Network Manager

I'd be happy to redraft the Job Description (JD) for a Houston location, maintaining the core responsibilities but enhancing the language to be more marketable and specific to an enterprise setting.

Network Engineer Job Description (Houston, TX)

Role: Network Engineer

Location: Houston, TX (On-site/Hybrid)

We are seeking an experienced and dedicated Network Manager to be the primary owner of our enterprise network infrastructure in Houston. This role is crucial for ensuring the continuous, secure, and high-performance operation of all data, voice, and connection systems across our corporate and remote environments. The ideal candidate will be hands-on, possess advanced technical and troubleshooting skills, and have a strong orientation towards modern information security practices.

Key Responsibilities

Infrastructure Management & Optimization:

• Design, configure, manage, and monitor all aspects of our Local Area Networks (LANs), Wide Area Networks (WANs), and corporate Internet connections to ensure maximum uptime and performance.

• Plan, execute, and document hardware and software lifecycle upgrades, maintenance, and strategic infrastructure improvements.

• Manage and optimize network capacity, performance, and scalability across data centers and regional offices.

Security & Compliance:

• Ensure robust network security by implementing, managing, and routinely auditing Next-Generation Firewalls (NGFWs), Virtual Private Networks (VPNs), and secure access control policies (e.g., micro-segmentation).

• Collaborate with the Security team to enforce security policies and conduct regular vulnerability assessments.

Monitoring & Incident Response:

• Utilize advanced network monitoring and analysis tools (e.g., SolarWinds, Wireshark, Nagios) for proactive detection of issues and performance bottlenecks.

• Rapidly troubleshoot and resolve complex network incidents to minimize Mean Time To Resolution (MTTR) and guarantee service level agreements (SLAs).

• Develop and maintain robust Disaster Recovery (DR) and failover runbooks to ensure business continuity.

Collaboration & Documentation:

• Work closely with cross-functional IT teams (Systems, Security, Applications) to integrate new technologies and support major business initiatives and projects (e.g., cloud connectivity, data center migrations).

• Develop and maintain comprehensive, up-to-date technical documentation for all network architecture, configurations, standard operating procedures, and company policies.

• Provide high-level Tier 3 technical support and mentorship to IT staff for complex network-related issues.

Qualifications

• 5 years of progressive experience in managing and maintaining enterprise-level networks (LAN/WAN).

• In-depth, hands-on experience managing and configuring network devices, including Cisco switches/routers, enterprise-grade firewalls (e.g., Palo Alto, Check Point, Fortinet), and load balancers (e.g., F5).

• Expert-level knowledge of core network protocols (TCP/IP, DNS, DHCP, BGP, OSPF, EIGRP).

• Proven experience with network security implementation, including policy administration, VPN configuration, and network segmentation concepts.

• Experience with network monitoring and diagnostic tools (e.g., Wireshark, Nagios, SolarWinds).

• Familiarity with cloud networking fundamentals (Azure, AWS, or Google Cloud Platform) and hybrid connectivity.

• Bachelor of Science degree in Information Systems, Computer Science, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.

• Preferred Certifications: Current professional-level certifications such as Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP), Palo Alto Networks Certified Network Security Engineer (PCNSE), or similar high-value credentials.

• Excellent problem-solving, critical thinking, and diagnostic skills.

• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to articulate complex technical issues to a non-technical audience.

• High level of accountability, operational discipline, and attention to detail.

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