Senior Network Specialist

ITSync Group; Amstelveen; Remote; EUR 61,000 - 67,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

12-month contract

Gross monthly salary €5,500–€6,000

35 days annual leave

Holiday allowance

13th-month pay

Pension contributions

Job summary

ITSync Group is seeking a technically strong network specialist who also acts as technical architect to own the LAN, WAN and WiFi, and to manage the cloud firewall/SASE setup in the Netherlands. The role requires extensive networking experience, strong documentation, and excellent English, with preference for Dutch language skills.

The position is based in the Netherlands with a 12-month contract and a competitive monthly salary.

Qualifications

• At least bachelor’s HBO level of work and thinking.
• At least 8 years of experience in networking, including senior/3rd-line level.
• Thorough knowledge of LAN, WAN and WiFi (routing, switching, VLANs, VPN, wireless).
• Experience with cloud-based firewall / SASE solutions.
• Proven experience assessing changes and steering a network supplier.
• Broad technical knowledge beyond networking: servers, cloud, identity, applications and integrations.
• Experience with setting up interfaces and introducing new systems in a complex IT landscape.
• Strong documentation skills: clear, structured and maintainable.
• Good command of English and preferably Dutch, spoken and written.

Responsibilities

• Act as technical owner of the LAN, WAN and WiFi environment.
• Manage the cloud firewall / SASE platform (preferably CATO Networks).
• Assess changes proposed by the supplier on technical content, risk and impact before approval.
• Spar with the supplier on technical issues and incidents, and challenge proposed solutions.
• Monitor the supplier's performance against agreements (SLA/DAP).
• Analyze complex network and connectivity issues with the supplier through to root cause.
• Keep the network secure and future-proof: segmentation, remote access, zero-trust principles.
• Keep technical control across disciplines: network, servers and storage, cloud, workplace, applications and security.
• Design and set up interfaces and connections between systems, internally and with external parties.
• Lead the technical side of introducing new systems: from connectivity and integration requirements to go-live.
• Take the lead in solving cross-domain issues where the cause is unclear or spans several teams or suppliers.
• Act as technical sparring partner for management, project managers and suppliers.
• Guard architecture principles and standards, and assess new solutions against them.
• Advise on technical choices, risks and improvements for the IT landscape as a whole.
• Documentation is currently insufficient, so you will build it up and keep it current.

Skills

LAN/WAN/WiFi

Cloud firewall

SASE

Technical ownership

Documentation

English language

Education

Bachelor's HBO

Tools

CATO Networks

Azure Networking

Job description

We are looking for a technically strong network specialist who also acts as technical architect: someone who understands the network inside out and keeps control over how all IT components connect.

Please note: For this position, we are looking for candidates who are already based in the Netherlands and have a good command in English. Unfortunately, we are unable to consider applications from candidates who do not meet these requirements.

Our LAN, WAN and WiFi have been completely renewed and are in good shape. The firewall now runs in the cloud, and we can adjust parameters online ourselves. A supplier carries out the actual maintenance, so there is no physical network work in this role.

What we need is technical ownership: understanding the network, assessing changes and sparring with the supplier on technical issues. On top of that, connections are leading in almost every IT problem. That is why this role also takes control across other disciplines: setting up interfaces, solving cross-domain issues and introducing new systems. Proper documentation, which is currently insufficient, is part of the job.

What you will do – network (level 3)

• Act as technical owner of the LAN, WAN and WiFi environment
  
• Manage the cloud firewall / SASE platform (preferably CATO Networks): adjust policies, rules and parameters, and keep them clean and consistent
  
• Assess changes proposed by the supplier on technical content, risk and impact before approval
  
• Spar with the supplier on technical issues and incidents, and challenge proposed solutions
  
• Monitor the supplier's performance against agreements (SLA/DAP): quality, lead times and follow-up of incidents and changes
  
• Analyse complex network and connectivity issues (3rd line) together with the supplier, through to root cause
  
• Keep the network secure and future-proof: segmentation, remote access, zero-trust principles
  

What you will do – technical architecture (level 4)

• Keep technical control across disciplines: network, servers and storage, cloud, workplace, applications and security
  
• Design and set up interfaces and connections between systems, internally and with external parties
  
• Lead the technical side of introducing new systems: from connectivity and integration requirements to go-live
  
• Take the lead in solving cross-domain issues where the cause is unclear or spans several teams or suppliers
  
• Act as technical sparring partner for management, project managers and suppliers
  
• Guard architecture principles and standards, and assess new solutions against them
  
• Advise on technical choices, risks and improvements for the IT landscape as a whole
  

Documentation

Documentation is currently insufficient, so you will build it up and keep it current.

• Network documentation: topology, IP plan, VLANs/segmentation, firewall policies, connections and locations
  
• Architecture overviews: how systems, interfaces and data flows connect
  
• Interface and integration descriptions for existing and new systems
  
• Agreements and responsibilities between the organisation and suppliers
  
• Set up a structure and way of working so documentation stays up to date after changes
  

Requirements

• At least bachelor's (HBO) level of work and thinking
  
• At least 8 years of experience in networking, of which several years at senior / 3rd-line level
  
• Thorough knowledge of LAN, WAN and WiFi (routing, switching, VLANs, VPN, wireless)
  
• Experience with cloud-based firewall / SASE solutions
  
• Proven experience assessing changes and working with or steering a network supplier
  
• Broad technical knowledge beyond networking: servers, cloud, identity, applications and integrations
  
• Experience with setting up interfaces and introducing new systems in a complex IT landscape
  
• Strong documentation skills: clear, structured and maintainable
  
• Good command of English and preferably in Dutch, spoken and written
  

Nice to have

• Hands-on experience with CATO Networks (strongly preferred by the client)
  
• Network certifications such as CCNP / CCIE, CATO SASE certification or comparable vendor certifications
  
• Architecture background or certification (e.g. TOGAF)
  
• Knowledge of ITIL, change management and supplier management (SLA, DAP, KPIs)
  
• Experience with Azure / Microsoft 365 networking and hybrid connectivity
  
• Experience with integration platforms or API management
  
• Experience in a complex or regulated environment
  

Who you are

You are a network expert at heart who thinks in terms of the whole IT landscape, and who enjoys being the person who connects the dots.

• Overview: you see how network, systems and applications depend on each other
  
• Control without hierarchy: you steer suppliers and colleagues from other disciplines on content
  
• Critical sparring partner: you challenge the supplier's proposals and keep asking until it is right
  
• Problem solver: you take the lead on issues no one else owns
  
• Structured: you document as a matter of course and leave things better than you found them
  
• Communication: you explain technology clearly to engineers, suppliers and management
  

What we offer

• An initial 12-month employment contract , with the intention of transitioning to a permanent position directly with our client within a maximum of 18 months.
• A gross monthly salary between € 5.500,00 and € 6.000,00 depending on your experience.
• 35 days of annual leave! That's seven full weeks off each year, giving you plenty of flexibility to enjoy longer holidays, travel, spend time with family and friends, or simply recharge. A great opportunity to maintain a healthy work-life balance!
• Additional benefits including holiday allowance, a 13th-month payment and pension contributions .