Network Engineer

Reqroute, Inc; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 61,992; Full time

Job summary

A telecommunications firm in California is looking for a Senior Network Hand & Feet Engineer with extensive experience in fiber and ethernet cabling as well as troubleshooting across various OSI model layers. The candidate should have 6-8 years of experience, with knowledge of Cisco and Palo Alto systems, diagnosing physical and logical issues efficiently. This role offers a competitive hourly rate of $45/hr and requires a CCNA certification as a minimum.

Qualifications

• 6–8 years in Data Center or large Enterprise environment.
• Expert in Layer 1, 2, and 3 OSI model support.
• Proficient in navigation of Cisco IOS and related environments.

Responsibilities

• Execute physical deployment and logical validation of network infrastructure.
• Diagnose issues across Layers 1, 2, and 3 of the OSI model.
• Coordinate with Telco providers for circuit extensions.

Skills

Cisco Palo Alto and F5

Ethernet and Fiber Cabling

Layer 1/Layer 2 Troubleshooting

Education

CCNA or equivalent

CCNP Enterprise (ENCORE) preferred

Tools

Visual Fault Locators (VFL)

Light Meters

Fiber Inspection Scopes

Job description

Senior Network Hand & Feet Engineer (L2/L3 Physical & Logical Support)

Rate is $45/hr W2

Top 3 Skills Required :

1. Cisco Palo Alto and F5

2. Ethernet and Fiber Cabling

3. Layer 1(Physical Cabling) and Layer 2 (Network Connectivity) Troubleshooting

Core Objective

The candidate will be responsible for the end-to-end physical deployment and logical validation of network infrastructure. You will be expected to diagnose issues across Layers 1, 2, and 3 of the OSI model, ensuring that physical connectivity aligns with logical configurations.

Advanced Device Racking & Mounting

• Precision Placement: Interpret and execute Rack Elevation Diagrams (REDs) to mount high-density chassis (Cisco Nexus 9k, Catalyst 9500) and 1U/2U appliances.
• Mechanical Safety: Ensure proper use of rack rails, cage nuts, and stabilization kits. Manage weight distribution to maintain rack integrity.
• Power Sequencing: Connect dual-homed power supplies to diverse PDU sources (A+B feeds) and perform "pull tests" to verify seating.

Structured Cabling & Fiber Management

• Fiber Optics: Expert-level handling of Single Mode (SMF) and Multi-Mode (MMF) fiber. Proficiency in cleaning connectors (IBC cleaners) and inspecting end-faces with fiber scopes.
• SFP/Transceiver Management: Correctly identify and install SFP, SFP+, QSFP+, and QSFP28 modules. Troubleshoot "link down" issues by verifying wavelength compatibility (e.g., 850nm vs 1310nm) and light levels.
• Patching & Labeling: Execute high-density patching in accordance with ANSI/TIA-606-B standards. Ensure every cable is labeled at both ends with Near-End/Far-End information.

Patch Panels & Cross-Connects

• Circuit Extensions: Coordinate with Telco providers to extend circuits from the Meet-Me-Room (MMR) to the local rack via cross-connects.
• Patch Panel Termination: Manage copper (RJ45) and fiber (LC/SC/MPO) patch panels. Perform "light-checks" using Visual Fault Locators (VFL) to trace paths through multiple patches.
• Media Conversion: Deploy and troubleshoot media converters or transceivers when transitioning between different physical media types.
• Out-of-Band (OOB) Setup: Configure and cable Terminal Servers (e.g., Opengear, Lantronix, or Cisco ISR) to provide permanent remote console access to all managed devices.
• Serial Connectivity: Troubleshoot baud rate mismatches, roll-over cables, and DB9-to-RJ45 adapters to ensure the NOC has a reliable "backdoor" during outages.
• Local Support: Be prepared to connect locally via laptop and serial-to-USB adapters to provide a "live stream" of boot sequences or BIOS-level troubleshooting.

Advanced Routing & Switching Knowledge

• L1 Fundamentals : Strong working knowledge in ethernet , Gigabit Ethernet, Serial , fiber cabling, transceivers (Arista, Cisco SFP+, QSFP+), SFP, PIC, NIM, HA ports, power supplies, patching and troubleshooting, with knowledge of DWDM and experience in handling 10/20/40 Gig Fiber links
• L2 Fundamentals: Configure and troubleshoot VLANs, VTP, and Spanning Tree Protocol (STP), Port mirroring, packet captures. Must understand how to identify and resolve broadcast storms or physical loops at the rack level.
• L3 Fundamentals: Assist in the bring-up of Layer 3 interfaces (SVIs and Routed Ports). Basic knowledge of prefix lengths and IP addressing to verify gateway connectivity.
• Protocol Verification: Use CLI commands to verify BGP and OSPF neighbor adjacencies after physical circuit hand-offs or cross-connect installations.
• EtherChannel/LACP: Provision and troubleshoot Link Aggregation Groups (LAGs). Ensure that physical cabling matches the logical member-port configuration on the switch.

Required Experience & Skills

• Experience: 6–8 years in a Data Center or large Enterprise campus environment.
• Ethernet, Fiber cabling, Hardware : Experience in installation of ethernet, fiber cabling on Cisco, Arista and Palo Alto, F5 load balancers and its associated components like SFP, PIC, NIM, DPC
• Routing and Switching: Ability to navigate Cisco IOS, NX-OS, PAN OS or Arista EOS to perform show commands and basic interface configurations.
• Tools: Proficiency with Visual Fault Locators (VFL), Light Meters, and Fiber Inspection Scopes.
• Certifications: CCNA or equivalent is mandatory; CCNP Enterprise (ENCORE) is highly preferred to demonstrate routing and switching proficiency.
• Experience in handling mission critical network incidents/problems in Enterprise network Large campus networks and Data center, is preferred.
• Need to be proficient in English and local language in countries like Switzerland, Germany, Austria, Slovenia, China and Japan