Systems/Network Engineer
Listed on 2026-10-13
-
IT/Tech
Network Engineer, Systems Engineer, Cloud Computing: Infrastructure & Operations, Systems Administrator
Location:
Chicago, IL | Type:
Contract | Setup:
Hybrid (3 days onsite) |
Experience:
3+ years | Pay: $70-$80/hr
About the Role
We're hiring a Systems/Network Engineer to get physical AI infrastructure up and running in real customer environments. You'll build and configure servers, connect them to customer networks, and work through the hardware and connectivity issues that stand between a box arriving on site and a platform that's live.
The client is an early-stage AI platform company that deploys private, on-premises AI for banks and other financial institutions. Their customers want AI running inside their own walls, which means the hardware, the network, and the security posture all have to be right the first time. This role sits at the center of that work.
It's a hybrid contract based in Chicago, onsite three days a week, with travel to customer sites as deployments require. If you like work where you can see the result plugged in and running, this one will feel familiar.
What You'll Do
- Build, configure, and install servers, including OS installs and initial hardware setup
- Rack, cable, and connect equipment at customer sites and in the Chicago office
- Configure network connectivity (switching, routing, VLANs, firewall rules, VPN) so each deployment can reach the systems it needs
- Troubleshoot hardware, network, and OS issues during installs and after go-live
- Write scripts that automate repeatable setup, configuration, and health checks
- Travel to customer sites when a deployment needs hands on the hardware
- Document configurations and install steps so the next deployment goes faster
- Work alongside the client's engineers and customer-facing team, and coordinate with customer IT and security teams during installs
Qualifications
- 3+ years of hands-on experience in systems administration, network engineering, or infrastructure deployment
- Comfort with physical hardware: server builds, racking, cabling, and component-level troubleshooting
- Solid networking fundamentals, including TCP/IP, DNS, DHCP, VLANs, routing, and firewalls
- Linux administration experience (Windows Server is a plus)
- Scripting in Bash, Python, or Power Shell
- Able to work onsite in Chicago three days a week and travel to customer sites as needed
- Experience working with enterprise IT or security teams, especially in banking or other regulated environments, is a plus
- Familiarity with virtualization, Kubernetes, or Azure is a plus
Why Join Us
You'll be working with a small, fast-moving team that's putting real AI into production for institutions that don't take shortcuts on security. There's room to shape how deployments get done, and your work will be the reason a customer goes live.
If you'd rather be in the server room than writing about it, we'd like to talk.
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