Network and Telecommunications Engineer

Smithfield Foods; Smithfield (VA); On-site; USD 75,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Smithfield Foods is seeking a Network and Telecommunications Engineer to design, implement, and support enterprise-wide network and telecom systems across on-prem and cloud environments. You will ensure security, performance, capacity planning, and issue resolution, while documenting solutions and guiding IT teams and vendors to deliver aligned, reliable services for Smithfield’s operations.

The role requires strong hands-on expertise in routing, switching, VPNs, SD-WAN, VOIP, and network

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or 2+ years of relevant experience in a related field.
• CCNA and/or CCDA certification required; CCNP a plus.
• Experience supporting cloud migrations and network security with VPN/firewall config.
• Strong technical, analytical, and interpersonal communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead design, build, and administration of enterprise network platforms for stability and performance.
• Manage enterprise networks across routing, switching, VPN, SD-WAN, wireless, and multi-clouds.
• Use monitoring tools (DNA, SolarWinds, ThousandEyes, Wireshark) to evaluate performance and troubleshoot.
• Automate network processes using orchestration tools like Ansible.
• Configure and maintain network software and telecom systems to minimize downtime.
• Identify root causes and translate business needs into technical solutions.
• Collaborate with Security and EA teams to implement secure solutions.
• Mentor peers and document network standards and procedures.
• Provide on-site support with up to 25% travel as required.

Skills

Network design

Network engineering

IT governance

Security best practices

Vendor collaboration

Monitoring tools

Automation (Ansible)

Cloud networking (AWS/Azure)

VoIP & Telecom

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Telecommunications, Network Engineering, Information Technology Management, or related field

Current CCNA and/or CCDA certification

Tools

Cisco DNA

SolarWinds

ThousandEyes

Wireshark

Ansible

AWS

Azure

Fortinet

Job description

The Value You’ll Bring

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

The below statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this job. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified. May perform other duties as assigned.

• 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

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals to perform the essential functions.

• 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 No

EEO Information

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.