Network Engineer

Cisco Network Engineer (Operational & Engineer Operational) Location: Columbus, OH (100% Onsite) Duration: Long-Term Contract Position Overview We are seeking experienced Cisco Network Engineers to support a large-scale enterprise network environment throughout the State of Ohio. These positions are responsible for maintaining, troubleshooting, administering, and supporting complex LAN/WAN infrastructure, Cisco networking equipment, wireless environments, and telecommunications systems. The ideal candidate will possess strong Cisco networking expertise, excellent troubleshooting skills, and the ability to work independently while supporting mission-critical network operations. Candidates must be comfortable traveling to state facilities as needed to perform network maintenance, upgrades, and equipment troubleshooting. Openings Operational Network Engineers (2 Positions) Handle network operations, incident management, ticket resolution, and escalations. Work closely with telecom providers and OARnet. Higher travel requirements to support state facilities. Engineer Operational Network Engineers (2 Positions) Perform network engineering, maintenance, upgrades, and troubleshooting. Travel to state facilities for equipment maintenance and project work. Lower travel requirements than Operational positions. Key Responsibilities Network Administration & Support Administer, monitor, troubleshoot, and support enterprise LAN/WAN infrastructure. Diagnose and resolve complex network connectivity and performance issues. Support routing, switching, wireless, and telecommunications environments. Manage network incidents, service requests, and escalations. Coordinate with carriers, telecom vendors, and OARnet for issue resolution. Perform root cause analysis and implement corrective actions. Cisco Infrastructure Configure and support Cisco routers, switches, and wireless infrastructure. Administer Cisco IOS-based networking equipment. Support Cisco enterprise switching and routing technologies. Configure and troubleshoot routing protocols including: BGP OSPF EIGRP Perform VLAN, trunking, spanning-tree, and Layer 2/Layer 3 troubleshooting. Support Cisco Wireless LAN Controllers (WLCs). Maintain wireless access points and enterprise wireless networks. Network Security Configure and administer: Cisco ISE Network Access Control (NAC) TACACS+ RADIUS Support network authentication, authorization, and access control solutions. Assist with network security compliance and best practices. Infrastructure & Systems Support Support TCP/IP networking, subnetting, DNS, DHCP, and IP addressing architecture. Assist with VMware infrastructure support and recovery activities. Support AWS storage environments as required. Work with SAN technologies including: NetApp Nimble/HPE Support backup and recovery operations including Commvault environments. Field Support & Maintenance Travel to state facilities using state-provided vehicles to perform: Equipment installation Hardware replacement Preventive maintenance Network troubleshooting Infrastructure upgrades Provide after-hours support and maintenance windows when required. Document maintenance activities and network changes. Required Qualifications 5+ years of experience supporting enterprise network environments. Strong experience with Cisco networking technologies. Hands-on experience with Cisco IOS. Extensive knowledge of: TCP/IP Subnetting DNS DHCP Network architecture Experience configuring and supporting: Routers Switches Wireless networks Network infrastructure hardware Experience with routing protocols: BGP OSPF EIGRP Experience supporting telecom circuits and carrier connectivity. Experience handling operational support, tickets, and escalations. Strong troubleshooting and analytical skills. Ability to work independently and prioritize workload effectively. Excellent written and verbal communication skills. Valid driver's license and ability to travel throughout Ohio. Education Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Information Technology, or related field preferred. Certifications Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) preferred. Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP) preferred. Preferred Qualifications Cisco UCS administration. Cisco Nexus switching. FCoE environments. SD-WAN configuration and administration. QoS implementation and traffic management. Rate limiting and WAN optimization technologies. VMware installation, management, recovery, and backup. AWS storage administration. NetApp SAN administration. Nimble/HPE storage administration. Commvault backup and recovery solutions. Additional Information 100% onsite in Columbus, Ohio. Long-term contract opportunity. Travel to state facilities required. State vehicle provided for business travel. Per diem and meal reimbursement are not provided . Operational Network Engineer positions require more travel than Engineer Operational positions. Ability to participate in after-hours maintenance and support activities as needed. Background Check & Onboarding Requirements Candidates selected for this position must successfully complete all required screenings before onboarding: Background check from 18th birthday to present. Drug screening conducted by the vendor. Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) background check. FBI fingerprint-based background check. BCI processing may take up to 30 days following fingerprinting. Final onboarding will occur only after all background investigations and screenings are successfully completed. Show more Show less