Sr. Network Engineer

Title: Sr. Network Engineer

Location: Houston, TX (Hybrid in 77024 – onsite twice a week)

Duration: Contract-to-Hire

Work Requirements: US Citizen, GC Holders or Authorized to Work in the US. W2/Direct-employment only.

Summary: Our client is seeking a Senior Network Engineer to provide technical leadership across a large enterprise network environment. This is a contract-to-hire opportunity that will be required to be onsite at least twice a week.

The role combines complex network troubleshooting and operations with network architecture, design, and continuous improvement. The ideal candidate is a highly experienced network engineer who can independently diagnose difficult issues, understand the broader architectural impact, recommend solutions, and provide technical leadership through implementation.

The environment operates through a large managed service provider (MSP) structure. The Senior Network Engineer will diagnose issues and determine solutions, but the MSP performs network configuration changes. This requires someone with strong hands‑on experience who can provide detailed technical direction to the MSP and oversee implementation and validation.

• Participate in network architecture, design, infrastructure upgrades, and technology initiatives.
• Provide technical leadership during major incidents, outages, and complex troubleshooting efforts.
• Provide senior‑level support for enterprise network operations, stability, performance, and availability.
• Troubleshoot and resolve complex network issues across routing, switching, WAN, SD‑WAN, firewalls, wireless, and related infrastructure.
• Analyze root causes, develop remediation strategies, and drive issues through resolution.
• Evaluate existing network architecture and recommend design, performance, security, and reliability improvements.
• Work closely with MSPs and internal teams to coordinate technical resolution and implementation.
• Provide the MSP with clear, detailed implementation instructions and validate changes after implementation.
• Identify opportunities to improve network operations, processes, documentation, monitoring, and service delivery.
• Support network projects from planning and design through implementation and testing.
• Maintain strong technical documentation and communicate recommendations and issues clearly to stakeholders.

• 8+ years of enterprise network engineering experience or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Strong, demonstrated experience troubleshooting complex enterprise network issues.
• Strong knowledge of Cisco routing and switching.
• Strong understanding of enterprise network architecture, design, and complex network topologies.
• Understanding of SD‑WAN concepts;
  Cisco Catalyst SD‑WAN/Viptela experience is preferred but not required.
• Strong experience with Palo Alto firewalls, including troubleshooting and recommending improvements.
• Understanding of cloud networking in AWS, Azure, and/or GCP.
• Knowledge of DNS, DHCP, and IP address management (DDI);
  EfficientIP, Infoblox, or comparable experience is acceptable.
• Experience troubleshooting enterprise wireless networks;
  Extreme experience is preferred but not required.
• Familiarity with F5 load balancing.
• Experience working with MSPs or outsourced technical teams.
• Ability to independently diagnose problems, determine solutions, and provide clear technical direction to third‑party teams responsible for implementation.
• Strong analytical, communication, and problem‑solving skills.
• Ability to operate independently with minimal supervision.
• Houston‑area candidate required.

• CCNP or equivalent experience.
• Palo Alto certification or significant hands‑on experience.
• Cisco Catalyst SD‑WAN/Viptela experience.
• AWS, Azure, or…