Network Services, Engineer

Network Services, EngineerReports To: Director, Network/Security ServicesLocation: Remote but in the Chicago Metro area for onsite support our customersMeridian IT Inc. is an award-winning MSP focused on Infrastructure and Platform Solutions and Managed Services for premise-based, private and hybrid cloud hosting for x86 and IBM Power environments. Our solutions encompass the full spectrum of IT infrastructure, platforms, contact center, and security solutions that help businesses thrive.Our Mission is to deliver and manage secure, reliable, and scalable IT infrastructures and platforms businesses need by transforming essential technology investments into long-term competitive advantages.With more than 45 years in business, Meridian IT Inc is wholly owned by Meridian Group International and is privately held.Position SummaryThe Network Engineer is a technical resource responsible for assisting Senior Engineers with implementing end-to-end solutions to complex business networking and communications problems for new and existing clients. The Network Engineer is responsible for components of lifecycle of an engagement (Onboarding to Decommission) as delegated by Senior Resources. The ability to properly and professionally manage customer expectations and to calmly handle stressful and complex troubleshooting scenarios are requirements of this position. The Network Engineer will work directly with the customer while also taking technical direction and guidance from the assigned Meridian manager. The successful candidate must be capable of working independently on routine networking tasks, troubleshooting issues methodically, and escalating more complex issues when appropriate.This is an excellent opportunity for candidates to advance their networking career by working with senior engineers in multiple technologies in various industries.Key ResponsibilitiesProvide assistance to Senior Engineers with project execution;Provide day-to-day operational support for the customer's network infrastructure.Independently perform basic to intermediate LAN/WAN troubleshooting and configuration.Troubleshoot network connectivity issues involving switches, routers, firewalls, VLANs, routing, and related network services.Perform configuration changes in accordance with established customer procedures and change-management requirements.Monitor network performance and availability and investigate connectivity or performance issues.Identify the root cause of network problems and implement appropriate corrective actions.Escalate complex or high-impact issues to senior engineering resources or management when appropriate.Maintain accurate network documentation, diagrams, configurations, and operational procedures.Assist with network upgrades, hardware replacements, software upgrades, and infrastructure changes.Participate in planned maintenance activities and respond to unplanned network incidents.Work with customer technical personnel and other IT teams to resolve issues and coordinate changes.Assist with verifying received hardware inventory, performing initial equipment staging, assisting with physical deployment of switches, creating documentation during onboarding and maintaining it, performing software updates, scripted triaging of tickets;Work with other IT team members to support the company's business goals;Customer and Team CollaborationWork directly with the customer to understand technical requirements, troubleshoot problems, and communicate status.Take direction from both the customer and the assigned Meridian manager.Communicate technical issues and proposed solutions clearly to both technical and non-technical personnel.Establish and maintain professional working relationships with customer personnel and internal team members.Provide timely updates regarding incidents, planned changes, and ongoing technical issues.Demonstrate sound judgment regarding when to independently resolve an issue and when to seek assistance.Participate in meetings, maintenance activities, and technical discussions as required.Documentation and Change ManagementMaintain accurate documentation of network configurations and operational procedures.Document troubleshooting activities, root causes, and corrective actions.Follow proper change-management processes.Prepare and maintain implementation and change documentation when required.Ensure network changes are properly documented following completion.Qualifications and RequirementsRequired Technical SkillsMinimum 1 year of professional experience working in a network engineering, network administration, or related technical role.Demonstrated understanding of fundamental LAN/WAN networking concepts.Ability to independently troubleshoot basic network connectivity issues.Working knowledge of Layer 2 switching concepts, including:VLANsTrunkingAccess portsSpanning TreeMAC address tablesBasic Layer 2 troubleshootingWorking knowledge of Layer 3 networking concepts, including:IPv4 addressing and subnettingRouting tablesStatic routingDefault routesInter-VLAN routingBasic working knowledge of:BGPOSPFEIGRPExperience configuring or troubleshooting Palo Alto Networks firewalls.Ability to troubleshoot network connectivity using device CLI, logs, ping, traceroute, and other standard network troubleshooting tools.Understanding of the OSI model and its application to network troubleshooting.Ability to read and understand network diagrams and device configurations.Preferred QualificationsExperience administering Palo Alto Networks firewalls in an enterprise environment.Experience with Palo Alto Panorama.Experience with Cisco switching and routing platforms.Experience with enterprise wireless technologies, particularly Aruba or Cisco.CCNA or equivalent networking knowledge.PCNSA or other Palo Alto certification.Familiarity with network security concepts, VPNs, NAT, and firewall policy management.Professional AttributesSelf-sufficient: Able to independently perform routine networking tasks without requiring constant direction.High initiative: Proactively investigates issues, identifies opportunities for improvement, and takes ownership of assigned responsibilities.Ambitious and growth-oriented: Demonstrates a strong desire to expand technical knowledge, take on increasingly complex responsibilities, and build a long-term career in networking and security.Strong problem-solving skills: Approaches technical problems logically and methodically.Accountable: Takes ownership of assigned tasks and follows them through to completion.Adaptable: Comfortable learning new technologies, processes, and customer-specific environments.Strong communicator: Able to communicate clearly with both technical and non-technical personnel.Customer-focused: Maintains a professional approach when working directly with customer personnel.Team-oriented: Understands when to work independently and when to engage senior engineering resources.Organized: Able to manage multiple tasks and priorities while maintaining accurate documentation.Continuous learner: Demonstrates a willingness to pursue additional technical training and certifications.Education and ExperienceMinimum 1 year of professional networking experience.Experience may include network engineering, network administration, NOC, infrastructure support, or a closely related networking role.A bachelor's degree in an IT-related field is preferred but not required.Equivalent technical training, certifications, and hands-on networking experience may be considered in place of formal education.Meridian Group International, Inc. provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.