Senior Network Administrator

Senior Network AdministratorSeeking to hire a Senior Network Administrator for a leading higher education IT services company, supporting an educational organization located in Newton, Massachusetts. The Senior Network Administrator is responsible for the design, implementation, administration, maintenance, and optimization of enterprise network infrastructure across data centers, cloud-connected environments, and customer sites. This role provides technical leadership for network projects, security solutions, data center technologies, SD-WAN, wireless infrastructure, and next-generation networking platforms. The ideal candidate possesses strong expertise in Cisco and Fortinet technologies, network security, infrastructure migrations, and enterprise networking best practices while ensuring high availability, performance, and security of critical business systems.Key Responsibilities:Design, deploy, and maintain enterprise network infrastructure, including routers, switches, wireless networks, and data center environments.Manage and support LAN, WAN, VPN, SD-WAN, and wireless network solutions.Monitor network performance, capacity, and availability while implementing improvements as needed.Perform hardware lifecycle management, including EOL/EOS device replacement and upgrades.Configure, deploy, and maintain FortiGate firewalls, security policies, NAT, VPNs, and Unified Threat Management (UTM) features.Implement and manage IPSec and SSL VPN solutions for secure remote connectivity.Conduct firewall rule reviews, security audits, and optimization activities.Support network access control and identity management integrations.Implement and support Cisco ACI environments, including Single Pod, Multi-Pod, and Multi-Site architectures.Manage Cisco Nexus Dashboard and Multi-Site Orchestrator (MSO) deployments.Perform firmware upgrades, hardware replacements, and fabric enhancements.Support Cisco DNA Center (DNAC), Cisco SDA, Cisco Client, and wireless infrastructure deployments.Lead network projects from planning through implementation and transition to operations.Develop High-Level Designs (HLDs), Low-Level Designs (LLDs), implementation plans, and technical documentation.Conduct technical assessments and recommend infrastructure improvements.Coordinate migrations, upgrades, and transformation initiatives across customer environments.Troubleshoot complex network issues and provide escalation support for critical incidents.Collaborate with operations teams to ensure timely issue resolution and service continuity.Ensure compliance with organizational change management processes.Maintain network diagrams, SOPs, and operational documentation.Required Qualifications:Bachelor's degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field.5+ years of experience in enterprise network administration, implementation, or engineering.Strong hands-on experience with:Cisco Routing & SwitchingCisco ACICisco SDA / DNA CenterCisco ClientCisco Wireless (WLC & Access Points)Fortinet Firewalls & SD-WANVPN TechnologiesNetwork Security SolutionsExperience managing network infrastructure projects and migrations.Preferred Certifications:Cisco CCNP Enterprise / Data CenterCisco CCIE (Preferred)Fortinet NSE / FCP CertificationsITIL FoundationRelevant Network Security CertificationsKey Skills:Enterprise Network AdministrationNetwork Architecture & DesignCisco ACI & SDACisco DNA CenterFortinet Security SolutionsSD-WAN TechnologiesNetwork Security & ComplianceTroubleshooting & Root Cause AnalysisProject Implementation & DeliveryTechnical DocumentationStakeholder Communication