Senior Network Engineer

Senior Network Engineer

Positions are advertised for a minimum of five business days on our job website. After five business days, positions can be closed at the discretion of the department at any time. This employment site is updated on a regular basis. The length of the recruitment and screening process may vary from position to position, depending upon a variety of factors. Should review of your qualifications result in a decision to pursue your candidacy, you will be contacted by phone or email. We are only accepting applications submitted by June 26, 2026. The University of South Carolina offers a valuable benefits package including but not limited to:

• Health and Life Insurance
• Retirement Programs
• Paid Tuition
• Dependent Scholarships
• Annual Leave
• Sick Leave
• 13 Paid Holidays (including an extended December holiday)
• Paid Parental Leave
• Professional Development Opportunities

Click here to learn more about why you should work at USC.

Advertised Job Summary - Senior Network Engineer Spend your days enjoying one of the most beautiful university campuses in America at the University of South Carolina, located in the vibrant capital city of one of the nation's fastest-growing states. Join us in advancing the Division of Information Technology as we build and support a modern, secure, and high-performing network environment that powers teaching, research, and student success. As a Gamecock, you will work alongside a collaborative, talented, and forward-thinking team, applying your expertise to deliver reliable, innovative connectivity solutions that enhance the digital experience across our campus community.

The Senior Network Engineer is responsible for designing, implementing, and supporting enterprise wireless and wired network infrastructure across the university. This role serves as a technical expert in wireless networking, ensuring high availability, performance, and security while supporting academic, research, and administrative operations. The position also plays a key role in automation, monitoring, and continuous improvement of network services in a dynamic campus environment.

Key Responsibilities:

• Network Design & Management: Design, implement, and manage secure, high-performance wireless, LAN, and WAN network infrastructure, including RF design, site surveys, and capacity planning. This includes architecting and deploying infrastructure such as Wi-Fi, cellular, and microwave systems; routers, switches, and firewalls; and automation platforms for configuration management, monitoring, and incident response.
• Orchestration, Automation, and Network Engineering: Develop and maintain network automation and orchestration solutions and workflows using tools such as Python, Ansible, APIs, and Infrastructure-as-Code frameworks. Manage integrations of automation platforms with network management and security systems.
• Metrics, Monitoring, and Performance Optimization: Design and manage network metrics, telemetry, monitoring, and performance optimization solutions, including dashboards and KPIs; collaborate with cross-functional teams to analyze data and trends, establish benchmarks, and drive continuous improvements in reliability, scalability, and security.
• Tier 3 Network, Security, and Automation Support: Provide Tier 3 support for complex network and security issues, including troubleshooting, root cause analysis, and collaboration with internal teams and vendors. Responsible for diagnosing and resolving advanced problems related to network performance, configuration, interoperability, automation workflows, and cybersecurity across technologies such as Wi-Fi, cellular, microwave, and wired Ethernet systems.

What We're Looking For:

Five (5) or more years of experience supporting enterprise wireless and wired network infrastructure in a higher-education or large-campus, multi-site environment. Strong knowledge of networking technologies (routing, switching, wireless, firewalling, 802.1X, RADIUS, NAC, automation, monitoring, metrics and telemetry, and security architectures.) Hands-on experience with tools and platforms such as Aruba, Cisco, Juniper, Fortinet, Clearpass, LibreNMS, Grafana, Netbox, Ansible, Python, Ekahau, AirMagnet. Ability to troubleshoot complex issues, automate processes, create detailed documentation, automation workflows, maintain pace with rapidly changing technology, and communicate effectively with stakeholders.

Perks of the University of South Carolina:

• Downtown COLA Location: Enjoy working in the heart of Columbia, SC, with easy access to vibrant city life, dining, and cultural events.
• Energetic Leadership: Thrive under the guidance of an energetic and innovative leadership team dedicated to transforming IT at USC, making your role impactful and exciting.
• Comprehensive Benefits: Competitive salary, state retirement plan, and generous health benefits
• Work-Life Balance: Paid time off, university holidays, and flexible work opportunities
• Professional Growth: Access to training, certifications, and career development resources

Job Related Minimum Required Education and Experience - Requires a bachelor's degree in a job-related field and 4 or more years of job-related experience, which may be substituted by an equivalent combination of job-related certification, training, education, and/or experience.

Required Certification, Licensure/Other Credentials

Preferred Qualifications - Bachelor's degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, Engineering, or related field and 5 years of professional network engineering experience; or equivalent. Five (5) or more years of experience supporting enterprise wireless and wired network infrastructure in a higher-education or large-campus environment. Professional certifications such as Cisco CCNP Enterprise/CCNA, Aruba ACMP/ACSP, Juniper JNCIS/JNCIP, CWNA/CWNP, or Fortinet Certified Professional with NSE4 (FortiOS Administrator) and NSE5 (Secure Networking). Experience with Aruba networking, Juniper, wireless systems, wireless controllers, and RF design tools (Ekahau, AirMagnet) at an enterprise level. Experience with Cisco access layer. Experience with 802.1X, RADIUS, NAC, and ClearPass. Experience with automation (Python, Ansible, APIs), monitoring (LibreNMS, Grafana, NetBox), proficient with Fortinet security architecture, tools, and administration with the ability to coordinate multi-site deployments with internal teams and vendors.

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities - Knowledge of networking standards, behavior, authentication systems, automation concepts, and network security best practices. Skill in designing and deploying enterprise environments, troubleshooting complex network issues, performing RCA, automating configuration tasks, analyzing performance data, and maintaining documentation. Ability to create and support campus infrastructure, develop documentation and topology maps, secure network systems, perform RF analysis, monitor networks via KPIs and telemetry, automate tasks, mentor junior staff, and communicate effectively with stakeholders. Ability to present summary and detailed data to various audiences, and to write comprehensive reports and keep detailed records. Ability to establish and maintain working relationships with users, vendors, and other employees. Employees must be able to self-train and maintain pace with rapidly changing technology as required.

Job Duties

Job Duty - Network Design & Management: Responsible for the design, implementation, and management of secure, high-performance communication networks across wireless, LAN, and WAN environments. This includes architecting and deploying infrastructure such as Wi-Fi, cellular, and microwave systems; routers, switches, and firewalls; and automation platforms for configuration management, monitoring, and incident response. Conduct detailed site surveys, spectrum analyses, and network assessments to ensure optimal coverage, capacity, and resilience. Configure and troubleshoot network and security devices, implement advanced routing, switching, and segmentation strategies, and apply automation tools (e.g., Python, Ansible, or similar frameworks) to streamline provisioning and maintenance tasks. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to integrate secure wireless and wired technologies into broader enterprise architectures, ensuring alignment with organizational objectives and regulatory compliance. Continuously monitor and analyze network performance and security posture, applying proactive improvements to enhance reliability, scalability, and protection against evolving threats. Maintain comprehensive documentation of network designs, configurations, automation workflows, and performance metrics to support operational excellence and ongoing optimization.

Essential Function - Yes

Percentage of Time - 40

Job Duty - Orchestration, Automation, and Network Engineering: Responsible for designing, developing, and implementing automated solutions that streamline the deployment, configuration, monitoring, and optimization of secure wireless, LAN, and WAN networks. This includes creating and maintaining orchestration workflows, scripts, and Infrastructure-as-Code (IaC) frameworks to minimize manual intervention, enhance reliability, and ensure consistent performance across diverse network environments. Integrate automation platforms with network management and security systems, leveraging APIs and tools such as Ansible, Python, RESTful services, and CI/CD pipelines to enable dynamic provisioning, real-time configuration management, and automated compliance enforcement. Implement automation for network security functions—such as firewall policy updates, access control validation, and vulnerability scanning—to ensure continuous alignment with cybersecurity and regulatory standards. Continuously monitor and analyze automated processes and network telemetry to ensure operational accuracy, scalability, and performance optimization. Collaborate with cross-functional engineering and security teams to integrate orchestration and automation capabilities into the university's broader IT and research infrastructure, supporting innovation, resilience, and rapid service delivery.

Essential Function - Yes