Network Specialist

Position Purpose

The Network Engineer is an advanced, non‑supervisory engineering role that bridges Network Implementation and Network Operations responsibilities into explicit engineering ownership. This position translates established network architecture and standards into deployable designs and configurations, leads medium‑complexity deployments and changes, and provides escalation support for incidents impacting the wired network service. The role is intended as a progression step toward full network engineering responsibilities.

This position operates in a complex, high‑availability environment supporting diverse academic, clinical, and research stakeholders across multiple sites. Work regularly involves non‑routine technical challenges where requirements may be incomplete, timelines constrained, and risk must be actively managed. The role requires applying independent judgment within established architecture and standards to plan and execute complex network changes, coordinate cross‑functional deployment activities, and ensure successful stabilization and transition to steady‑state operations.

• Ambiguity and engineering judgment: translating customer and operational requirements into a viable design/configuration approach within standards; evaluating tradeoffs and documenting decisions.
• Change risk and operational impact: planning, sequencing, and executing changes with rollback strategies; minimizing downtime and coordinating maintenance windows.
• Cross‑team coordination: leading technical coordination across engineering, NIM‑dispatch (field deployment), the NOC, and campus/clinical partners to deliver end‑to‑end outcomes.
• Competing priorities: balancing incident support, project delivery, and technical debt reduction while maintaining service reliability expectations.
• Accountability for outcomes: owning technical quality (configuration intent, validation, documentation/as‑builts, and post‑change stabilization), not simply completing assigned tasks.
• Work‑lead expectations (non‑supervisory): providing technical direction and task coordination for defined work efforts (e.g., change windows or deployments) while escalations and staffing remain with management.

This is an essential position and is 100% on‑site. The University of Washington relies on enterprise wired network infrastructure to support teaching, learning, research, clinical care, and administrative operations across multiple campuses, UW Medicine sites, and remote locations. This position contributes directly to network availability, change quality, and service continuity by owning the engineering work needed to deploy and operate network services reliably  Grade 9 Network Engineer is typically accountable for one or more defined service areas or domains and is expected to improve reliability through documentation, standardization, validation, and post‑incident corrective actions.

35% Deploy & Sustain (Complex Implementation + Operations)

• Independently perform complex network installations, upgrades, troubleshooting, maintenance, and repair to restore and sustain wired network services.
• Lead/execute complex change windows and post‑change stabilization; coordinate escalation with the NOC as needed.

20% Build (Configuration Ownership)

• Configure and manage network infrastructure components, including routers, switches, and firewalls, in alignment with established engineering standards.
• Develop/review implementation‑ready configurations for complex work and validate intended outcomes.

15% Test & Validate (Standards Alignment)

• Test new equipment and firmware (lab/pilot/controlled deployment) to confirm compatibility with departmental network standards and operational requirements.

25% Quality Assurance (Installation/Upgrade Verification)

• Perform QA on network installations, upgrades, and additions, including validation checks, documentation/as‑builts, and readiness for operational handoff.

10% Coordination, Support, and Work‑Lead (Non‑Supervisory)

• Provide technical expertise and support for campus telecommunications and data…