilities and enhancing the quality of services provided by Nicolet. Understand and communicate the value of diversity within the workplace and to work successfully with others without regard to age, gender, race, sexual orientation, ethnicity, culture, religion, disability status, socioeconomic status, or other non‑job‑related classification, including a commitment to Nicolet's policies on equal employment opportunities and non‑discrimination with a willingness to pursue efforts of inclusion and respect toward different perspectives. Perform all other duties as assigned. Qualifications: 5+ year's experience as a Network Engineer required. Technical Degree / Bachelor's Degree in technology or related field. Strong understanding of enterprise networking fundamentals (TCP/IP, VLANs, STP, OSPF/BGP, QoS) and network design best practices. Hands‑on experience with Arista Networks switching, including Arista EOS configuration, operations, and troubleshooting. Experience implementing and supporting Cato Networks (SASE/SD‑WAN), including site turn‑ups, policy management, and connectivity troubleshooting. Knowledge of firewall and perimeter security concepts (segmentation, VPNs, NAT, IDS/IPS) and secure network operations. Experience with network monitoring/telemetry and troubleshooting tools (e.g., SNMP, syslog, flow data) and incident/root‑cause analysis. Network automation experience using Ansible and/or PowerShell to standardize configurations, reduce manual effort, and improve repeatability. Familiarity with APIs and scripting concepts (e.g., REST/JSON) and source control practices to support infrastructure automation. Strong documentation, communication, and cross‑team collaboration skills. Ability to plan, prioritize, and organize work effectively, work effectively under pressure and time deadlines, analyze problems, propose solutions, make logical decisions, carry out decisions made, and follow up with feedback. Must be able to work fully in‑office. Benefits: Medical, Dental, Vision, & Life Insurance 401(k) with a company match PTO & 11 1/2 Paid Holidays The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities and skills required for the position. Equal Opportunity Employer/Veterans/Disabled #J-18808-Ljbffr