Network Engineer

The Network Engineer is part of a team of engineers who design, build, maintain, and support the Firm’s global portfolio of networking infrastructure solutions. This role supports the lifecycle management of the networking portfolio by helping deliver solutions that provide an optimal experience for our lawyers, staff, practice groups, and clients, while following standards that reduce risk to the Firm. To accomplish this objective, the Network Engineer partners with cross-functional IT solution teams, Information Security, and other stakeholders to implement, maintain, and continuously improve network solutions that meet the evolving needs of the Firm. This role requires an individual with strong troubleshooting and implementation skills and the ability to balance day-to-day operational support with project work. Duties & Responsibilities Supports lifecycle management of the Firm’s networking portfolio, helping deliver a technology experience that is stable, secure, and scalable Designs, implements, and supports on-premises and cloud-based network infrastructure, including firewalls, routers, switches, and wireless Performs ongoing data center operations and maintenance tasks for the Firm’s network infrastructure, coordinating with third-party providers and contractors as needed Develops and maintains infrastructure documentation, including architecture diagrams, system configurations, and operational procedures Partners with Information Security, IT Security Solutions, Application Solutions teams, and other IT engineers to follow common standards and objectives for infrastructure solutions and support broader Infrastructure team initiatives as needed Monitors, diagnoses, and helps optimize network performance, integrity, and security to promote high availability Uses AI‑assisted network analytics and telemetry insights to improve visibility into network health, performance trends, and user experience, supporting faster troubleshooting and more consistent operations. Provides technical support for on-premises and cloud-based network environments, including participation in on-call rotation as needed Works with IT Security Solutions to implement and integrate network infrastructure with security technologies (e.g., perimeter defense, monitoring & logging, identity and access management) Supports capacity planning and system optimization efforts for network and infrastructure solutions (e.g., performance analysis, tuning, scaling) Recommends, schedules, and performs ongoing maintenance and support activities (e.g., infrastructure security audits, upgrades, reconfigurations, optimizations) Anticipates, mitigates, troubleshoots, and resolves problems across the infrastructure stack, with focus on preserving a gold‑standard end user experience Supports application teams throughout project lifecycles, serving as infrastructure subject matter expertise as required Collaborates well with cross‑functional stakeholders and other third‑party providers Stays current on trends in the marketplace, conducting research on emerging infrastructure products, services, protocols, and standards Supports the development, documentation, and maintenance policies, procedures, and associated training plans for system administration and appropriate use Uphold high standards of confidentiality, discretion, and integrity, particularly with respect to all sensitive and/or confidential firm and client information to which this position will have access. Qualifications Education & Certification College degree strongly preferred, ideally with focus in computer science, engineering, or related fields CCNA or industry equivalent certification required; CCNP preferred Knowledge & Experience 5+ years of relevant experience as a Network Engineer, ideally in a large Law Firm setting, a comparable professional services organization, or a legal information services provider Experience supporting the system lifecycle for infrastructure solutions (e.g., planning, implementation, operations, upgrades, and decommissioning) Experience contributing to infrastructure design and implementation in a global environment, including on‑premises and cloud‑based solutions Experience with Azure networking and hybrid connectivity. Demonstrated experience with Palo Alto Next Generation Firewall deployment and administration required Demonstrated experience with SD‑WAN technologies Experience with Catalyst switching and routing Ability to troubleshoot in complex network environments and quickly identify root cause problems Direct familiarity with routing protocols, including BGP Experience with infrastructure monitoring tools and capabilities Experience documenting and maintaining configuration and processing information Knowledge of applicable data privacy and global compliance practices and laws (e.g., ITAR) Demonstrated ability to support change initiatives by adopting standards, documenting changes, and communicating impacts to stakeholders Ability to establish rapport and elicit cooperation from personnel across levels and across teams Ability to collaborate effectively with teammates and third‑party vendors/consultants; may provide guidance or knowledge sharing within the team as needed Skilled in communications to all levels in the organization in writing, speaking, and presentation skills for work with the Firm leadership, the user community, and clients Excellent problem solving and debugging skills required Ability to manage complex information systems Must be able to reliably deal with multiple competing priorities and remain calm under pressure Ability to fulfill on‑call duties for IT emergencies outside of Firm business hours Work Location and Conditions Based in Washington, D.C. Core hours of 9:00 am – 5:30 pm Monday – Friday; hybrid in‑office, which will be a combination of onsite and remote work with occasional on‑call availability Lifting and transporting of moderately heavy objects, such as computers and peripherals Position requires access to equipment, software, or technology that is subject to U.S. export controls. To be granted access pursuant to US Export Control laws, candidate must be either (a) a United States citizen or national; (b) a person lawfully admitted for permanent residence of the United States (i.e., “Green Card” holder); or (c) an INS‑approved refugee or asylum holder who has applied for naturalization within six months of the date the individual first became eligible; and if not yet naturalized, is still actively pursuing naturalization if 2 years have passed since the date of application to be granted access pursuant to US Export Control laws. Candidates will be required to submit appropriate documentation to determine whether access can be granted before proceeding further through the application process. Status: Exempt Reports To: Infrastructure Solutions Manager Workplace Type: Hybrid Salary range is $109,000- $136,000 depending on candidate experience and location. Candidates hired for staff positions with a minimum work schedule of 30 hours per week are eligible for a comprehensive benefits package, including healthcare insurance. Learn more about benefits at Covington. Covington & Burling LLP is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in any aspect of employment, including hiring, salary, promotion, discipline, termination, and benefits, on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, religion, national origin, gender, gender identity or expression, age, marital status, sexual orientation, family responsibility, disability (including physical handicap), or any other improper criterion. Covington will consider qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records for employment in accordance with applicable laws, including the California Fair Chance Act, the Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Fair Chance Ordinance, the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance, and the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance. #J-18808-Ljbffr