Network Engineer Berkeley Seismological Lab

Overview

At the University of California, Berkeley, we are dedicated to fostering a community where everyone feels welcome and can thrive. Our culture of openness, freedom and belonging makes it a special place for students, faculty and staff. As a world-leading institution, Berkeley is known for its academic and research excellence, public mission, diverse student body, and commitment to equity and social justice.

Since our founding in 1868, we have driven innovation, creating global intellectual, economic and social value. We seek applicants who reflect California's diversity and want to be part of an inclusive, equity-focused community that views education as a matter of social justice. Please consider whether your values align with our Guiding Values and Principles, Principles of Community, and Strategic Plan.

We believe learning is a fundamental part of working, and provide space for supportive colleague communities via employee resource groups. Our goal is for everyone on campus to feel supported and equipped to realize their full potential. We actively support this by providing full-time staff employees with at least 80 hours (10 days) of paid time per year for professional development.

Find out more about how you can grow your career at UC Berkeley.

The Berkeley Seismological Laboratory conducts essential research on earthquakes and solid earth processes while collecting and delivering high quality geophysical data. It provides robust earthquake and hazard information including real-time alerts to the public, in collaboration with partners. It enables the broad consumption of earthquake information by everyone while educating and training students at all levels and from all backgrounds.

The network engineer exists to ensure the performance and resiliency of the network. The networking equipment to be managed ranges from routers and switches to cell modems and digital radios, operating across diverse environments from data centers to remote field stations. The links to be supported between equipment include transports such as cellular, satellite, radio, microwave, WiFi, Ethernet, and VPN tunnels.

Integrating network components, and improving the network through collaboration, is vital to the BSL's mission of earthquake monitoring and scientific research.

The First Review Date for this job is:
May 1, 2026 - Open Until Filled

• Install and maintain networking equipment and configurations to support the flow of data from 200+ remote field stations to, between, and within multiple data centers, both on-prem and in the cloud (AWS). Secure and maintain data communications with outside partners and the public. Develop and maintain network monitoring and diagnostic tools.
• Monitor and respond to network performance degradation and/or loss of connectivity, both within the data center and from remote field stations. Troubleshoot and resolve network issues, both directly and through interactions with a diverse set of collaborators, contacts, and service providers. Review and address bandwidth and latency requirements. Assist with the configuration and troubleshooting of Linux systems and software that perform data acquisition.
• Manage the security and firmware of networking equipment. Work directly with vendors to isolate and resolve complex hardware, firmware, and/or configuration issues. Configure and troubleshoot Linux systems and software that support network services.
• Review, collaboratively with colleagues, the data flow needs of the organization. Coordinate all phases of complex network projects, from design and procurement to deployment and documentation. Evaluate and test new, or enhanced, network solutions, with emphasis on robust and resilient transfer of data from remote field stations to data processing centers.
• Provide expert advice on network solutions and explanations of network issues. Consult with other units and outside collaborators on joint use of networks, including compatibility and conformance to standards. Participate in cross-disciplinary group discussions, activities, and efforts.
• Other tasks as assigned.

• Bachelor's degree in related area and/or equivalent experience/training.
• Thorough understanding of common networking protocols, including OSI layer 2 and layer 3 at an expert level.
• Hands-on experience with various networking hardware platforms, both with installation and maintenance.
• Experience with diagnostic tools, including network monitoring and performance assessment.
• Experience with network management systems, including configuration revision control, automating tasks, and remote deployments.
• Experience working within and supporting a Linux environment, including the ability to write and maintain custom scripts.
• Ability to gather, organize and analyze data in the completion of a variety of functional assignments.
• Ability to communicate technical information to both technical and non-technical personnel at…