Network Engineer

* Description
* We are looking to bring on a Network Engineer for a 6-month contract-to-hire opportunity. This person will join a small but growing IT Operations team, currently consisting of two other Network Engineers and several Systems Engineers. The Network Engineer will play a critical role in ensuring network reliability and security while supporting cloud expansion and remote connectivity. This is a hands-on position where the individual will be the primary onsite resource, working closely with remote team leads and cross-functional partners to keep the business connected and secure.
The Network Engineer will be responsible for designing, implementing, and troubleshooting the network infrastructure. This includes managing Cisco Catalyst and Meraki devices, configuring and maintaining Palo Alto firewalls, and supporting Azure networking components such as VNets, subnets, and integrations with other platforms. In addition to advanced networking tasks, this person will handle Layer 1 responsibilities such as cabling, rack and stack, and WAP replacements when needed.

They will also coordinate with multiple vendors for network setup and device configuration, ensuring projects are delivered on time and according to best practices.
The ideal candidate is a self-starter who thrives in a dynamic environment and can prioritize tasks effectively. They should be comfortable wearing multiple hats, managing vendor relationships, and taking ownership of projects without requiring constant oversight. Strong communication skills are essential, as this role involves working with vendors, executives, and cross-functional teams. We value transparency-this person should clearly communicate their strengths and areas for growth during the interview process.

While the team is happy to provide training where needed, they expect immediate competence in areas where the candidate claims expertise. If you say you're strong in Cisco CLI or Palo Alto configuration, you should be able to execute those tasks from day one.
This is an onsite role requiring five days per week in Austin, TX. Candidates who are hesitant about the commute or seeking remote flexibility early in the engagement will not be a fit. Success in this role means hitting the ground running, demonstrating initiative, and consistently looking for opportunities to improve processes and become a subject matter expert within the environment.

The right person will be curious, detail-oriented, and eager to learn, with a proven ability to work independently and make sound decisions about when to escalate issues versus when to resolve them on their own.

* Responsibilities
* Evaluate and assess the current state of LAN/WAN environment and propose a roadmap to handle future growth.
Identify and implement networking best practices to ensure optimal network performance, availability, and scalability.
Configure and troubleshoot existing network devices including Palo Alto firewalls, Cisco Meraki, Cisco Catalyst, VPN, and MPLS (Level
3).
Assess current network security posture and implement hardening solutions including firewalls, IDS/IPS, Identity and Access Management.
Implement, maintain, and troubleshoot LAN/WAN infrastructure including physical cabling, switches, routers, firewalls, and Wi-Fi systems.
Deploy and support new software releases, system upgrades, and patches for the network infrastructure environment.
Maintain knowledge of vendor products (Cisco, Meraki, Aruba, Palo Alto) and solutions that enable the team to diagnose complex issues, build redundancy and resiliency, and plan for future capacity and technology growth.
Develop and maintain technical procedure documentation and network infrastructure diagrams; review projects and system designs for compliance with standards.
Proactively work to reduce costs and improve productivity (continuous improvement) for Network Engineering and support platforms.
Perform troubleshooting and problem-solving efforts often involving outside vendors and other support personnel and/or organizations.
Ensure the network architecture addresses high availability and performance of mission-critical platforms and network resources with guidance from Sr. Network Engineers.
Identify opportunities for improvement in efficiency and responsiveness; make recommendations and champion implementations that gain efficiencies and improve effectiveness.
Understand the needs of various business functions and end users, and the priorities of information security and management, and define solutions to support these.
Assist as needed with any IT-related projects as determined by IT Management.
Respond to off-hour alerts, calls, emails, or notifications to ensure operational efficiency and uptime.
Design, implement, and maintain a US-based retail and global network infrastructure.
Monitor and administer carrier-diverse circuits utilizing BGP for fault tolerance.

* Required Qualifications and Skills
* At least 4 years of experience maintaining enterprise LAN/WAN…