What are the responsibilities and job description for the Network Engineer position at Hanwha Materials Savannah, LLC?
Position Overview
We are seeking an experienced Network Engineer to support and enhance the technology infrastructure of our fast‑paced manufacturing environment. With a mix of production, administrative, and operational systems, this role is critical to ensuring secure, reliable, and high‑performance network operations across the facility.
The ideal candidate brings 7 years of hands‑on experience managing complex networks, thrives in environments where uptime is essential, and understands the unique demands of manufacturing systems, automation equipment, and industrial connectivity.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
- Design, implement, and maintain LAN/WAN, wireless, and VPN infrastructure across the organization.
- Monitor network performance, troubleshoot issues, and ensure high availability for production and business systems.
- Manage and optimize firewalls, switches, routers, and other network hardware (Cisco, Fortinet, Palo Alto, etc.).
- Support connectivity for manufacturing equipment, PLCs, HMIs, IoT/OT devices, and industrial control systems.
- Maintain network security standards, including patching, access control, segmentation, and threat monitoring.
- Lead network‑related projects such as upgrades, expansions, and new technology deployments.
- Develop and maintain network documentation, diagrams, and SOPs.
- Collaborate with IT, operations, and engineering teams to support production uptime and continuous improvement.
- Coordinate with MSP vendors for advanced support and escalation handling.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, or related field (or equivalent experience).
- 7 years of professional experience in network engineering or infrastructure operations.
- Strong expertise with routing, switching, VLANs, subnetting, and network protocols (TCP/IP, DNS, DHCP, BGP, OSPF).
- Hands‑on experience with firewalls, VPN technologies, and network security best practices.
- Experience supporting networks in a manufacturing or industrial environment.
- Familiarity with OT networks, industrial Ethernet, and segmented architecture.
- Ability to manage multiple priorities in a production‑driven environment.
- Strong analytical, troubleshooting, and documentation skills.
- Knowledge of network monitoring and troubleshooting tools.
Preferred Skills
- Experience in IT carve-out, system migration, or multi-site environment.
- Relevant certifications such as CCNP, CCNA, Network , Security , or equivalent.
- Experience working with MSP or outsourced IT service providers.
- Knowledge of cybersecurity frameworks (NIST, ISO 27001) and compliance requirements (ITAR, CMMC).
- Experience with virtualization (VMware, Hyper‑V), VoIP systems, and cloud networking (Azure, AWS) is a plus.
Kep Competencies
- Strong problem-solving and troubleshooting skills.
- Ability to work independently in a lean IT environment.
- Effective communication and collaboration skills.
- Ownership and accountability for service availability.
Work Environment
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly exposed to moving mechanical parts. The employee is frequently exposed to wet and/or humid conditions and fumes or airborne particles. The employee is occasionally exposed to toxic or caustic chemicals, extreme cold, extreme heat, and vibration. The noise level in the work environment is usually very loud.