Senior Network Engineer - IT

Dona Ana County; Las Cruces (NM); On-site; USD 65,000 - 107,000; Full time

Job summary

Dona Ana County is seeking an experienced Senior Network Engineer to design, implement, and optimize the county’s enterprise network infrastructure. You will lead architecture planning for LAN/WAN, wireless, VPN, VOIP, and security systems, ensuring high availability and resilience.

Responsibilities include disaster recovery planning, capacity planning, vendor coordination, and project leadership across cross-functional IT teams.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required in CS/IT or related field.
• Four (4) years in enterprise IT infrastructure or network management.
• Cisco CCNA is required; CCNP, PCNSA, PCNSE, and CompTIA certs are preferred.
• Must pass NCIC background and driving record check.

Responsibilities

• Lead network architecture and capacity planning for enterprise LAN/WAN, wireless, VPN, VOIP, and related systems.
• Coordinate with vendors and IT teams on infrastructure projects and deployments.
• Monitor, troubleshoot, and optimize network performance, security, and availability.
• Maintain network diagrams, configuration docs, and audit compliance.

Skills

Enterprise networking

Network security

VoIP systems

Storage networking

Network testing

Policy and documentation

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or Information Technology

Tools

Cisco CCNA

Cisco CCNP

Palo Alto PCNSA

PCNSE

CompTIA Network+

Security+

Job description

NOTICE TO APPLICANT

Applications must be submitted by 11:59 PM MST the day before the posted End Date. You must ensure your application reflects the correct and current information for your work experience, hours worked per week per position, education, personal information, etc. Only the information provided on this application is evaluated when determining compensation.

End Date: November 1, 2026.

Job Description

PURPOSE SUMMARY.

Design, implement, and optimize the Countys enterprise network infrastructure, including LAN/WAN, wireless, VPN, VOIP, and security systems. Lead network architecture planning, oversee deployment of advanced networking technologies, and review the reliability, performance, and security of all network operations. Collaborate with internal teams, management, and vendors to deliver projects, maintain high availability, and support long-term infrastructure strategy.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES.

1. Strategic Planning

• Lead network architecture and capacity planning for enterprise LAN/WAN, wireless, VPN, VOIP, and related systems to meet current and future County requirements.
• Participate in disaster recovery planning and testing; validate network resilience and redundancy are in place.
• Evaluate emerging technologies and recommend adoption strategies for network infrastructure solutions that align with County objectives.
• Assist in developing, implementing, and maintaining policies, procedures, and training plans for network administration, appropriate use, and disaster recovery.

1. Acquisition & Deployment

• Lead the design and deployment of enterprise-class network infrastructure, including advanced routing, switching, firewall, and VPN solutions, in collaboration with cross-functional IT teams.
• Lead the deployment of network hardware including SD-WAN, microwave networks, switches, routers, firewall and security appliances.
• Coordinate with vendors, contractors, internal departments and cross-functional IT teams on infrastructure projects.
• Assist with the deployment of infrastructure security measures.

1. Operational Management

• Proactively monitor and troubleshoot network performance, capacity, and security.
• Manage and set priorities for the maintenance and support of all network infrastructure systems, including LANs, WANs, Internet, intranet, VOIP, and wireless implementations.
• Test network performance to provide performance statistics and reports.
• Administer enterprise security solutions, including firewall, security appliance, intrusion detection/prevention, and VPN.
• Coordinate with the IT Operations team for notifications to departments and other stakeholders for maintenance and outage alerts.
• Troubleshoot issues for all network infrastructure devices and systems, analyze the problem to develop tactical and strategic solutions, and perform root cause analysis to prevent future occurrences.
• Maintain configuration documentation, network diagrams, and audit compliance records.
• Maintain the security of IT network infrastructure systems and perform security audits with coordination from management and security staff.
• Provide project leadership and management for assigned projects, including leading internal and external resources, providing cost estimates, managing schedules and providing technical leadership to ensure projects are completed successfully.

1. Change Management

• Coordinate planned changes for timely implementation with minimal disruption.
• Document the completion of all changes and the analysis of any failures or rollbacks.

ADDITIONAL DUTIES.

Perform 24-hour on-call. Other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS.

1. Education. Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related field.
2. Experience. Four (4) years of experience in enterprise IT infrastructure or network management.
3. Education/Experience substitution. In accordance with County policy. No substitution for the required experience.
4. Licenses/Certifications. Valid drivers license. Must maintain a valid drivers license and an acceptable driving record in accordance with County policy. Cisco CCNA certification required. Cisco CCNP, Palo Alto PCNSA, PCNSE, CompTIA Network+, and Security+ are preferred. Any other related Cisco, CompTIA, Security, or Project Management certifications are a plus.
5. Other (e.g., post-offer medical exam, polygraph, background check, drivers license record, etc.). Must pass NCIC background and driving record check.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES REQUIRED BY THE POSITION:

Knowledge of:

• Wired, wireless, and point-to-point microwave networks (LAN, WAN, WLAN, WWAN).
• Layer 2/3 protocols (EIGRP, OSPF, VLAN, 802.1x, DHCP, DNS, SIP, SCCP, SSH, Telnet, SNMP).
• IT security infrastructure (Cisco/Palo Alto firewalls, VPN, IDS/IPS, NAC such as Cisco ISE, web filtering).
• Network capacity planning, performance optimization, quality of service, and security best practices.
• Telephony/VoIP systems, including Cisco Call Manager.
• Storage networking (SAN/NAS, iSCSI, fiber channel) and virtualization in network environments.
• Network testing tools, diagnostics, and relevant data privacy/compliance requirements.

Skill in:

• Designing and administering enterprise routing, switching, wireless, firewalls, and VPNs.
• Applying security methods (firewall policy design, VPN, NAC enforcement, ACLs).
• Using monitoring/analysis tools for troubleshooting, performance tuning, and root cause analysis.
• Managing time, priorities, and technical tasks with strong attention to detail.
• Providing clear technical support and communication to varied audiences.

Ability to:

• Make sound decisions and logical judgments in emergency situations.
• Conduct research into issues and products as required.
• Effectively prioritize and execute tasks in a high-pressure environment.
• Be highly self-motivated while coordinating closely with leadership and team.
• Communicate complex technical concepts clearly in writing and verbally.
• Work within a team-oriented, collaborative environment.
• Interpret the applicability of local and federal laws/regulations to county operations.

Compensation Range

$65,457.60 - $106,808.00

Salary/Compensation: $65,458 - $106,808 per year