Senior Network Engineer

Forward Progress Staffing; Los Angeles (CA); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Forward Progress Staffing is seeking a hands-on Senior Network Engineer to design, secure, and troubleshoot our office network infrastructure across multiple locations. This role requires deep networking expertise and the ability to clearly explain how network technologies work and why they matter, with a focus on LAN, WAN, VLANs, and Wi-Fi.

The ideal candidate has 7+ years of experience, strong Cisco or Meraki experience, VLANs, routing, switching, firewalls, VPNs, and advanced Layer 2/3

Qualifications

• 7+ years hands-on network engineering or network infrastructure experience.
• Experience managing office LAN, WAN, and Wi-Fi environments.
• Advanced VLAN, segmentation, switching, routing, and TCP/IP.
• Hands-on experience with Cisco or Cisco Meraki networking products.
• Experience configuring firewalls, VPNs, wireless access points, switches, and network-security policies.
• Experience supporting connectivity across multiple office locations.
• Practical understanding of Zero Trust security principles.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Design, configure, maintain, and troubleshoot LAN, WAN, and wireless networks across multiple offices.
• Manage Cisco or Meraki switches, firewalls, wireless access points, and network-management tools.
• Design and maintain VLANs, network segmentation, inter-VLAN routing, and access controls.
• Diagnose complex Layer 2 and Layer 3 issues involving switching, routing, subnets, gateways, trunking, spanning tree, and connectivity.
• Manage site-to-site VPNs, ISP circuits, network redundancy, and failover.
• Apply Zero Trust principles to network access, segmentation, devices, and security controls.
• Monitor network availability, capacity, performance, and security.
• Support office expansions, relocations, and network-infrastructure upgrades.
• Coordinate with ISPs, cabling providers, security vendors, and other technology partners.
• Create and maintain network diagrams, configuration records, and technical documentation.
• Serve as the escalation point for complex network incidents.
• Communicate technical issues and recommendations clearly to users, vendors, and leadership.
• Provide secondary support for systems and cloud infrastructure when needed.

Skills

Network engineering

LAN/WAN/Wi-Fi management

VLANs & segmentation

TCP/IP

Cisco Meraki

Firewalls & VPNs

Zero Trust

Network troubleshooting

Technical communication

Job description

• Hybrid role - Los Angeles (onsite once or twice per week; local candidates only)
• No C2C
• No 1099

We are seeking a hands-on Senior Network Engineer to manage, secure, and troubleshoot network infrastructure across multiple office locations. This role requires deep networking expertise and the ability to clearly explain both how network technologies work and the purpose they serve.

The ideal candidate has strong experience with office networks, Cisco or Meraki technologies, VLANs, routing, switching, Wi-Fi, firewalls, VPNs, and complex Layer 2 and Layer 3 troubleshooting. Systems administration experience is helpful but secondary to strong network-engineering capabilities.

Responsibilities

• Design, configure, maintain, and troubleshoot LAN, WAN, and wireless networks across multiple offices
• Manage Cisco or Meraki switches, firewalls, wireless access points, and network-management tools
• Design and maintain VLANs, network segmentation, inter-VLAN routing, and access controls
• Diagnose complex Layer 2 and Layer 3 issues involving switching, routing, subnets, gateways, trunking, spanning tree, and connectivity
• Manage site-to-site VPNs, ISP circuits, network redundancy, and failover
• Apply Zero Trust principles to network access, segmentation, devices, and security controls
• Monitor network availability, capacity, performance, and security
• Support office expansions, relocations, and network-infrastructure upgrades
• Coordinate with ISPs, cabling providers, security vendors, and other technology partners
• Create and maintain network diagrams, configuration records, and technical documentation
• Serve as the escalation point for complex network incidents
• Communicate technical issues and recommendations clearly to users, vendors, and leadership
• Provide secondary support for systems and cloud infrastructure when needed

Required Qualifications

• 7+ years of hands-on network engineering or network infrastructure experience
• Strong experience managing office-based LAN, WAN, and Wi-Fi environments
• Advanced understanding of VLANs, network segmentation, switching, routing, and TCP/IP
• Strong Layer 2 and Layer 3 troubleshooting capabilities
• Hands-on experience with Cisco or Cisco Meraki networking products
• Experience configuring firewalls, VPNs, wireless access points, switches, and network-security policies
• Experience supporting connectivity across multiple office locations
• Practical understanding of Zero Trust security principles
• Ability to independently diagnose and resolve complex network problems
• Strong written and verbal communication skills

Preferred Qualifications

• Cisco Meraki MX, MS, and MR experience
• Experience with SD-WAN, ISP redundancy, and automated failover
• Familiarity with physical office infrastructure, including racks, cabling, patch panels, and UPS systems
• Microsoft 365, Azure, Active Directory, and Microsoft Entra ID exposure
• Experience with Active Directory synchronization using Entra Connect/Azure AD Connect
• Windows and macOS support experience
• Familiarity with endpoint deployment, telephony, or call-routing systems
• PowerShell or other scripting experience
• Relevant Cisco, Meraki, or network-security certifications