Senior Network Engineer

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas; Topeka (KS); On-site; USD 109,000 - 136,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health/Vision/Dental insurance

6 weeks paid parental leave

Fertility/Adoption assistance

2 weeks paid caregiver leave

401(k) plan matching up to 5%

Tuition reimbursement

Health & fitness benefits

Job summary

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas is seeking a Senior Network Engineer to serve as the senior technical administrator for Information Services, maintaining Data Center, LAN, WAN, and Wi-Fi infrastructure to meet business needs and SLAs.

The role involves guiding technology decisions, mentoring staff, and balancing performance with cost while coordinating with senior leadership. Hybrid or onsite work is allowed; applicants must reside in Kansas or Missouri or be willing to relocate.

Qualifications

• Strong written and verbal communication for technical and business contexts.
• Experience managing time, working independently and in teams.
• Proven project management skills with ability to estimate and deliver.
• Analytical skills to troubleshoot, measure infrastructure effectiveness and gap analysis.
• Leadership in designing and operating large Data Center, LAN and WAN environments (Layer 2/3).
• Negotiation with stakeholders and vendors.
• Proficiency with MS Office and standard PC utilities.
• Scripting experience (Python, Postman) is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Implements infrastructure projects and changes using formal PM practices.
• Analyzes business requirements and assesses infrastructure impact.
• Monitors performance, conducts audits, and performs routine maintenance.
• Designs infrastructure architecture and documents policies, standards, and direction.
• Oversees cost management and negotiates SLAs with stakeholders and vendors.
• Mentors team members and shares technical knowledge.
• Keeps updated with industry trends and best practices.
• Be reachable for upgrades and outages during non-working hours.

Skills

Communication skills

Project management

Analytical skills

Leadership in data center WAN

Negotiation

MS Office

Scripting (Python)

Education

Bachelor/CS or Tech Program preferred

ITIL/COBIT/Agile training preferred

High school diploma required

Tools

Cisco systems & ACI

VMware

SolarWinds

Wireshark

Cloud technologies

Job description

Why Join Us?

• Make a Positive Impact: Your work will directly contribute to the health and well-being of Kansans.
• Family Comes First: Total rewards package that promotes the idea of family first for all employees. Paid vacation and sick leave with paid maternity and paternity available immediately upon hire
• Professional Growth Opportunities: Advance your career with ongoing training and development programs.
• Dynamic Work Environment: Collaborate with a team of passionate and driven individuals in a work environment that promotes flexibility.
• Trust and Stability: Work for one of the most trusted companies in Kansas with over 80 years of commitment, compassion and community.
• Inclusive Work Environment: We pride ourselves on fostering a workplace where everyone is valued and respected.

Benefits & Perks

• Base compensation is only one component of your competitive Total Rewards package
• Incentive pay program (EPIP)
• Health/Vision/Dental insurance
• 6 weeks paid parental leave for new mothers and fathers
• Fertility/Adoption assistance
• 2 weeks paid caregiver leave
• 401(k) plan matching up to 5%
• Tuition reimbursement
• Health & fitness benefits, discounts and resources

Job Summary

The Senior Network Engineer serves as the senior technical administrator for Information Services responsible for maintaining and optimizing the organization’s enterprise network systems, encompassing Data Center, LAN, Wan and Wi-Fi infrastructure to meet business needs and service-level expectations. This role oversees complex system analysis, project management activities, and critical maintenance to ensure reliable and secure operations. By guiding technology decisions, mentoring team members, and collaborating with senior leadership, the position helps balance performance, cost, and long‑term strategic objectives.

“This position is eligible to work hybrid or onsite in accordance with our Telecommuting Policy. Applicants must reside in Kansas or Missouri or be willing to relocate as a condition of employment.”

What you’ll do

• Implements infrastructure projects and system changes using established project management practices.
• Analyzes business requirements, assesses infrastructure impact, and identifies gaps in existing processes.
• Monitor system performance, conduct regular audits, and perform routine maintenance to prevent downtime.
• Designs and documents infrastructure architecture and workflows, and defines the policies, standards, procedures, and strategic direction that guide infrastructure operations.
• Performs infrastructure monitoring, maintenance, and upgrades while ensuring technology solutions align with service expectations, standards, and best practices.
• Manages infrastructure costs and negotiates service level agreements with internal stakeholders and vendors.
• Mentors and guides team members by sharing technical expertise, best practices, and operational knowledge.
• Stay updated with the latest industry trends, technologies, and best practices.
• Must be accessible via mobile services (i.e. text, voice, data) during non-working hours for upgrades, system outages, and configuration changes.

What you need

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities:

• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including technical and business documentation.
• Proven ability to manage time, work independently, and collaborate effectively in team environments.
• Demonstrated project management skills, including the ability to develop estimates and manage deliverables.
• Strong analytical skills to troubleshoot and evaluate infrastructure effectiveness and perform gap analysis.
• Demonstrated leadership in designing, operating, and evolving medium to large‑scale Data Center, LAN, and WAN environments, with expertise in Layer 2 and Layer 3 routing and switching architectures.
• Effective negotiation skills with internal stakeholders and external vendors.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and standard PC utilities.
• Scripting Experience (e.g., Python, Postman) a plus.

Preferred Experience with Vendors/Technologies:

• Cisco, Cisco ACI, Cisco Catalyst “DNA” Center, Cisco ISE, Cisco Catalyst Wireless, Cisco SDA, Aruba Wireless, Palo Alto, VMWare, SolarWinds, Wireshark, Allegro, Gigamon, Cloud Technologies.

Protocols:

• BGP, OSPF, EIGRP, VRF, VXLAN, ISIS, LISP, QoS, IPSEC, TCP/IP, 802.1X, RADIUS, VPC, LACP, HSRP, DNS, DHCP, IPv6.

Education and Experience:

• High school diploma or equivalent required. Bachelor’s degree or completion of a Computer Science Program from a Technical Trade School preferred. Technical training with certification in assigned technology is required as applicable.
• Minimum of eight years’ experience in I.T. infrastructure required.
• Demonstrated experience with managing assigned technology by performing regular and critical maintenance tasks within defined service levels preferred.
• Successful completion of the Infrastructure Advanced Learning Program is preferred.
• Training in ITIL, COBIT, and Agile is preferred.

Physical Requirements:

• Requires the ability to lift and handle IT or office equipment weighing up to 25 pounds as part of routine job duties.
• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
• Manual dexterity to operate a keyboard, mouse, and other IT-related tools.
• Ability to work in a standard office environment, including attending meetings in person or virtually.

Compensation

$108,640 - $135,800

IT&S 17

• Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas offers excellent competitive compensation with the goal of retaining and growing talented team members. The compensation range for this role is a good faith estimate, it is estimated based on what a successful candidate might be paid. All offers presented to candidates are carefully reviewed to ensure fair, equitable pay by offering competitive wages that align with the individual's skills, education, experience, and training. The range may vary above or below the stated amounts.

Our Commitment to Connection and Belonging

At Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas, we are committed to fostering a culture of connection and belonging, where mutual respect is at the foundation of our workplace. We provide equal employment opportunities to all individuals, regardless of race, color, religion, belief, sex, pregnancy (including childbirth, lactation, and related medical conditions), national origin, age, physical or mental disability, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information (including characteristics and testing), military or veteran status, family or parental status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas conducts pre-employment drug screening, criminal conviction check, employment verifications and education as part of a conditional offer of employment.