Senior Network/Security Engineer

Meridian IT Inc.; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Meridian IT Inc. in Chicagoland is seeking a Senior Network/Security Engineer to design and implement end-to-end network and security solutions for complex client environments.

You will lead projects from planning to close, mentor peers, and partner with presales to position technology solutions. The role requires strong communication, leadership, and hands-on expertise with routers, switches, firewalls, VPNs, Cisco/Juniper stacks, and security platforms.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree is preferred but not required.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills across management levels.
• Strong problem-solving and multitasking abilities.
• Proven ability to handle multiple priorities with minimal disruption.
• Proficiency with MS Office applications.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical leadership and mentorship to peer engineers.
• Manage the technical lifecycle (planning to close) for projects.
• Participate in network project planning, budgeting, and execution.
• Demonstrate thorough planning and documentation for all project phases.
• Assist with initial project staging and hardware inventory checks.
• Install, configure, and troubleshoot routers, switches, firewalls, and load balancers.
• Support managed service customers within SLAs.
• Execute network, security, and remote access tasks.
• Troubleshoot complex network issues and implement effective solutions.
• Collaborate to integrate network with IT systems and applications.
• Design and document end-to-end network and security solutions.
• Lead technology demonstrations and whiteboarding sessions.
• Generate BOMs and SOWs with presales.

Skills

Communication skills

Teamwork

Organization

Multitasking

MS Office

Education

Bachelor's degree in business or IT

Tools

Cisco ISE

Cisco ACI

Cisco ASA

Fortigate

Palo Alto Networks

Juniper

Aruba Wireless

PCNSE Certification

Job description

JOB TITLE: Senior Network/Security Engineer

REPORTS TO: Director, Network/Security Services

LOCATION: Chicagoland

Meridian IT Inc. is an award-winning MSP focused on Infrastructure and Platform Solutions and Managed Services for premise-based, private and hybrid cloud hosting for x86 and IBM Power environments. Our solutions encompass the full spectrum of IT infrastructure, platforms, contact center, and security solutions that help businesses thrive.

Our Mission is to deliver and manage secure, reliable, and scalable IT infrastructures and platforms businesses need by transforming essential technology investments into long-term competitive advantages.

With more than 45 years in business, Meridian IT Inc is wholly owned by Meridian Group International and is privately hold.

Position Summary

The Sr. Network Security Engineer is an experienced technical resource responsible for developing and implementing end-to-end solutions to complex business networking and communications problems for new and existing clients. This individual will work with the Project Management Office to staff project-based network implementation work, as well as respond to implementation requests, T&M (Time & Materials), private cloud/data center support, and/or managed service work.

The Sr. Network Security Engineer is responsible for the entire lifecycle of an engagement (planning to close) to which they have been assigned. This engineer will also work with the sales team in a pre-sales role to develop and position technology solutions. Presentations, face-to-face meetings, and conference calls are a critical part of this position. The ability to properly and professionally manage customer expectations and to calmly handle stressful and complex troubleshooting scenarios are requirements of this position. The Senior Network Engineer will also be responsible for mentoring and assisting peer Engineers with implementing solutions and problem solving for new and existing clients.

Duties and Responsibilities

Post-Sales Implementation and Operational Work

• Provide technical leadership and mentorship to peer engineers, including assisting with project execution and complex problem-solving.
• Manage the entire technical lifecycle (planning to close) for assigned projects.
• Participate in network project planning, budgeting, and execution
• Must be able to demonstrate effective planning and documentation for all phases of a project.
• Assist with the initial staging of projects, including verifying received hardware inventory and performing initial equipment setup.
• Install, configure, and troubleshoot network devices such as routers, switches, firewalls, and load balancers.
• Provide support to managed service customers within the agreed upon SLAs.
• Execute implementation, configuration, and migration tasks for network, security, and remote access projects, ensuring seamless deployment.
• Perform troubleshooting of complex network infrastructure issues, proposing and implementing effective solutions.
• Must abide by standard operating procedures (SOPs) where established for all operational and implementation work.
• Collaborate with other engineers and teams to integrate network infrastructure with IT systems and applications
• Develop, position, and present technology solutions in support of the sales team, including participation in face-to-face meetings and conference calls.
• Design and document end-to-end network and security solutions based on client business and technical requirements.
• Provide technology demonstrations and lead whiteboarding sessions.
• Work with the presales team to generate Bills of Material (BOMs) and Statements of Work (SOWs) for proposed solutions.

Required Skills and Qualifications

Professional and Soft Skills

• Bachelor’s degree in a business or IT-related field is preferred but not required.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to interface at varying and appropriate levels of management.
• Clear and timely communication to multiple stakeholder groups
• Ability to break down technical concepts into business terms for both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Strong critical thinking and judgment, especially when solving technical challenges under stressful conditions.
• Strong team player with emphasis on relationship building.
• Highly organized, detail-oriented, and proactive in identifying and resolving potential problems.
• Proven ability to handle multiple priorities and interruptions with minimal impact on productivity.
• Proficiency in MS Office (Including Word, Excel, Outlook, Project, PowerPoint, & Visio).

Qualifications and Requirements

• 10+ years experience as a Network/Security Engineer
• Juniper/F5 certifications a plus
• Experiences in services organization a plus
• Experience with Cisco ISE, Cisco ACI
• Cisco and Aruba wireless technologies.
• Experience with firewall platforms, including Cisco ASA & FTD, Fortigate, and Palo Alto Networks (PCNSE Certification required).
• Ability to obtain and maintain both pre- and post-sales technical certifications from manufacturers (e.g., Cisco, Juniper, HP, etc.).

Meridian Group International, Inc. 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, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.