Senior Network Engineer (Palo Alto / Cisco Environment)

SENIOR NETWORK ENGINEER (Palo Alto / Cisco Environment)

LOCATION: Phoenix, AZ 85034 (100% Onsite)

DURATION: 12+ Month Contract (Extension / Conversion Eligible)

PAY RANGE : $68.00 - $75.00 per hour (DOE / Paid Weekly)

BENEFITS: Medical, Dental, Vision available Day 1. 401(k) available after 90 days.

SUMMARY & RESPONSIBILITIES

This is an opportunity to lead the engineering, security, availability, and modernization of a complex enterprise network environment that first responders depend on every day. The ideal candidate is a hands-on network engineering expert with deep experience in Palo Alto firewalls, Cisco networking technologies, and enterprise routing who thrives in fast-paced, operational environments where uptime and resiliency are paramount.

Responsibilities:

• Lead the design, implementation, and support of a large-scale Cisco and Palo Alto network environment supporting 24/7 public safety operations.
• Serve as the technical SME for Palo Alto Next-Generation Firewalls and Panorama.
• Design, configure, and troubleshoot Cisco IOS, Cisco Catalyst, and Cisco Nexus infrastructure.
• Manage and optimize routing technologies including OSPF, BGP, EIGRP, IPsec, VPNs, NAT, and QoS.
• Drive key infrastructure initiatives focused on network resiliency, security, failover optimization, and modernization.
• Monitor network health, resolve complex technical issues, and perform upgrades, patching, and lifecycle management.
• Provide technical leadership, mentorship, and guidance to engineers, contractors, and support staff.
• Maintain network documentation, asset inventories, and operational processes.
• Participate in a 24/7 on-call rotation supporting emergency services infrastructure.

REQUIRED EXPERIENCE

• 5+ years of network engineering experience in a complex enterprise environment.
• Expert-level experience with Palo Alto Next-Generation Firewalls and Panorama.
• Strong Cisco networking experience, including Cisco IOS and Cisco Nexus.
• Advanced knowledge of BGP, OSPF, EIGRP, VPNs, IPsec, NAT, and network security best practices.
• Experience with Splunk, SolarWinds Orion, ServiceNow, and Jira.
• Excellent troubleshooting, communication, and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to thrive in fast-paced, highly structured, high-visibility operational environments.

NICE-TO-HAVE

• Public safety, government, military, healthcare, utility, or other highly regulated industry experience.
• Experience leading network engineers, consultants, or contractors.
• CCNP, PCNSE, or similar industry certifications.
• Experience supporting 24/7 critical infrastructure environments.

Work Environment:

• 100% onsite position located in Phoenix, Arizona.
• Standard schedule is Monday through Friday, 7:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
• Participation in a 24/7 on-call rotation is required.
• Occasional evening, weekend, holiday, and after-hours work may be necessary to support critical operations.

Compensation:

$68.00 - $75.00/hr

Exact compensation may vary based on several factors, including skills, experience, and education.

Employees in this role will enjoy a comprehensive benefits package starting on day one of employment, including options for medical, dental, and vision insurance. Eligibility to enroll in the 401(k)-retirement plan begins after 90 days of employment. Additionally, employees in this role will have access to paid sick leave and other paid time off benefits as required under the applicable law of the worksite location.