Network and Telecommunications Engineer

Smithfield Foods, Inc.; Smithfield (VA); Hybrid; USD 75,000 - 106,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation Package Available

Job summary

Smithfield Foods, Inc. in Smithfield, Virginia, is seeking a Network and Telecommunications Engineer to design, implement, and support enterprise networks and voice services, with accountability for performance and security.

The role collaborates with IT teams, vendors, and security to deliver technical solutions aligned with governance, with opportunities to work across cloud and on-prem environments. Travel up to 25% and a comprehensive benefits package are included.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience in networking.
• CCNA and CCDA certifications required; CCNP a plus.
• Experience with cloud migrations and network security.
• Strong communication and teamwork skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead design, build, and administration of enterprise networks for stability and performance.
• Support on-premises and cloud voice/data services and ensure security and reliability.

Skills

Networking fundamentals

Cloud networking

Communication skills

Analytical thinking

Team collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Telecommunications/Network Engineering or related field

2+ years of relevant experience

CCNA and CCDA certifications

Tools

Cisco DNA

SolarWinds

ThousandEyes

Wireshark

Ansible

AWS

Azure

Fortinet

Cisco IOS

Job description

If you are currently employed at Smithfield, please log into Workday and submit your application through the Jobs Hub. Have a seat at our table. When you join Smithfield, you become part of something special – a company that's sustainably feeding people around the world, producing good food the right way with respect for our people, animals, communities and planet. With opportunities across locations and functions, a culture grounded in our Core Four values - gratitude, communication, respect and accountability - and a strong commitment to learning, collaboration, and innovation, Smithfield offers challenging and rewarding careers where you can grow, contribute and make a real impact.

THE VALUE YOU’LL BRING:

The position summary states the general nature and purpose of the job. Overall accountabilities are defined in this section. As a Network and Telecommunications Engineer at Smithfield Foods, you will play a key role in designing, implementing, and supporting enterprise-wide network and telecommunications systems. You will be responsible for managing and maintaining standards, ensuring security, and overseeing administration and monitoring processes to provide a stable and reliable platform for business operations. This role supports both on-premise and cloud-based voice and application services, with accountability for performance, capacity planning, and issue resolution. You will collaborate with IT teams and vendors to deliver technical solutions that align with infrastructure strategy and governance, while creating and maintaining documentation to support existing, updated, and new solutions deployed across the Smithfield enterprise.

WHAT YOU’LL DO:

• Systems Management (85%) Lead the enterprise design, build, and administration of network platforms to ensure stability, scalability, and performance (Cisco a plus). Manage and optimize enterprise network environments across key technologies, including routing (BGP, EIGRP, OSPF), switching (spanning tree, VLAN, VTP), services (DNS, DHCP, SMB, subnetting, NetFlow), VPN (SSL/IPSec), SD-WAN, wireless, and telecom/VoIP. Support multi-cloud networking (AWS, Azure preferred) including security groups and NSGs (Cisco and Fortinet a plus). Use monitoring and diagnostic tools (Cisco DNA, SolarWinds, ThousandEyes, Wireshark) to evaluate network performance, troubleshoot issues, and maintain reliability. Leverage orchestration tools and programming skills (Ansible a plus) to automate network processes and services, enhancing efficiency and consistency. Configure, install, upgrade, and maintain client/server network software and telecom systems, ensuring functionality and minimizing downtime. Analyze and resolve complex issues by identifying root causes, implementing efficient solutions, mitigating risks, and translating business requirements into technical solutions. Partner with Security, Enterprise Architecture, and other IT teams to integrate secure and reliable solutions aligned with organizational needs. Work independently with the flexibility to adapt to changing technologies and learn new systems quickly while mentoring peers through knowledge-sharing. Maintain clear documentation of network design, standards, and procedures while effectively communicating technical information to peers and leadership. Provide on-site support and project implementation with up to 25% travel as required.
• Telecommunications Support (15%) Administer network and telecommunications systems to ensure availability and reliability for authorized users. Provide technical assistance by responding to inquiries from staff, administrators, service providers, and vendors. As well as troubleshoot issues with network hardware/software, telephones, and security systems to restore service. Maintain the Company’s telecommunications infrastructure, including PBXs, call accounting, Automatic Call Distribution (ACD), voicemail, interactive voice response, video conferencing systems, and MS Teams.

WHAT WE’RE SEEKING:

• Education & Experience: Bachelor’s degree from an accredited four-year college or university in Telecommunications, Network Engineering, Information Technology Management, or a related technical field, or 2+ years of relevant experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Certifications: Current CCNA and/or CCDA certification required; additional certifications, such as Cisco CCNP, are a plus.
• Technical Expertise: Experience supporting cloud migrations and maintaining network security through proper VPN and firewall configuration.
• Skills & Abilities: Strong technical, analytical, and interpersonal skills with the ability to communicate clearly, professionally, and in a customer-friendly manner.
• Organization & Multi-Tasking: Excellent organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities in a business environment.
• Responsiveness: Availability to respond to customer needs, including installation, maintenance, and troubleshooting of equipment issues.
• Collaboration & Culture Fit: Respectful, approachable, and team-oriented, with the ability to build strong relationships and thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
• The expected pay range for this position is $75,000 - $110,000 annually. Smithfield Foods provides pay ranges that reflect its good faith estimate of the salary or hourly wage the company reasonably expects to pay for a position at the time of hire. Individual compensation will be determined based on several factors, including but not limited to, the scope and responsibilities of the role, location of the position, the candidate’s qualifications and experience, internal equity, external market pay for comparable positions and budget considerations. At Smithfield Foods, base pay represents only one aspect of the comprehensive total rewards package. Learn more about our benefits package here.
• Relocation Package Available
• Smithfield is an equal opportunity employer committed to workplace diversity. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, gender identity, protected veterans status, status as a disabled individual or any other protected group status or non-job characteristic as directed by law. If you are an individual with a disability and would like to request a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment selection process, please call us at 757-357-1595.

At Smithfield, good food starts with good people. "Good food. Responsibly.®" is more than just our tagline; it's what we do. We provide good jobs. We take good care of our animals. We are good stewards of the environment. We do good in our local communities. Smithfield is proud to offer robust, flexible and affordable benefit plans and programs to support our team members and their loved ones, and with out-of-pocket costs, on average, 20 percent less than plans offered by other employers. Beyond our medical plans, our Be Well programs offer tools and resources to enhance your quality of life, at no additional cost. These programs are uniquely tailored to our Smithfield team and provide support for elective surgeries, weight loss, mental health, cancer, kidney disease, diabetes, smoking cessation, asthma, maternity management and more. Our company invests in your future. We offer comprehensive training and professional development programs designed to help you reach your full potential. Through LinkedIn Learning, employees can access on‑demand courses, professional certificates, and skill‑based training to build capabilities aligned with career and business needs. Our partnership with Guild supports your continuing education with tuition assistance covering English language learning, high school completion, and degree programs, while our leadership development initiatives nurture high‑potential talent. We also offer unique benefits like our Smithfield Scholarship Program for employees’ children.

Headquartered in Smithfield, Virginia, since 1936, Smithfield Foods, Inc. is an American food company with a leading position in packaged meats and fresh pork products. With a diverse brand portfolio and strong relationships with U.S. farmers and customers, we responsibly meet demand for quality protein around the world. For more information, visit www.smithfieldfoods.com. We believe in the power of protein to end food insecurity and have donated hundreds of millions of food servings to our communities. Smithfield boasts a portfolio of high-quality iconic brands, such as Smithfield®, Eckrich® and Nathan's Famous®, among many others. For more information, visit www.smithfieldfoods.com and connect with us on Facebook, X, formerly known as Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram.