Job Description

Job Purpose: The purpose of this position is to design, implement, and manage the enterprise network infrastructure that underpins academic and administrative services across all Walters State Community College campuses. The Senior Network Engineer oversees the full lifecycle of network systems—including data, voice, video, wireless, and structured cabling—to ensure high performance, scalability, and reliability. This position is responsible for planning and maintaining network capacity, redundancy, and fault tolerance to support continuous operations and minimal service interruptions. The role performs advanced troubleshooting, root-cause analysis, and proactive system monitoring utilizing industry-standard tools and methodologies. In addition, the Senior Network Engineer enforces enterprise network security by deploying and managing firewalls, VPNs, intrusion prevention systems, and access controls, and ensuring compliance with institutional and regulatory standards. The position also researches, evaluates, and recommends emerging network technologies and architectures that support the college’s long-term goals for innovation, resilience, and secure connectivity.

Essential Job Functions:

Provides leadership and oversight in the daily administration, maintenance, and operation of institutional network services, including hardware, software, network security, and configuration management, to ensure reliable and efficient functionality across all Walters State Community College campuses.
Performs advanced diagnostics, troubleshooting, and resolution of complex network problems, including hardware failures, system performance issues, internet and intranet connectivity, and access to mission-critical resources, to maintain high levels of availability and service quality.
Oversees network security operations by managing firewall configurations, monitoring system integrity, and implementing enterprise-level security protocols. Administers the institution’s VOIP communications infrastructure to provide secure, dependable service across all campuses.
Designs, implements, and maintains enterprise network architectures and related systems, incorporating current technologies in security, routing, switching, wireless networking, network segmentation, and inventory tracking in support of institutional needs.
Participates in institutional technology planning by contributing to the development of long-term infrastructure initiatives for data, voice, and video communication systems that align with academic, administrative, and operational goals.
Directs and coordinates the planning, design, and installation of structured cabling and network communication systems for new construction, renovation projects, and campus expansions. Oversees vendor relationships to ensure timely, cost-effective, and standards-compliant solutions.
May perform other duties as required.
Required Qualifications:

Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, or a highly related field
Five or more years of career experience as a network administrator, network engineer, or closely related position.
Advanced skills in network, wireless, and network security technologies
Advanced experience with network segmentation using VLANs, routing, and subnetting
Ability to focus on essential job functions, prioritize event response, and organize work in an efficient manner
Ability to communicate and work effectively with college employees, students, vendors, and the general public
Willingness to work flexible hours and provide after-hours emergency support as required
Maintain confidentiality of sensitive information, must be able to pass a background check, and a valid driver’s license is required and must be maintained
Preferred Qualifications:

A master’s degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, or a highly related field
Ten or more years of career experience in a closely related field
Cisco, Aruba, network, or other industry-recognized certifications
Experience with multiple network protocols/services such as SMTP, DNS, DHCP, HTTP, RTSP, TELNET, SSH, FTP, and other related protocols
Experience configuring and troubleshooting dynamic routing protocols such as BGP, EIGRP, OSPF
Behavioral Core Competencies:

Works effectively as a team member to achieve goals and objectives.
Shares information readily with others and listens effectively, showing openness to new ideas.
Displays a high degree of personal effectiveness; pursues objectives with consistent determination.
Willing and prepared to accept personal responsibility for actions, both positive and negative.
Willingly responds to requests for assistance from team members.
Respects the College’s rich heritage and historical achievements by embracing important changes that advance the College’s mission while honoring the past.
Exercises discretion and forethought in the efficient utilization of organizational resources, showing respect for the organization’s generous benefactors and supporters.
Leadership & Supervisory: The incumbent leads, guides, and mentors other Network Analysts and serves as the primary lead for large-scale, network-related projects. This position also advises IT leadership on long-term network strategy and direction. Work is performed independently with minimal supervision. The incumbent exercises significant judgment in decision-making, consulting available resources and guidelines only as needed and consulting supervisors only when necessary. Performance is evaluated based on progress toward established objectives and achievement of long-term goals.

Environment & Working Conditions: The office environment is temperature-controlled with occasional fluctuations, well-lit, and free from loud noises and unnecessary interruptions.

Physical Demands (including requirements for travel or working nights/weekends/holidays):

Large amounts of time spent looking at computer monitors could lead to some eye strain, stress, or headache issues
Repetitive stress injuries could occur
Ability to travel to multiple locations
Ability to lift up to 50 lbs.
Ability to climb up and down a ladder
Ability to push and pull equipment
Standing or sitting for long periods of time