Network Engineer

You will evaluate a Cisco-based network environment, identify critical gaps and single points of failure, document current and target states, and develop a prioritized roadmap for remediation. Expert Layer 2/3 switching skills, including VLANs, STP, vPC, LACP, SVIs, OSPF/EIGRP/BGP, and HSRP/VRRP.

Senior/Principal Network Engineer – Cisco Enterprise & Data Center

Position Overview

This role focuses on assessing and strengthening an enterprise and data center network across design, architecture, security, redundancy, and fault tolerance. You will evaluate a Cisco-based network environment, identify critical gaps and single points of failure, document current and target states, and develop a prioritized roadmap for remediation.

The position combines strong network architecture judgment with hands-on Layer 2/3 switching expertise and requires the ability to communicate technical findings and recommendations to IT leadership.

What You'll Do

• Assess the current LAN, data center, and perimeter network, including topology, configurations, hardware lifecycle, and operational practices.

• Identify single points of failure and gaps in redundancy, including HSRP/VRRP, vPC, port-channels, STP design, and routing convergence.

• Evaluate security posture, including segmentation, firewall-to-switch integration, management plane hardening, and Layer 2 security controls.

• Document findings in a risk-rated gap assessment report with current-state and target-state diagrams.

• Recommend remediations and develop a phased roadmap covering quick wins and longer-term architecture changes.

• Present findings to IT leadership and support or lead remediation work.

Required Qualifications

• Active Cisco CCNP certification (Enterprise or Data Center) is required. Candidates without a current CCNP will not be considered.

• 8+ years of enterprise or data center network engineering experience; 12+ years for Principal level.

• Proven experience leading network assessments or architecture reviews and producing formal deliverables.

• Expert knowledge of Cisco Catalyst and Nexus platforms.

• Expert Layer 2/3 switching skills, including VLANs, STP, vPC, LACP, SVIs, OSPF/EIGRP/BGP, and HSRP/VRRP.

• Strong knowledge of high-availability design, network security architecture, and NGFW integration.

• Hands-on experience with fiber optics, including SFP/QSFP, SMF/MMF, and DOM.

• Experience with network analysis tools such as SolarWinds, Wireshark, or similar.

• Excellent technical writing and executive communication skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• CCIE or CCDE certification, especially for Principal level.

• Experience in healthcare, life sciences, or laboratory environments, including HIPAA familiarity.

• Experience with VXLAN/EVPN.

• Knowledge of NIST CSF or CIS Controls.

• Experience with network automation.

• Experience with Arista EOS.