Senior Network Engineer

Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Kansas, Inc.; Topeka (KS); Hybrid; USD 96,000 - 132,000; 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, discounts &

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 enterprise network systems across Data Center, LAN, WAN and Wi‑Fi to meet business needs and SLAs. The role involves project management, mentoring, and collaborating with senior leadership on technology decisions.

It is eligible to work hybrid or onsite; applicants must reside in Kansas or Missouri or be willing to relocate.

Qualifications

• Minimum five years' experience in IT infrastructure.
• Bachelor’s degree or technical IT training preferred.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Proven project management ability and leadership in large networks.
• Experience with Data Center, LAN, WAN and routing/switching.

Responsibilities

• Implements infrastructure projects using established PM practices.
• Monitors performance, conducts maintenance to prevent downtime.
• Designs infrastructure architecture and documents policies and standards.
• Mentors team members and stays current with industry trends.
• Coordinates with leadership and vendors on SLAs and costs.
• Access for upgrades/outages during non-working hours.

Skills

Strong communication

Project management

Analytical skills

Leadership in data centers

Negotiation skills

Microsoft Office proficiency

Scripting (Python)

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science or related field

High school diploma or equivalent

Tools

Cisco

Cisco ACI

VMware

SolarWinds

Wireshark

Cloud technologies

Job description

Why Join Us?

Are you ready to make a difference? Choose to work for one of the most trusted companies in Kansas. 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

• 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 five 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

This position is open to multiple job levels. IT&S 16: Requires a minimum of five years’ experience in I.T. and/or application development $96,240 - $114,300 IT&S 17: Requires a minimum of eight years’ experience in I.T. and/or application development $110,800 - $131,500 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.