Senior Network Engineer - Contract - Columbia, SC

Socket.dev; Columbia (SC); On-site; USD 140,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Socket.dev in Columbia, SC is seeking a Senior Network Engineer for an onsite, 12-month contract to lead enterprise networking modernization and resiliency.

You will shape architecture standards, collaborate with multiple teams, and deliver scalable LAN/WAN, data center, cloud, and security solutions with IaC, observability, and strong technical leadership.

Qualifications

• 4+ years enterprise network architecture in mission-critical environments.
• 4+ years LAN/WAN with Juniper routing/switching, TCP/IP, DNS, DHCP, IPAM.
• 4+ years leading complex network architecture and engineering initiatives.
• 4+ years modernization, lifecycle planning, resiliency, and high-availability design.
• 4+ years network security architecture including Fortinet firewalls, VPN/SASE, NAC, segmentation and policy implementation.
• 4+ years cloud/hybrid networking (AWS/Azure).
• 4+ years of network automation, orchestration, and IaC concepts.
• 4+ years of network monitoring, observability, analytics and performance management.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical and project leadership for enterprise network architecture, modernization, and implementation initiatives.
• Design scalable, resilient LAN, WAN, wireless, data center, cloud, VPN, firewall, and NAC solutions.
• Develop and maintain enterprise network architectures, standards, roadmaps, diagrams, and documentation.
• Review and validate designs and solutions developed by other staff.
• Translate business and technical requirements into designs and implementation strategies.
• Lead modernization, capacity planning, and remediation of aging infrastructure.
• Implement monitoring, observability, automation, orchestration, and operational metrics.
• Serve as Tier III escalation for complex incidents and architecture decisions.
• Coordinate with Network Operations, Security, Facilities, vendors, and stakeholders.
• Mentor staff and transfer knowledge for long-term sustainability.

Skills

Enterprise network architecture

LAN/WAN technologies

Network security architecture

Cloud/hybrid networking

Network automation

Network monitoring

Team leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science / IT / Network Engineering

Tools

Juniper

Fortinet

Aruba

AWS

Azure

Job description

SeniorNetwork EngineerLocation: Columbia,SC Onsite

Interview Process: 2 rounds, virtual and in person
Duration: 12 Months
Employment Type: Contract
Experience Required: 06+ Years

Candidatelocation: Candidate MUST be a SC resident. No Relocation Allowed
Additional details: Candidates must be US Citizens

Project Scope:

The organization is seeking a highlyexperienced Senior Network Engineer to provide advanced engineeringexpertise for critical enterprise networking projects. The selected candidatewill support infrastructure modernization, improve network resiliency,establish technical standards, and provide technical leadership to strengthenongoing operational capabilities.

This is primarily an onsite position at thedowntown Columbia, SC campus. Occasional remote work may be permitted, butthe majority of work will be performed onsite.

The Senior Network Engineer will serve as asenior technical resource for enterprise network architecture, engineering,modernization, and operational excellence. The role will work closely withEnterprise Architecture, Network Operations, Information Security, CloudServices, Facilities Planning, project teams, vendors, contractors, and campusstakeholders.

• Define andadvance the long-term technical vision and architecture for the Enterprise DataNetwork (EDN).
• Providearchitecture and engineering leadership for enterprise LAN, WAN, wireless, datacenter, cloud, hybrid networking, and network security technologies.
• Lead complexnetwork infrastructure projects and modernization initiatives.
• Developenterprise network architecture standards, engineering standards, referencearchitectures, technical roadmaps, and lifecycle recommendations.
• Design highlyavailable and resilient network infrastructure across campus, data center,cloud, and external service environments.
• Advance networkautomation, orchestration, Infrastructure as Code, and deployment practices.
• Develop andimprove network monitoring, observability, alerting, analytics, capacityplanning, and operational metrics.
• Provide seniortechnical leadership for complex infrastructure issues, priority incidents, andarchitecture decisions.
• Coordinatenetwork engineering initiatives with internal teams, vendors, contractors, andstakeholders.
• Evaluate emergingtechnologies and provide technical recommendations for procurement andlong‑term infrastructure planning.
• Provide knowledgetransfer and documentation to support long-term operational sustainability.

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide technicaland project leadership for enterprise network architecture, engineering,modernization, and implementation initiatives.
• Design andengineer scalable, resilient, and secure LAN, WAN, wireless, data center,cloud, VPN, firewall, and Network Access Control (NAC) solutions.
• Develop andmaintain enterprise network architectures, engineering standards, technicalroadmaps, network diagrams, and technical documentation.
• Review andvalidate network designs and engineering solutions developed by other technicalstaff.
• Analyze businessand technical requirements and translate them into enterprise network designsand implementation strategies.
• Lead networkmodernization, lifecycle planning, capacity planning, and remediation of agingor at‑risk infrastructure.
• Implementmonitoring, observability, automation, orchestration, and operational metricsto proactively improve network health and performance.
• Serve as a TierIII escalation point for complex network incidents and engineering issues.
• Perform advancedtroubleshooting and provide architecture‑level guidance and resolution.
• Coordinateengineering activities with Network Operations, Information Security, PhysicalNetwork Infrastructure, Facilities Planning, project teams, contractors,consultants, and vendors.
• Evaluate emergingtechnologies and provide recommendations supporting infrastructure investmentsand long‑term planning.
• Mentor NetworkOperations and other technical personnel.
• Provide knowledgetransfer and engineering guidance.
• Participate inmaintenance windows and after‑hours support when required.
• Perform otherduties as assigned.

Required Skills & Experience:

• 4+ years ofexperience with enterprise network architecture and engineering within complex,mission‑critical environments.
• 4+ years ofexperience with LAN/WAN technologies, including Juniper enterprise routing andswitching, TCP/IP, routing protocols, DNS, DHCP, and IPAM.
• 4+ years ofexperience leading complex network architecture and engineering initiativesfrom requirements and design through implementation, troubleshooting, andoperational transition.
• 4+ years ofexperience with enterprise infrastructure modernization, lifecycle planning,capacity planning, resiliency, and high‑availability design.
• 4+ years ofexperience with network security architecture and technologies, includingFortinet firewalls, VPN/SASE, Network Access Control (NAC), segmentation, andsecurity policy implementation.
• 4+ years ofexperience with cloud and hybrid networking, including AWS or Microsoft Azure.
• 4+ years ofexperience with network automation, orchestration, scripting, andInfrastructure as Code concepts and technologies.
• 4+ years ofexperience with enterprise network monitoring, observability, analytics,metrics, and performance management.

Preferred Skills:

• Experiencedeveloping enterprise network strategy, architecture standards, referencearchitectures, and long‑term technology roadmaps.
• Experiencesupporting network architecture and engineering in a complexhigher‑education environment.
• Experience with Arubaand Cisco enterprise switching and wireless technologies, includingsoftware‑defined and centrally managed network architectures.
• Experienceimplementing enterprise observability, telemetry, automation, and proactive orself‑healing infrastructure capabilities.
• Experience withvirtualization, cloud networking, and hybrid cloud infrastructure.
• Experiencecoordinating infrastructure projects with facilities organizations, architects,contractors, consultants, and external engineering firms.
• Experiencesupporting enterprise cybersecurity, Zero Trust, network segmentation, andsecure network architecture initiatives.

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, NetworkEngineering, Computer Engineering

Required Certifications

• JNCIP-ENT or higher
• FortinetCertified Professional (FCP) or higher
• CCNP Enterprise or CCIE
• Aruba enterprisenetworking certification
• AWS or MicrosoftAzure networking certification
• ITIL Foundationor higher
• CompTIA Security+