Network Engineering and IT Support Lead (Palo Alto, CA)

Location

Palo Alto, CA (up to 30% travel)

Hybrid (3 days/week onsite)

6-month contract

8:00 AM - 5:00 PM PST

$92.00 - $96.00/hr

Our client, a leading automotive manufacturer based in Palo Alto, CA, is seeking an On-Premises Network Engineering & IT Support Lead to join their team on a 6-month contract basis. This role owns day-to-day network infrastructure, security, and vendor connectivity across the client's facilities, with a secondary focus on supporting hybrid cloud networking in AWS.

• Design, install, configure, and maintain LAN/WAN infrastructure, including Cisco Nexus 9K switches, routers, access points, and Forti Gate firewalls
• Manage network security end-to-end, including Cisco Wireless, Cisco ISE, and DNA Center setup and troubleshooting
• Partner with external vendors to set up, test, and maintain secure VPN tunnels to company facilities
• Act as senior escalation point for complex hardware, software, and routing issues
• Prioritize incoming support tickets based on business impact and urgency
• Build strong working relationships across remote IT teams and internal business units
• Proactively identify network optimizations and improvements during quieter periods
• Support hybrid routing between on-prem facilities and AWS via Transit Gateway
• Deploy and maintain AWS Private Link and Private VPC Endpoints for secure, off-internet traffic routing
• Support cross-environment DNS resolution using Amazon Route 53
• Use AWS monitoring tools (VPC Flow Logs, Cloud Watch Metrics, Transit Gateway Network Manager) to troubleshoot latency and connectivity issues

• Bachelor's degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.
• Demonstrated hands-on experience designing, installing, and maintaining enterprise LAN/WAN infrastructure.
• Experience managing vendor VPN connectivity and cross-site network security.
• Exposure to hybrid on-premises/AWS networking environments preferred.

• Strong working knowledge of Cisco Nexus 9K switches, routers, access points, and Forti Gate firewalls.
• Hands-on experience with Cisco Wireless systems, including Cisco ISE and DNA Center.
• Proven ability to troubleshoot and diagnose complex hardware, software, and routing issues.
• Strong prioritization skills, with the ability to triage tickets based on business impact and urgency.
• Excellent cross-functional communication and relationship-building skills.
• Working knowledge of AWS Transit Gateway, Private Link, Private VPC Endpoints, and Route 53.
• Familiarity with AWS network observability tools, including VPC Flow Logs, Cloud Watch Metrics, and Transit Gateway Network Manager.
• Self-starter mindset with a proactive approach to network optimization and continuous improvement.