Network Engineer

Job Summary

Hillsdale College has an opportunity for a seasoned Network Engineer with experience in large, distributed campus environments.

As a Network Engineer, you will be responsible for designing, provisioning, monitoring, and troubleshooting the network LAN / WAN / VLAN infrastructure used across Hillsdale College’s campuses. As a vital member of the Network and System Administration team, you should have a strong knowledge of network infrastructure in a large enterprise environment. You should be an expert in the design, optimization, and troubleshooting of TCP /IP networks and equipment, including switching, routing, next-gen firewall management, performance analysis, QoS, and physical infrastructure (copper, fiber). You should possess a solid understanding of modern network security design, Zero Trust architecture, and hybrid cloud networking. You will also support VoIP solutions, edge-delivered cloud services, and cloud-managed routing within our distributed campus network environment.

Essential Job Duties

1. Implement, monitor, and manage next-gen firewalls, routers, switches, and wireless access points across the campus network infrastructure.
2. Actively contribute to the configuration, deployment, and ongoing optimization of the Juniper Mist cloud-managed campus switching environment.
3. Support the transition of legacy campus edge security to modern Fortinet or Juniper next-gen firewalls.
4. Transition legacy remote access models toward identity-centric Zero Trust solutions (Cloudflare WARP , Microsoft GSA ).
5. Collaborate with the systems and data teams to configure secure, high-performance network topology between on-premises systems and Microsoft Azure / Microsoft Fabric cloud environments.
6. Design, configure, and maintain complex switching environments and VLAN segmentation schemas to isolate campus workloads and protect student/administrative data.
7. Manage external/internal DNS namespaces and implement edge-level redirects and traffic routing rules.
8. Engage in proactive network monitoring and advanced troubleshooting to resolve complex connectivity issues.
9. Recommend, schedule, and perform software/hardware upgrades, patches, reconfigurations, and capacity planning.
10. Participate in after-hours maintenance windows and emergency response rotations as required for campus operations.

Education and Experience

Minimum Requirements

• Experience: At least 4 years of experience as a Network Engineer in an enterprise or educational environment, with a proven track record of managing high-availability infrastructure.
• Education: Associate degree or higher in BIS , MIS , Computer Science, or equivalent professional experience.

Desired Training and Experience

• Relevant vendor certifications are highly desirable , including JNCIS - ENT / JNCIP - ENT (Juniper) , Fortinet NSE / FCP , CCNA , CompTIA Network+, or Microsoft Certified: Azure Network Engineer.
• Prior experience in an educational, campus, or multi-site enterprise environment is preferred.

Other Skills

• Enterprise Switching & Cloud Management: In-depth experience deploying and managing enterprise switching environments. Hands-on experience with Juniper network switches and the Juniper Mist management platform (including AI-driven optimization and analytics) is highly preferred as the College migrates to this architecture.
• Next-Gen Firewalls ( NGFW ): Experience designing, configuring, and managing enterprise firewalls, including rule validation, application-level filtering, DMZ isolation, and threat protection. Familiarity with Fortinet (FortiOS) or Juniper ( SRX ) platforms is a major plus as we transition from legacy frameworks.
• Modern Access Control & ZTNA : Understanding of Zero Trust Network Access ( ZTNA ) and Security Service Edge ( SSE ) frameworks. Experience implementing modern alternatives to traditional client VPNs, specifically Cloudflare WARP and Microsoft Global Secure Access ( GSA / Entra Private Access) .
• Edge & DNS Management: Advanced familiarity with utilizing cloud-based edge networks (e.g., Cloudflare ) for secure external DNS management, traffic routing, edge redirects, and Web Application Firewall ( WAF ) rule implementation.
• Hybrid Cloud Networking (Azure): Solid understanding of foundational Microsoft Azure cloud networking concepts—including Virtual Networks, Network Security Groups, VPN Gateways, and ExpressRoute. Familiarity with optimizing network pathways to securely host and connect data architectures like Microsoft Fabric is highly desirable.
• General Network Design: Micro-segmentation, VLAN design, routing protocols ( OSPF , BGP ), and cloud-hybrid networking architecture.
• Physical Infrastructure: Experience with Fiber Optics for inter-building campus connectivity (Single Mode, Multi-Mode, terminations, and testing standards).
• Analysis & Monitoring Tools: Experience with network analysis, logging, and observability tools (e.g., Wireshark, NetFlow, Splunk, Zabbix, or Mist Marvis).
• Protocols & Core Services: Solid grasp of key network protocols including SNMP , / , DNS , SSH , TCP /IP, and UDP .
• Storage & Virtualization: Storage Area Network ( SAN ) configuration and management experience; foundational comfort with Hyper-V and hybrid Windows/Linux server environments.
• Voice over IP: Experience configuring, optimizing, and troubleshooting network pathways and Quality of Service (QoS) for IP Telephone Systems (VoIP).
• Compliance: Experience with regulatory frameworks (such as HIPAA or FERPA ) in an educational/network environment is a plus.

Code of Commitment

Be a good representative of Hillsdale College, promoting its mission, original Articles of Association, and Staff Code of Commitment. The teaching of Christian faith shall remain a conspicuous aim of the College.

Physical Requirements: Must be able to work on-site in Hillsdale, MI; able to lift or move up to 25 lbs, climb ladders, and install equipment in confined spaces (under desks, ceilings, etc.).

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).

1. Resume
2. Cover Letter

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