Network Engineer – Project Lead

The Network Engineer – Project Lead will provide daily network engineering operations and support for the University of South Carolina’s enterprise wired and wireless network infrastructure. The role includes monitoring, maintaining, configuring, troubleshooting, and supporting switching, routing, wireless networking, firewalls, VPNs, and network connectivity services. Responsibilities also include network equipment deployment, incident resolution, system upgrades and patching, performance optimization, network security support, and maintaining technical documentation and network diagrams. The engineer will collaborate with network, security, infrastructure teams, vendors, and stakeholders to ensure reliable, secure, and highly available network services.

• Monitor, maintain, and support enterprise wired and wireless network infrastructure, including switching, routing, and connectivity services across campus environments to ensure availability, reliability, and performance.
  
• Perform field installation and deployment of network equipment, including configuring, racking, stacking, cabling, and testing switches.
  
• Diagnose, troubleshoot, and resolve network issues through monitoring, analysis, and root cause investigation.
  
• Investigate and resolve network incidents through remote analysis and field-based troubleshooting, including testing network equipment and validating configurations.
  
• Coordinate network repairs to maintain service availability and escalate complex technical issues as appropriate.
  
• Participate in on-call support activities to ensure continuity and availability of network services.
  
• Perform routine network maintenance, including system upgrades, patching, configuration changes, and performance optimization.
  
• Minimize service interruptions during maintenance activities while adhering to established operational best practices.
  
• Maintain accurate operational documentation, network diagrams, incident records, and runbooks.
  
• Collaborate with network engineering and architecture, security, infrastructure teams, vendors, and stakeholders to support reliable technology services.
  
• Communicate technical information effectively to technical teams, vendors, and stakeholders.
  
• Support and maintain network security technologies, including firewalls, VPNs, and related security controls.
  
• Assist with troubleshooting and responding to network security-related incidents in accordance with established procedures and standards.
  

Requirements

Education and Certifications:

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience.
  
• Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA)
  
• Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP)
  
• Juniper Networks Certified Associate (JNCIA)
  
• Juniper Networks Certified Specialist / Professional (JNCIS / JNCIP)
  
• Aruba Certified Network Technician (ACNT)
  
• Aruba Certified Switching Associate (ACSA)
  
• Aruba Certified Mobility Associate (ACMA)
  
• Fortinet Certified Associate (FCA)
  
• Fortinet Certified Professional (FCP)
  

Required Skills:

• 2+ years of experience with enterprise network technologies, including switching, routing, wireless networking, and TCP/IP protocols.
  
• 2+ years of experience configuring, monitoring, and troubleshooting Cisco, Juniper, Aruba, AND Fortinet network devices.
  
• 2+ years of experience diagnosing and resolving network connectivity, performance, and security-related issues using standard troubleshooting methodologies and tools.
  
• 2+ years of experience with network security, including firewalls, VPNs, access controls, and security best practices.
  
• 2+ years of experience installing, configuring, and supporting network infrastructure equipment, including field deployment activities such as racking, stacking, cabling, and testing.
  
• 2+ years of experience maintaining technical documentation, network diagrams, and operational records.
  
• 2+ years of experience with routing protocols and technologies, including OSPF, BGP, VLANs, spanning tree, and high-availability architectures.
  

Preferred Skills:

• Experience supporting large-scale enterprise or higher education network environments.
  
• Experience with wireless network administration and troubleshooting in dense-user environments.
  
• Experience supporting network security technologies, including firewalls, VPNs, Network Access Control (NAC), and multi-factor authentication solutions.
  
• Familiarity with network monitoring, logging, and performance management tools.
  
• Experience with network automation, scripting, or infrastructure management tools, including Python, Ansible, and APIs.
  
• Experience performing network upgrades, migrations, and lifecycle replacement projects.
  
• Experience working in ITIL-based operational environments, including incident, problem, and change management processes.
  

Additional Skills:

• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and customer service skills.
  
• Ability to communicate technical information effectively and collaborate with technical teams, vendors, and stakeholders.
  
• Ability to work independently, prioritize tasks, and respond effectively in a fast-paced operational environment.
  
• Experience mentoring junior technical staff and providing technical leadership during operational incidents.
  

Benefits