Network Engineer III

Job Title: Network Engineer III

Location: Frankfort, KY

Duration: Long-term Contract.

This position requires U.S. citizenship due to federal and state security requirements, including CJIS compliance

Travel Requirements:

Travel away from the primary office location will be necessary. A state-issued IT pool vehicle will be provided.

Position Overview:

The Network Engineer III serves as a senior-level technical resource responsible for the design, administration, and support of enterprise network infrastructure. This role works closely with the Commonwealth Office of Technology (COT), internal IT teams, and external vendors to ensure high availability, security, and performance of network systems across multiple locations.

Key Responsibilities:

• Administration and support of the agency’s enterprise network infrastructure, including primary and secondary site networks and mobile connectivity solutions.
• Manage and support cellular router deployments across field operations, ensuring reliable and secure connectivity.
• Serve as a senior escalation point for complex network issues; perform advanced troubleshooting, root cause analysis, and performance tuning.
• Collaborate with agency personnel and COT field technicians to resolve network incidents and implement solutions.
• Utilize remote management and monitoring tools to proactively identify and resolve system and network issues.
• Coordinate with vendors for advanced support, maintenance, and issue resolution.
• Partner with Commonwealth Office of Technology Network Operations and Edge Branch teams on infrastructure initiatives and operational support.
• Support and maintain connectivity for the Criminal Justice Information System (CJIS) Kentucky network in compliance with applicable standards.
• Develop, maintain, and enhance network documentation, diagrams, and standard operating procedures.
• Provide Tier 3 support and technical mentorship to junior staff and other IT personnel.
• Participate in planning, implementation, and continuous improvement of network architecture and security practices.
• Perform other duties as assigned to support agency IT operations.

Required / Preferred Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Advanced knowledge of network fundamentals, including TCP/IP, OSI model, subnetting, VLANs, routing, and switching.
• Strong understanding of firewall technologies, network security principles, and secure network design.
• Demonstrated expertise in troubleshooting complex network environments, including performance optimization and incident resolution.
• Experience working in enterprise or government IT environments with distributed networks.
• Ability to lead technical efforts, prioritize tasks, and work both independently and collaboratively.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to produce clear technical documentation.
• Experience providing Tier 3 or higher-level support.
• Ability to quickly learn and adapt to new technologies and systems.
• Professional, customer-focused approach with strong interpersonal skills