Senior Network Engineer

Virginia's Community College System; Richmond (VA); Hybrid; USD 100,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

Virginia’s Community College System is seeking a Senior Network Engineer to oversee the VCCS enterprise network infrastructure, data center switching, WAN routing, and firewall services across 23 colleges. The role requires flexibility for remote after-hours work and a hybrid schedule, with in-person or remote attendance at meetings as needed.

The position emphasizes 24x7 service reliability, proactive maintenance, and collaboration with system offices and college locations.

Qualifications

• Cisco routers and switching experience in large enterprise networks.
• Strong knowledge of BGP and OSPF routing protocols.
• Experience with firewall management (Palo Alto, Cisco ASA).
• Ability to perform remote after-hours maintenance to minimize downtime.
• Telework eligible with hybrid schedule and travel as needed.

Responsibilities

• Responsible for the VCCS enterprise network infrastructure and data center switching.
• Manage WAN routing and firewall services across 23 college campuses.
• Coordinate remote after-hours and weekend maintenance to ensure 24x7 service.
• Attend required meetings in person or remotely; plan time for hybrid work.

Skills

Cisco Routers

BGP & OSPF routing

QOS

PRTG

Routing & Switching

VLANs

Cabling

Sub-netting NIC-bonding

TCP/IP IPv4/IPv6

Brocade & Cisco switches

BlueCat DNS/DHCP

WLAN

Wireshark

Firewalls Palo Alto Cisco ASA Panorama

Aruba ClearPass RADIUS/TACACS

F5 BigIP LTM/ASM

Junos/Juniper

VPN technologies (Palo Alto Global-)

Education

Coursework in Networking/IS/CS

Certifications or professional experience in Networking

Tools

Junos / Juniper

F5 BigIP tools

Palo Alto Global Protect VPN

BlueCat DNS/DHCP

Wireshark

Job description

KSA's/Required Qualifications

• Outstanding oral/written communication.

Working Title Senior Network Engineer Role Title Info Technology Specialist III Role Code 39113-SW FLSA Exempt Pay Band 06 Position Number 26100101 Agency VCCS-System Office Division System Office (Div) Work Location Chesterfield - 041 Hiring Range $100,000 - $125,000 annual Emergency/Essential Personnel Yes EEO Category 2-Professionals Full Time or Part Time Full Time Does this position have telework options? -Telework options are subject to change based on business needs- Yes Does this position have a bilingual or multilingual skill requirement or preference? No Work Schedule 40 hours per week and as needed. This position routinely completes remote after-hours and weekend maintenance on the network infrastructure to minimize service interruptions during normal business hours. Sensitive Position Yes

Virginia’s community colleges have a 50-year track record of educational excellence and innovation to serve the needs of our citizens and strengthen the Commonwealth’s economy. When Virginia’s General Assembly established the Virginia Community College System in 1966, the need for a comprehensive system was well known. Over the two decades after the end of World War II, leaders in government, business, professional sectors, and academia had called for a new approach to providing educational opportunity. A key concern was Virginia’s ability to develop a skilled and knowledgeable workforce to expand the state’s economy. Today our community colleges give every Virginian the opportunity to gain a quality education. With 23 colleges on 40 campuses located throughout the state, Virginia’s Community Colleges are committed to serving Virginia families, helping them acquire the knowledge and skills to seize the opportunities of today and tomorrow. The Senior Network Engineer is responsible for the VCCS enterprise network infrastructure, data center switching, WAN routing, and firewall services and does not require face‑to‑face interaction with the public, including students. This position routinely completes remote after‑hours and weekend maintenance on the network infrastructure to minimize service interruptions during normal business hours. It is expected that the employee will be capable of working a hybrid schedule as this position is telework eligible, planning time appropriately, and going to college locations, the System Office, the Shared Services Center, VCCS data centers, and network infrastructure serving all 23 college campuses and their associated satellite locations in Virginia. The employee will attend all required meetings as necessary, either in person or from remote locations as dictated by present circumstances. The employee will be generally available during normal work hours but will be fully prepared to work as needed outside of those hours to maintain the 24×7 service required by the VCCS.

Special Assignments

May be required to perform other duties as assigned. May be required to assist the agency or state government generally in the event of an emergency declaration by the Governor.

KSA's/Required Qualifications

Comprehensive knowledge:

• Cisco Routers
• BGP and OSPF routing protocols
• QOS
• PRTG
• Routing and Switching
• VLANs
• Cabling
• Sub-netting, NIC-bonding
• TCP/IP, IPv4, IPv6
• Brocade and Cisco switches
• BlueCat DNS and DHCP
• WLAN
• Wireshark
• Firewalls, Palo Alto, Cisco ASA, Panorama
• Aruba ClearPass RADIUS and TACACS

Considerable Knowledge

• F5 BigIP LTM
• F5 BigIP ASM
• F5 BigIP iRules
• SSL Certificates

Working Knowledge

• Palo Alto Global Protect VPN
• Change Management
• Incident Management
• Request Management
• Asset and Configuration management
• NTP Services
• Muli-Carrier SD-WAN
• Junos / Juniper
• Carrier circuit
• Colo Cross-Connect handling

Considerable Skill

• IP routing using BGP and OSPF
• Layer 2 Switching
• Firewall management
• VPN
• Project Task Management

Ability

• To learn new things and to apply them when and where appropriate.
• Outstanding oral/written communication.
• Detail-oriented.
• To work on multiple tasks simultaneously.
• To apply general work experience to a task.
• To work independently or as part of a team.
• To work in stressful situations.
• To use logic to resolve complex problems.
• To communicate and work well with everyone from the highest levels of technical management to staff level.
• To understand a technical environment and plan accordingly.
• To find creative solutions to problems.
• To analyze user needs and solve problems.
• To be a self‑starter and work independently.
• Coordinate the work of a team.
• Coordinated multiple projects and priorities.
• To learn new methodologies and appropriate applications.
• To coordinate multiple projects and their related priorities.

Education, Certifications

• Substantial knowledge of cited functions.
• Coursework completed, certifications obtained, or professional experience in the fields of Networking, Information Systems or Computer Science.

Experience

• Previous experience as LAN Administrator.
• Progressive professional experience performing advanced systems engineering, systems programming, systems analysis, network administration, or related information technology functions.
• Project management responsibility for small to medium projects.
• Must have proven ability to define and develop solutions based on business requirements.
• Extensive experience working in Information Technology.
• Experience in higher education a plus.

Additional Considerations

CCNA (Cisco Certified Network Associate) Preferred

CCNP (Cisco Certified Network Professional) a plus

Operation of a State Vehicle Yes Supervises Employees No Required Travel Yes Travel to college locations, the System Office, the Shared Services Center, VCCS data centers, and network infrastructure serving all 23 college campuses and their associated satellite locations in Virginia.

Posting Number CLS_4724P Recruitment Type General Public - G Number of Vacancies 1 Position End Date (if temporary) Job Open Date 09/03/2026 Job Close Date 10/02/2026 Open Until Filled No Agency Website https://www.vccs.edu/ Contact Name Patsy Rose Email [e-mail] Phone Number 8048194938

Special Instructions to Applicants

In support of the Commonwealth’s commitment to inclusion, we are encouraging individuals with disabilities to apply through the Commonwealth’s Alternative Hiring Process. To be considered for this opportunity, applicants will need to provide their AHP Letter (formerly called a Certificate of Disability) provided by the Department for Aging & Rehabilitative Services (DARS), or the Department for the Blind & Vision Impaired (DBVI). Service-Connected Veterans may also apply via the AHP if they also provide an AHP Letter. To request an AHP Letter, use this link: https://www.dars.virginia.gov/drs/cpid/PWContact.aspx or call DARS at 800-552-5019, or DBVI at 800-622-2155

Additional Information

This position is a state classified position. All classified employees new to the Commonwealth of Virginia will serve a 12-month probationary period. The VCCS offers competitive compensation along with excellent benefits and opportunity for career development.

Background Check Statement Disclaimer

The selected candidate’s offer is contingent upon the successful completion of a criminal background investigation, which may include: fingerprint checks, local agency checks, employment verification, verification of education, credit checks (relevant to employment). Additionally, selected candidates may be required to complete the Commonwealth’s Statement of Economic Interest. For more information, please follow this link: http://ethics.dls.virginia.gov/

EEO Statement

The Virginia Community College System (VCCS) provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, political affiliation, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or other non‑merit factors.

ADA Statement

The Virginia Community College System (VCCS) is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer and complies with the Americans with Disabilities Acts (ADA and ADAAA), to provide, reasonable accommodation to applicants in need of access to the application, interviewing, and selection processes when requested.

E-Verify Statement

VCCS uses E-Verify to check employee eligibility to work in the United States. You will be required to complete an I-9 form and provide documentation of your identity for employment purposes.

Quicklink for Posting https://jobs.vccs.edu/postings/100844