Junior Network Administrator

Department:
Infrastructure Services

Reporting to the Network Manager, the Junior Network Admin will leverage technical expertise, customer service, and strong organizational skills to support network operations for students, administrative staff, and faculty. The position must be able to work effectively both independently and as part of a team.

Metropolitan State University of Denver is seeking a Junior Network Administrator with foundational experience in managing network equipment, including installing, configuring, and maintaining campus network infrastructure. The role also requires familiarity with networking standards and best practices.

As a junior administrator, you will work within the network team and should have a basic understanding and some hands‑on experience with key networking components such as LAN/WAN environments, network security, and switch configurations. You will collaborate closely with senior network engineers to support, maintain, and troubleshoot both wired and wireless network issues.

• 50% – Serves as network admin of the University’s extensive networking systems. Helps to install, configure, upgrade, and test network equipment such as routers, switches, and wireless access points based on networking standards (TCP/IP, 802.1q, 802.11ac/n and more). Currently, this includes approximately 800 electronic devices in over 99 locations throughout the Auraria Campus, and remote locations such as Center for Visual Arts, Kalamath, Medical Clinic in Aurora, Quigg Newton and the COLO.
• 20% – Diagnoses network‑related problems, often involving contact with end users, to identify symptoms. Isolates faults to a particular network and/or cabling system/set of components. Assists in identifying any defective equipment (fiber, copper, or hardware) and/or utilizes network test equipment such as a protocol analyzer to isolate the fault. Engages in repair effort.
• 20% – Assists with the network management and monitoring of systems (DNS, Aerohive, Meraki, Solar Winds) which support the networking functions for MSU Denver’s computing environments. These provide round‑the‑clock monitoring and automated paging to MSU Denver IT network support staff. Likewise, they continuously monitor suspected security violations and facilitate inventory control and operating system upgrades.
• 5% – Implements and manages network cabling, such as Category 6 and 6a wire, 50 µm multimode and 9 µm fiber optics in support of student computing labs, patch panels, networking/phones closets and faculty and staff workstations. This includes the installation of the cable, attachment of
• 5% – Other duties as needed.

• 6 months – 1 year experience working in a higher education networking organization.
• 6 months – 1 year experience providing wired and wireless network support in an enterprise environment.
• 6 months – 1 year experience supporting network protocols such as TCP/IP, 802.1q, 802.11ac/n.
• 6 months – 1 year experience administering network monitor tools such as Solarwinds, Meraki Dashboard and Aerohive.
• Ability to walk 2 miles; climb an 8‑ft ladder carrying 50 pounds and be able to identify colors (job requires working with various colored cabling).

• Experience with Cisco Meraki switches and access points.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Experience with large scale network projects such as networking equipment replacement upgrades for entire buildings.

Full‑time, 40 hours per week.

Days of the week:
Monday – Friday.

Exempt.

Evenings and weekend work:
Occasionally for maintenance.

Schedule:

In person only;
Hybrid schedule with required days in the office weekly. The first few weeks will be on site.

Travel:
Occasional local travel within the metro area to the COLO and other MSU Denver remote sites.

Under Colorado law, MSU Denver is required to provide a reasonable estimate of the compensation range for this role and should not offer a salary outside of the range posted in this job announcement. This range takes into account a variety of factors including but not limited to…