About CENIC:

Join the team that connects California to the world — advancing education and research statewide by providing the world-class computing network essential for innovation, collaboration, and economic growth. Our organization operates the California Research and Education Network (CalREN), a high-capacity computer network with more than 8,000 miles of optical fiber. The network serves over 20 million users across California, including the vast majority of K-20 students together with educators, researchers, and individuals at other vital public-serving institutions.

POSITION SUMMARY:

Reporting to the Lead Network Engineer, the Network Engineer, Network Operations provides operational support of CENIC’s advanced services network to advance CENIC’s organizational goals and objectives of a high-performance, open, and secure network.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSABILITY: None

LOCATION: Hybrid (a required one week per month in office)

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

Monitor

• Proactively monitoring the CENIC networks to detect and resolve problems and ensure uninterrupted operations of the networks.
• Review turnover reports, scheduled maintenances, and the general state of the network.
• Participate in daily triage schedule to investigate monitoring alarms, respond to new requests, and answer incoming calls.

Troubleshoot

• Problem troubleshooting and resolution, including interaction with carriers, vendors, and CENIC’s senior-level engineering group
• Develop a clear understanding of network outages and determine the best course to resolution.
• Draft clear and concise announcements for network outages.
• Evaluate all risk exposures and collaborate with teammates on best paths to resolution.

Customer Service

• Problem troubleshooting and resolution with CENIC associates
• Respond to service requests via phone and ticketing system

Maintenances

• Planning, evaluating, and executing network maintenance activities
• Adhere to change control policies and exercise sound judgment when conducting maintenance.
• Assist Network Administrator with coordinating the shipment of equipment to network sites
• Assist Network Administrator with announcements for maintenance activities

Documentation

• Participation in updating and revising policies, procedures, technical reports, documentation, and internal training material
• Maintain accurate inventory for network equipment

KEY SUCCESS FACTORS:

• Communicate effectively with team members through ticket entries, daily check-in calls, and Slack channels
• Communicate effectively via phone and email with network contacts and vendors.
• Prioritize multiple demanding events along with daily tasks.
• Exercise sound judgment when handling issues and responding to associates.
• Willingness to work any shift (including weekends), as assigned, and to rotate shifts and schedules as assigned.
• Work independently to develop solutions adhering to policies and procedures.
• Able to perform risk assessment and mitigation to avoid negative impacts.
• Continuous open collaboration with teammates and other members in the organization.
• Uphold the mission and values of Network Operations and CENIC.
• Ability to consider, understand and prioritize security (and privacy, where applicable) principles, practices, and procedures in all aspects of your role with CENIC.

REQUIRED EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE:

• 2 years in a network operations environment in support of customer networks OR
• 2 years in a technical support role interacting with contacts via phone and ticketing system AND
• Hands-on experience with live production Cisco and Juniper network devices
• Administer and configure Cisco and Juniper routers/switches, implement firmware changes, OS releases and other software upgrades.
• Troubleshoot router/network performance problems on a live production network
• Troubleshoot circuit problems for commercially lit services and self-lit dark fiber services
• Prepare announcements for maintenance activities or network outages
• Understanding of network security, secure configuration of network devices, and the use of network devices to secure networks of computing systems, including configuring and maintaining ACLs, knowledge of firewalls, and intrusion detection systems.
• Experience with installing, upgrading, and securing network equipment and services

PREFERRED EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE:

• Cisco CCNP certification
• Direct experience in network configuration, management, and operations
• Experience with optical transmission systems such as DWDM
• Experience working with advanced routing protocols such as BGP
• Working knowledge of MPLS-SR and L2VPNs
• Experience in a university and/or research environment

WHY WORK AT CENIC?

• Company Culture: Small teams and a collaborative environment provide the opportunity to make a large impact in a small organization.
• Workplace Flexibility: We understand that the world is changing and we're open to remote and hybrid work options.
• Community Engagement: We work with research and education institutions in the largest state economy in the United States. The work you do has meaning.
• Health Benefits: We have generous medical benefits as well as dental, vision, and life insurance.
• Paid Time Off: We offer liberal vacation, holiday, and sick leave.
• Investment in Your Future: CENIC contributes to your 403(b) even if you don't. We also offer matching contributions on top of that.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

This position operates in a professional office environment with standard office equipment including computers, telephones, photocopiers and filing cabinets.

WORK HOURS:

Network Operations is a 24 hours per day/7 days per week/365 days per year operation. An employee’s regular work schedule is four ten-hour days on any of the seven days in the week. An employee’s work schedule is based on CENIC’s business needs.

WORK AUTHORIZATION:

Documented Proof of identity and legal eligibility to work in the United States.

Applicants must be authorized to work for any employer in the U.S. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment Visa at this time.