Network Engineer jobs in Cedar Rapids, IA

UFG is currently hiring for a Network Engineer who will be responsible to research, plan, configure and perform advanced troubleshooting of new and existing infrastructure and networking technologies. Maintain stable operation of company network environment and provide optimal performance across UFG’s locations. Provide continual maintenance of new and existing network hardware/software. Follow best practices for configuration and security of network hardware/software. Communicate to IT Infrastructure team any projects requiring network downtime and any issues that may arise. Provide monitoring and reporting for all aspects of company network infrastructure and performance. Actively train and mentor junior team members.

Responsibilities: 

• Design, maintain and troubleshoot UFG’s network infrastructure, including managed services routers, switches, firewalls, security appliances, and wireless hardware/software.
• Participate in corporate wired and wireless network design and capacity planning.
• Perform LAN/MAN/WAN design and administration in conjunction with various ISP’s and carriers.
• Plan and test Disaster Recovery process and recommend improvements as appropriate.
• Conduct research on network products, services, protocols and standards in support of network procurement and development efforts.
• Interact and negotiate with vendors to secure network products and solve network issues.
• Improve our processes and systems with new technologies and automation.
• Resolve complex issues forwarded from other team members.
• Perform root-cause analysis of complex issues.
• Identify highly complex issues and forward to senior team members for resolution.
• Perform network asset management, including maintenance of network component inventory and related documentation and technical specifications information.
• Perform network improvements, upgrades and repairs.
• Collaborate with external groups when appropriate for resolution.
• Understand emerging and current technology and identify solutions to meet business needs.
• Provide Tier 2 support for Networks.
• Participate in on-call rotation.
• Maintain an understanding of the organization's goals and objectives.

Qualifications: 

Education:

• High School diploma or equivalent.
• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or related field, or 1 certifications listed below. 

Certifications/Designations: 

• Employees are expected to participate in continuing education throughout their careers.
• JNCIP certification (Routing and Switching) preferred.
• A , Network , MCSE, CCNP Certification preferred.
• AWS Certifications preferred.  

Experience: 

• 5 year of relevant network administration experience.
• 1 year of relevant network engineering experience preferred.
• Experience working in a team-oriented, collaborative environment.
• Experience with ExtraHop, Ixia, and Wireshark analysis tools preferred.
• Large scale vendor management experience preferred.
• Experience with Citrix NetScaler load balancers preferred.

Working Conditions: 

• General Office Environment.
• Physical requirements will be light to moderate: Able to lift up to 50 lbs for short periods (such as moving hardware) and possibly squat, lay down and work in enclosed spaces for short periods (such as working behind a server rack).  Frequency of physical requirements will fluctuate with business needs.
• Participation in an on-call/off-hours support rotation.
• Scheduled night and weekend work/maintenance is required.
• Up to 10% travel that may include overnight stays.

Skills & Knowledge: 

Skills:    

• Analytical Thinking: The mental process of analyzing and breaking down complex information or comprehensive data into fundamental parts or basic principles.
• Problem Solving: Identifies problems and uses logic, judgment, and data to evaluate alternatives and recommend solutions to achieve the desired organizational goal or outcome.
• Independence: Guiding oneself with little or no supervision and depending on oneself to get things done.
• Consulting: Providing subject matter expertise and counseling to others.
• Mentoring: Helps others, regardless of reporting relationship, to acquire the awareness, subject matter expertise, confidence, and resources necessary to fulfill their potential.
• Teamwork: Works with and helps others to accomplish objectives.
• Attention to Detail: Ensures information is complete and accurate; follows up with others to ensure that agreements and commitments have been fulfilled.
• Oral Comprehension: The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
• Written Comprehension: The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.

Knowledge:

• Advanced knowledge of network subnetting, IP addressing schemes, VLAN's, IP routing.
• Advanced knowledge of various routing/switching protocols.
• Strong knowledge of network security standards configurations of network hardware/software
• Advanced knowledge of Microsoft Operating Systems
• Awareness of applicable privacy practices and laws.