Cisco Network Engineer

Position is onsite 5 days per week in Sugar Land, TX. Candidates must be local. 6-month contract‑to‑hire opportunity.

The primary function of this position is to maintain and troubleshoot a large Cisco Catalyst environment with Fortigate and Cisco networking equipment. This role also performs network and system support functions on segments of the computer environment, including planned and emergency maintenance, performance and security analysis, monitoring, tuning, and implementation of new products and procedures. The engineer analyzes emerging technology and makes recommendations for constant improvements to network and infrastructure services and capabilities.

They ensure that the implementation and roll‑out of IT solutions are designed and planned with minimum disruption to business processes.

We are seeking a skilled and motivated Cisco Network Engineer to design, implement, secure, and support our enterprise network infrastructure. This role focuses on configuring and maintaining Cisco switches, routers, firewalls, and Firepower appliances while ensuring high availability and security of our network services. The ideal candidate has hands‑on experience with routing protocols—especially OSPF
—and a proven ability to troubleshoot complex network issues in mission‑critical environments.

• Install, configure, and maintain Cisco Catalyst Switches and Routers in access, distribution, and core layers.
• Manage and support Cisco routers with a strong emphasis on OSPF routing design, redistribution, and troubleshooting
  .
• Configure, monitor, and secure Cisco ASA, Forti Gate, and Firepower Threat Defense (FTD) firewalls, including policy creation, NAT, VPNs, and intrusion prevention.
• Perform routine network performance monitoring, tuning, and capacity planning
  .
• Implement network redundancy and failover strategies to maximize uptime.
• Collaborate with cybersecurity teams to align firewall and intrusion prevention systems with security policies.
• Troubleshoot Layer 2/3 connectivity issues and provide timely resolution of incidents.
• Maintain accurate documentation of network diagrams, device configurations, and operational procedures.
• Stay current with Cisco best practices, emerging technologies, and security advisories.

• 3+ years of experience working with Cisco networking technologies (switches, routers, firewalls).
• Strong knowledge of OSPF routing protocol and general IP routing concepts.
• Hands‑on experience with Cisco ASA and Cisco Firepower Threat Defense
  .
• Proficiency in troubleshooting complex Layer 2/3 issues using CLI and monitoring tools.
• Familiarity with VPN technologies (site‑to‑site, remote access) and firewall rule management.
• Ability to create and interpret network diagrams and documentation
  .
• Excellent problem‑solving skills and attention to detail.

• Cisco certifications such as CCNA, CCNP (Enterprise, Security, or equivalent).
• Experience with other routing protocols (EIGRP, BGP) and advanced firewall features.
• Familiarity with automation tools (Python, Ansible, Netmiko) for network management.
• Experience in high‑availability enterprise or government environments.

• Strong communication skills for collaborating with IT teams and leadership.
• Ability to work independently and handle high‑pressure situations.
• Strong organizational skills to manage multiple priorities effectively.

• Theory and methods of computer networks, operation, security, and operating systems.
• Data processing availability, recovery and backup techniques.
• Prefer knowledge of public sector technologies for municipal governments.

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
• Must be capable of writing proposals or papers.
• A solid skillset of Cisco IOS, VPN, and Cisco ASA.
• Familiarity with microwave and cellular data networking is a plus.
• Can proactively monitor systems and familiar with patterns.
• A solid understanding of networking, communications, and data security.
• Requires initiative, independent thinking, strong analytical and problem‑solving skills.