Network Operations Engineer

The Judge Group; Phoenix (AZ); On-site; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

The Judge Group seeks a Network Operations Engineer to support, manage, and optimize enterprise networking in a highly available, regulated setting. The role emphasizes Cisco networking, Palo Alto firewalls, and VMware NSX, with a strong focus on security and compliance.

The ideal candidate brings extensive experience in data center operations, SDN design, and disaster recovery planning, delivering reliable network services across complex environments.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, IT, or related field.
• 6+ years in Network Operations, Network Engineering, and Data Center Management.
• 4+ years managing Palo Alto Firewalls.
• 4+ years in regulated environments with SOX, PCI, SSAE, NCUA, or FDIC.
• Strong enterprise networking, security, and high-availability knowledge.

Responsibilities

• Support, manage, and optimize enterprise network infrastructure.
• Oversee data center technologies, firewall administration, and DR planning.
• Design and implement SDN solutions, including VMware NSX.
• Develop and enforce security policies using Palo Alto firewalls.
• Troubleshoot complex network/security issues in mission-critical environments.

Skills

Advanced routing & switching

SDN design & implementation

Security policy design

Troubleshooting & analytics

Cross-team collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in CS/IT or related field

Tools

Palo Alto Firewall administration

VMware NSX

Wireshark

VMware vRealize Network Insight

Job description

We are seeking a highly skilled Network Operations Engineer to support, manage, and optimize enterprise network infrastructure in a highly available and regulated environment. This role is responsible for network operations, data center technologies, firewall administration, disaster recovery planning, and software-defined networking solutions. The ideal candidate will have deep expertise in Cisco networking technologies, Palo Alto firewalls, and VMware NSX, with a strong focus on security, compliance, and operational excellence.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and professional experience.
• 6+ years of experience in Network Operations, Network Engineering, and Data Center Management.
• 4+ years of hands-on experience managing and administering Palo Alto Firewalls.
• 4+ years of experience working in regulated environments with compliance standards such as SOX, PCI, SSAE, NCUA, or FDIC.
• Strong understanding of enterprise networking concepts, infrastructure security, and high-availability architectures.

Technical Skills & Expertise

• Advanced knowledge of routing and switching protocols within highly available enterprise and data center environments.
• Strong experience supporting infrastructure disaster recovery and business continuity initiatives.
• Expertise in designing, implementing, and managing Software-Defined Networking (SDN) solutions, including VMware NSX.
• Experience creating, optimizing, and maintaining security policies using Palo Alto Networks firewall technologies.
• Strong troubleshooting and analytical skills utilizing tools such as:
• Wireshark
• VMware vRealize Network Insight
• Ability to identify and resolve complex network and security-related issues in mission-critical environments.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills with the ability to collaborate across technical and business teams.

Preferred Qualifications

• 1+ years of experience in:
• Server Administration
• Security Administration
• Emerging networking technologies, including Software-Defined Networks
• Familiarity with hybrid cloud networking and modern infrastructure solutions.
• Experience supporting enterprise security and infrastructure modernization initiatives.

Certifications Required:

• Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA), Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP), or Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE)
• Palo Alto Certified Network Security Administrator (PCNSA)

Preferred:

• Cisco VoIP Certification
• Additional network, cloud, or security-related technical certifications