Senior Network Administrator

Senior Network AdministratorLocation: Houston, TexasType: Direct HireSalary: $120,000 - $130,000The Senior Network Administrator will set the strategic direction for the network and establish the standards that keep it stable and secure. You will lead network modernization, administration, and fault resolution across physical and cloud environments, provide technical support to employees, and partner with other IT teams and vendors to resolve network-related issues. You will also partner closely with the business as the company expands, ensuring the network scales securely to support new sites, acquisitions, and operational needs while maintaining IT security.Duties:Work with other parts of the IT teamWork with business partner functions (HR, Procurement, Finance, Operations)Work with external stakeholdersThird party vendors and service providersHave a service-oriented mindset.Strong technical acumen and solution oriented.Outstanding communication, organizational, and time management skills.Strong teamwork and interpersonal skills.Technical and end-user documentation writingIncident, change and problem managementGreat analytical skills.Passion for continuous improvement and optimization across all areas of responsibilityEstablish network and infrastructure standards across the organization.Design, configure, and maintain enterprise routing and switching infrastructure across corporate and site locations, including VLAN segmentation, spanning tree, cloud managed routing administration, and QoS policiesAdminister SD-WAN/SASE and network security environment (Cato Networks), including firewall policy management, secure connectivity between the corporate network and field/site locations (Cisco Meraki), and site failover.Support and maintain Starlink satellite connectivity network for remote and field site locations, including provisioning, troubleshooting, and integration with the broader corporate WAN/SD-WAN environment.Install, configure, and maintain physical and virtual server and network infrastructure platforms.Administer and optimize Microsoft Azure network and infrastructure components, including virtual networks, network security groups, VPN Gateway/ExpressRoute connectivity, and hybrid identity integration between on-premises Active Directory and Microsoft Entra ID.Respond to and resolve network-related incidents in a timely manner, address alerts and escalations, and work with IT leadership, other IT teams, and vendors to produce strategic solutions to recurring problems.Maintain and periodically audit privileged accounts and access permissions.Assist in the configuration and troubleshooting of IP-based peripherals such as printers, scanners, and mobile devices.Collaborate with other IT team members to identify and resolve complex issues.Work closely with the IT Security team to implement and maintain network security measures, including firewalls, intrusion detection/prevention systems, and access control policies.Monitor and analyze network traffic for potential security threats and vulnerabilities and implement appropriate mitigation strategies to minimize risk.Document current technical procedures and create knowledge base articles for the support team when needed.Maintain inventory of network hardware, software, and licensed assets.Maintain network topology diagrams, device alerting structure, and network management tools to ensure all devices' location and status are known 24x7 and detected issues are actioned.Train users to successfully operate new systems and equipment as needed.Conduct network vulnerability scans and privileged access rights reviews at specified intervals (weekly, monthly, quarterly).Establish and maintain network device patching cadence.Requirements:10+ years of experience as a Network Administrator.7+ years of experience as a Network Administrator in a multi-site organization.Strong knowledge of Microsoft cloud technologies and server platforms.Strong knowledge of Azure networking, including virtual networks (VNets), network security groups, VPN Gateway/ExpressRoute, and Azure Firewall.Strong knowledge of on-prem and cloud routing and switching (Meraki), SASE/SD-WAN (Cato Networks), and satellite connectivity (Starlink) for remote and field sites.Strong knowledge of On-Prem Active Directory and Microsoft Entra ID, including hybrid identity and directory synchronization.Strong problem-solving and analytical skills.Excellent written and verbal communication skills.Ability to work well independently and as part of a team.Relevant certifications: Microsoft Azure Administrator Associate (AZ-104), Azure Network Engineer Associate (AZ-700), SASE/SD-WAN certification (e.g., Cato Networks), or equivalent networking/identity credentials.Proven experience modernizing and maintaining corporate systems.Experience troubleshooting network and connectivity issues.Working knowledge of Microsoft Server (on-prem) and Microsoft Azure, including basic Azure networking and Entra ID concepts.Working knowledge of routing/switching strategies and multi-site WAN/SD-WAN connectivity, including satellite-based connectivity (e.g., Starlink) for remote sites.Education:Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related field.Minimum: Proven, equivalent multi-year experience in related fields and activities.