What are the responsibilities and job description for the Junior Network Engineer position at Laars Heating Systems Company?
Primary Function:
Our Middleville, Michigan location is seeking a motivated Junior Network Engineer to support the design, maintenance, and troubleshooting of our enterprise network infrastructure. This entry-level role will work directly under our lead Network Engineer and will also gain exposure to Operational Technology (OT) environments, including industrial network systems.
This is an excellent opportunity for someone early in their network engineering career who wants hands-on experience across both IT and OT networks.
Responsibilities:
Core Network Engineering (Primary Focus)
- Assist in configuring and maintaining switches, routers, firewalls, wireless systems, and other network devices.
- Help monitor network performance, availability, and capacity using standard tools and dashboards.
- Support troubleshooting connectivity issues across LAN, WAN, and wireless networks.
- Participate in documentation of network configurations, diagrams, procedures, and asset inventories.
- Provide tier1 and tier2 support for network-related service tickets, escalating when needed.
- Assist with routine maintenance tasks such as firmware updates, patching, and hardware replacements.
OT Network Exposure (Secondary / Developmental Focus)
- Learn and support basic connectivity needs for OT systems such as PLCs, SCADA devices, and industrial controls.
- Assist with documenting OT network segments, device inventories, and communication paths.
- Shadow senior staff during OT network troubleshooting, upgrades, or segmentation projects.
- Help apply fundamental network security practices within OT environments under guidance.
Job Requirements:
- Foundational knowledge of TCP/IP, routing, switching, VLANs, spanning-tree and firewalls.
- Basic understanding of network monitoring and diagnostic tools.
- Strong desire to learn enterprise networking and OT networking concepts.
- Good troubleshooting, communication, and documentation skills.
- Exposure to OT protocols (Modbus, DNP3, OPC, etc.) preferred
- Familiarity with Microsoft, Arista, and Palo Alto platforms preferred
- Entry-level certifications such as CompTIA Network or CCNA (in progress or completed) preferred
What This Role Offers
- Hands-on experience with enterprise network technologies.
- Direct mentorship from a seasoned Network Engineer.
- Growth opportunities into advanced networking, security, or OT engineering roles.
- Cross-training in a unique blend of IT and industrial systems.