Network Engineer

Network EngineerRemoteLong-Term Contract with Potential for Permanent HireCore Duties & Responsibilities:Deliver post-sales engineering implementation services for network solutions across a range of products and offerings, including defining requirements, building implementation plans, designing end-to-end systems, staging equipment, creating and testing configurations, and deploying software and/or hardware network solutions across multiple locations.Continuously evaluate solution specifications against evolving customer needs, and recommend adjustments that maximize value for both the client and the company.Create documentation for internal and external stakeholders outlining system designs and configurations of deployed solutions.Coordinate remotely with Smart Hands personnel and Project Managers to ensure tasks are completed through clear communication and collaboration.Build and sustain professional, productive relationships with clients, infrastructure vendors (such as ISPs and Carrier Services), hardware/software vendors, and other key stakeholders to guarantee consistent, high-quality product and service delivery aligned with company goals and client expectations.Deliver technical overviews covering product architecture, functionality, system/data requirements, service delivery, and integration with enterprise applications.Continually research and apply knowledge of market and industry trends and benchmarks to identify, recommend, and implement best practices, methodologies, and relevant analytics.Continuously build upon technical and non-technical skills through various learning avenues, with an emphasis on expanding expertise in operating systems, networking infrastructure, and related products and services.Meet financial performance goals within area of responsibility, taking corrective measures as necessary.Recommend and implement improvements to methodologies, core competencies, and processes within deployment engineering to maintain consistent, high-quality product and service delivery in line with company objectives and client expectations.Cultivate and strengthen a client-focused environment centered on anticipating, identifying, and resolving problems. Proactively remove obstacles to meeting client expectations, document issues and resolutions in a timely manner, and consistently meet client satisfaction goals along with internal and external SLAs.Consistently support and advocate for initiatives that improve, streamline, automate, and enhance daily service delivery operations and the overall client experience.Build collaborative relationships across operations and all levels/departments of the organization to carry out deployment engineering responsibilities and support company priorities.Use established escalation and exception processes and systems to report on current performance and suggest areas for improvement.Meet performance goals set by leadership for relevant Key Performance Indicators.Take on additional responsibilities as assigned by management.Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:Accountability – Understands the connection between individual job duties and broader organizational objectives, and carries out responsibilities with these larger goals in mind. Goes beyond core job requirements to suggest improvements to overall operations, and takes personal ownership of the organization's success.Customer Focus – Prioritizes meeting the needs of internal and external customers in a way that ensures satisfaction. Considers the effect on external customers when making decisions, setting policies, or performing job duties. Watches for emerging trends that may influence customer needs, and seeks innovative ways to improve service delivery, boost efficiency, and reduce costs.Business Acumen – Evaluates situations and events through a business lens to make decisions aligned with the organization's strategic goals. Uses technology to support better decision-making and provide cost-effective management tools. Aligns policies for a unified business approach, and promotes stronger collaboration and communication across departments.Decision Making – Makes sound decisions by combining analysis, knowledge, experience, and judgment. Identifies core issues by examining underlying symptoms. Addresses immediate concerns tied to major problems while developing long-term solutions. Has a strong track record of accurate, well-informed decisions, and applies effective decision-making strategies during high-pressure situations.Results Focused – Strives to meet or exceed internal and external performance standards, and is passionate about continuously improving service delivery. Sets and upholds high performance expectations for self and others in support of the organization's strategic goals.Education & Experience Requirements:Bachelor's Degree in Engineering, Management Information Systems, Information Technology, Computer Science, or a related field—or equivalent relevant experience.At least 5 years of experience in engineering deployment roles involving complex client requirement assessments, solution design, and implementation within the technology services sector.Familiarity with Change Management processes and procedures, including the ability to gather end-user requirements and compile documentation that aligns with existing standards within set timeframes.Prior post-sales engineering experience with network solutions, including defining requirements, developing implementation plans, designing end-to-end systems, staging equipment, creating and testing configurations, and deploying software and/or hardware network solutions across multiple locations.Preferred certifications: Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP), Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA), Arista ACE, or similar.Experience working in a production Data Center environment, including hands-on management of routers, switches, firewalls, global and local load balancing, DMZ configurations, and a solid understanding of DDI.Strong networking skills across industry-standard technologies and infrastructures, including cabling, LAN, WLAN, and WAN. Extensive experience with routing protocols such as BGP, OSPF, EIGRP, along with subnetting and route aggregation techniques. Demonstrated switching expertise in datacenter environments, including the Nexus product line, spine-and-leaf architecture, Cisco ACI, and Arista CLOS.Strong end-to-end process thinking, with proven experience in designing business processes and workflows.Strong problem-solving and systems analysis abilities, with a track record of success in root cause analysis, effectiveness measurement, and related documentation.Proven history of continuously building knowledge of technology, market, and industry trends, with success in identifying, recommending, and implementing best practices and methodologies.Ability to collaborate effectively across all functional teams to optimize product and service offerings, creating a seamless experience for internal and external clients, with a track record of prompt and accurate issue resolution.Proficiency in MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), Outlook, SharePoint, ERP systems, service delivery management tools, and related cloud-based technologies.