Network Engineer

Network Engineer

Sacramento, CA 12 months contract Must be willing for some travel

NOTE – company paid Out-of-state travel is anticipated, including approximately one trip to Oregon and one to two trips to Vancouver, Canada, with the potential for two to four additional trips depending on project demand and site requirements.

Position Responsibilities:

The Network Engineer will be tasked with driving multiple projects and operational initiatives rather than working on a single project scope. The role's initial focus areas will include office and laboratory expansion, network modernization, and activities related to Cisco Identity Services Engine (Client) implementation.

Key Responsibilities Include:

• Providing network installation, commissioning, and deployment support across office and laboratory environments.
• Conducting rack and stack, structured cabling, patching, hardware installation, and network turn-up activities.
• Configuring and validating switching, wireless, and firewall platforms to ensure robust and secure connectivity.
• Participating in network design reviews, site assessments, and bill of materials (BOM) validation.
• Conducting wireless surveys to optimize and remediate wireless coverage and performance.
• Performing moves, adds, and changes (MACs) and offering general network operational support.
• Delivering incident response and on-site troubleshooting during business hours as required.
• Developing and maintaining network documentation, standards, and lifecycle plans for effective ongoing operations.
• Supporting the deployment and maintenance of Cisco Client and wired/wireless 802.1X authentication solutions.
• Contributing to network modernization tasks and collaborative project delivery across teams.
• Managing multiple, concurrent projects and operational activities based on evolving priorities.
• Collaborating closely with engineering, operations, and project management teams to align solutions with enterprise standards.
• Participating in project planning, coordination with vendors, and stakeholder engagement on-site as needed.
• Traveling to other sites, both in-state and out-of-state, to directly support project implementation and site turn-ups.

Essential Skills, Experience

•At least 5 years of hands-on experience as an enterprise network engineer.

•Direct experience with Cisco Catalyst switching platforms (configuration, deployment, troubleshooting).

•Strong proficiency with enterprise wireless technologies including controller-based access points and deployments.

•Expertise in firewall configuration and validation in enterprise settings.

•Practical skills in performing rack installations, structured cabling projects, fiber connectivity, and complete infrastructure turn-ups.

•Robust network troubleshooting abilities and a track record in operational support for complex environments.

•Experience creating, updating, and maintaining network documentation, diagrams, and standards.

•Willingness and ability to work on-site regularly in Rancho Cordova, with preference for Sacramento-area candidates.

•Openness and flexibility to travel out of state for project work as required (approx. 3-6 trips over the contract period).

•Strong written and verbal communication skills, able to interact effectively with both technical and business stakeholders.

Preferred Skills Or Experience:

•Experience with Cisco Nexus data center switching platforms.

•Hands-on exposure to Cisco Client and 802.1X (wired/wireless) deployment and administration.

•Competency with wireless survey and validation tools such as Ekahau or AirMagnet.

•Background in supporting network environments for laboratory or specialized research purposes.

•Previous involvement in network design reviews, site assessments, and BOM validation processes.

•Cisco professional certifications, such as CCNA or CCNP Enterprise (or equivalent).

•Familiarity with network monitoring tools and Microsoft Office 365 (Visio, Excel, Teams).

Proven ability to work in team-oriented settings, drive technical excellence, and consistently deliver high-quality results across numerous, fast-paced project assignments is critical.

Qualifications:

•Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, or a related field, or equivalent experience (preferred).

•Cisco certifications such as CCNA, CCNP, or equivalent vendor certifications are advantageous.