L&I IT Network and Telecommunications - Senior/Specialist

Salary : $94,620.00 - $127,248.00 Annually
Location : Thurston County - Tumwater, WA
Job Type: Full Time - Permanent
Remote Employment: Remote Optional
Job Number: 2026-08296
Department: Dept. of Labor & Industries
Division: Information Technology - Enterprise Computing & Support Services
Opening Date: 10/12/2026
Closing Date: 10/26/2026 11:59 PM Pacific
Salary Information: The high end of the salary range, Step M is typically a longevity step

Description
Our Mission: Keep Washington Safe and Working!Our Values: Customer Focus, One L&I, Respect, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Learning and Growth, Reliability
The Department of Labor & Industries (L&I), an employer of choice, is announcing an exciting opportunity to join our team as an IT Network and Telecommunications, Senior Specialist!
About the Division and Unit

The Information Technology (IT) Division is an internal service organization responsible for providing information technology products and services in support of the Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) agency's business priorities so that L&I can keep Washington Safe and Working.

The Maintenance and Operations (M&O) program, under the Deputy Chief Information Officer (DCIO) is responsible for the implementation and delivery of the products and services within IT, and sustaining operations so that L&I can complete business as usual with minimal delay or downtime.

As part of the Network Infrastructure & Operation (NetOps) unit, the Network and Firewall team designs, maintains, and secures L&I's network infrastructure (switching, wireless, routing, and firewalls) across on-premises and cloud environments.
About the Role

As an IT Network and Security Engineer on the NetOps team, you'll provide advanced technical support for L&I's statewide network and security infrastructure across onsite, hosted, and cloud environments. This network runs 24/7 and supports everything staff do by phone and computer, including collecting and distributing funds.

You'll implement, configure, and maintain networking and security components, and you'll help plan and improve the agency's network security programs, policies, and tools to protect the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of L&I's systems and data. You will also maintain network redundancy and performance, resolve issues before they become outages or security breaches, and research solutions across vendors and products. You'll work with a team of network administrators, advise IT leaders, staff, vendors, and contractors, and report to the Network and Firewall team supervisor.

Duties
Some of what you'll do:

• Firewall Management, including:
  • Independently create security configurations and administration of all agency network-based firewalls.
  • Review requests for new Access Control Lists (ACL's) to verify they meet security requirements.
  • Propose alternative firewall changes that meet business requirements across the organization.
  • Implement firewall ACL's and other configuration changes across multiple interconnected systems.
  • Diagnose and resolve firewall related network problems.
  • Implement configuration changes to firewalls to resolve system outages.
  • Contributes technical expertise and collaborates with peers, share information with customers, managers and IT professionals.
  • Maintain firewall configurations and maintenance, including licensing and system patching.
  • Coordinate requests for Statewide Enterprise Networking and Security Services.
• VPN and Remote Connectivity, including:
  • Works independently with WaTech for changes.
  • Propose alternative VPN changes
  • Develop and maintain VPN system configurations and maintenance.
• Network Engineer, including:
  • Ensures optimum network performance and availability enterprise wide.
  • Independently designs the network architecture of all network solutions, installing, configuring, upgrading statewide networking hardware and software, core switches, edge switches, wireless networks, field office routers, and the statewide enterprise infrastructure for mission critical applications and L&I staff resources.
  • Advanced knowledge and technical expertise of a wide range of technologies and third-party solutions (Cisco, WaTech, and other agencies) as needed to resolve statewide networking technical issues across the state.
  • Ensures or schedules network changes as the primary point of contact with WaTech.
  • Leads problem solving teams on issues in the WaTech network environment statewide and networking issues for all L&I network infrastructure across the state.
• New Solution Implementation, including:
  • Serve as IT Network and Security expert and represents IT Enterprise Services in any of the IT Security an Network service areas within the IT division.
  • Develop, design, and implement new processes and technology to keep risk and vulnerabilities low.
• Network Operations Support, including:
  • Monitor and respond to incident trouble tickets forwarded to the Network and Firewall team inside NetOps.

And much more!
Qualifications
Required:

• Ten (10) years of qualifying professional IT experience working full-time within a professional IT environment. Qualifying professional IT experience includes, but is not limited to System Administration of:
  • Large multi-site switching environments
  • Firewall administration of local and cloud
  • Remote access

NOTE: Education may substitute for IT experience up to four (4) years for a bachelor's degree and up to two (2) years for an associate's degree in information technology, Computer Science, Business Administration, or a closely related field

Required Competencies

• Theability to take action to learn and grow.
• The ability to take action to meet the needs of others.

Desired:
Formal network and security training or certifications such as, Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP), OffSec Certified Professional (OSCP), or college level IT.
Supplemental Information
At L&I, your voice matters. In addition, L&I is a diverse state agency dedicated to the safety and health and security of Washington's 3.3 million workers. Take a look at this and learn more about why L&I is an employer of choice.

L&I provides a modern work environment and excellent benefits including paid leave, tuition reimbursement, Infants at Work Program and a generous retirement package for qualified employees at the end of their career. Click on the "Benefits" tab to learn more.

We value our employees and their work-life balance. We support a hybrid work model and offer flexible custom work schedules. This position is eligible for a flexible schedule (4/10's, 9/80's, 5/8's, etc.) upon approval by management.

For this position, teleworking may be up to full time with the expectation of attending in person meetings and training occasionally or upon business needs. The assigned duty station for this position is Tumwater, WA.

We offer hybrid and remote work options, though we're primarily seeking candidates who live in Washington State or are willing to relocate, to support in-person collaboration and access to on-site resources when needed. Remote work from a state outside of WA requires approval.

To receive more information on opportunities at L&I sign up for GovDelivery and select L&I job alerts.

Application process

To be considered for this opportunity, you must submit a completed online application including work history and professional references.

A resume and cover letter are not required and will not be used in lieu of a complete application.

Please ensure your application includes detailed work history that clearly demonstrates how your experience relates to the qualifications and responsibilities of this position. For each position listed, include specific duties, project(s), accomplishments, and relevant skills that showcase your experience.

You are also required to provide three (3) professional references with current telephone numbers. References should be individuals who can speak to your work performance, skills, and professional experience.

**Applications with incomplete work history, missing employment information, references to a resume in place of detailed work experience, or fewer than three (3) professional references with current telephone numbers may be considered incomplete and may not be considered for further review.

Your application materials will be used to determine whether you meet the qualifications for this position and advance in the selection process.

Please do not attach or place any medical information within the application, experience or work history. If you do, we will have to reject your application to safeguard others from receiving your confidential information. You will have to remove the confidential information before you can apply again.

To learn more about our hiring process timeline at L&I please visit our L&I recruiting page at If you would like to read our website in a language other than English, scroll up to the top of the page to select your language of choice from the banner.

Other information

• IT position applicants selected to move forward in this hiring process will receive an email skills assessment invitation within 3 weeks of your application being accepted. An applicant may complete the assessment when ready, but the invitation to complete the assessment will expire 5 days after the invitation was sent. Once you start the assessment, you will be required to complete it. You cannot start your assessment and then come back to it later. Please look in your email inbox or spam as these invitations are sent by CodeSignal.
• For positions requiring travel, you must have a valid unrestricted driver's license and have insurance if driving a privately owned vehicle on state business.
• This position is represented bytheWashington Federation of State Employees (WFSE).
• Candidates who are offered a job with L&I must possess work authorization that does not require sponsorship by the employer for a visa now or in the future.
• The Department of Labor & Industries complies with the employment eligibility verification requirements of the federal employment eligibility verification form, I-9. The selected candidate must be able to provide proof of identity and eligibility to work in the United States consistent with the requirements of that form on the first day of employment.
• Please note: L&I may use this announcement to fill multiple permanent and/or non-permanent positions.

Background Check Notice

Prior to a placement in this position, a background check, including criminal history record will be conducted. Information from your background check will not necessarily preclude employment but will be considered in determining your eligibility to perform the requirements of the position.

Did You Know?

Washington is to live, play, and work, according to U.S. News (2021). Join the L&I team and enjoy all the Evergreen State has to offer.

In addition to offering a positive balance between life and work, L&I provides one of the most competitive benefits packages in the nation. We also believe your voice matters. We value our employees and their work-life balance by encouraging flexible schedules. L&I is a diverse state agency dedicated to the safety and health and security of Washington's 3 million workers.
Veterans Preference

Applicants wishing to claim Veterans Preference should attach to their application a copy of their DD-214 (Member 4 copy), NGB 22, or signed verification of service letter from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. Please blackout any personally identifiable data such as Social Security numbers. For further information, contact L&I's

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Employer

L&I employees come from all walks of life. We strive to hire great people from a wide variety of backgrounds. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status.

We believe in the importance of recognizing the value each of us contributes to the success of the agency mission. Having a diverse workforce is this agency's greatest source of strength and knowledge. It is through the combination of talents and abilities that we can pursue finding effective measures to provide the best customer service. We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace for everyone and we strongly mean everyone.

The State of Washington is an equal opportunity employer. People with a disability who need accommodation in the application process or testing process, or those needing this announcement in an alternative format, may call . TTY users should first call 711 to access the Washington Relay Service.

You are welcome to include the name and pronoun you would like to be referred to in your materials, and we will honor this as you interact with our award-winning diverse and inclusive organization.
For more Information
If you have any questions regarding this job posting, program, or the agency, please contact the Jason Stedman at
More than Just a Paycheck!
Employee benefits are not just about the kind of services you get, they are also about how much you may have to pay out of pocket. Washington State offers one of the most competitive benefits packages in the nation.

We understand that your life revolves around more than just your career. Like everyone, your first priority is ensuring that you and your family will maintain health and financial security. That's why choice is a key component of our benefits package. We have a selection of health and retirement plans, paid leave, staff training and other compensation benefits that you can mix and match to meet your current and future needs.

Read about our benefits:
The following information describes typical benefits available for full-time employees who are expected to work more than six months. Actual benefits may vary by appointment type or be prorated for other than full-time work (e.g. part-time); view the job posting for benefits details for job types other than full-time.

Note: If the position offers benefits which differ from the following, the job posting should include the specific benefits.

Insurance Benefits
Employees and their families are covered by medical (including vision), dental and basic life insurance. There are multiple medical plans with affordable monthly premiums that offer coverage throughout the state.

Staff are eligible to enroll each year in a medical flexible spending account which enables them to use tax-deferred dollars toward their health care expenses. Employees are also covered by basic life and long-term disability insurance, with the option to purchase additional coverage amounts.

To view premium rates, coverage choice in your area and how to enroll, please visit the Public Employees Benefits Board (PEBB) website. The Washington Wellness program from the Health Care Authority works with PEBB to support our workplace wellness programs.

Dependent care assistance allows the employee to save pre-tax dollars for a child or elder care expenses.

Other insurance coverage for auto, boat, home, and renter insurance is available through payroll deduction.

The Washington State Employee Assistance Program promotes the health and well-being of employees.

Retirement and Deferred Compensation
State Employees are members of the Washington Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS). New employees have the option of two employer contributed retirement programs. For additional information, check out the Department of Retirement Systems' web site.

Employees also have the ability to participate in the Deferred Compensation Program (DCP). This is a supplemental retirement savings program (similar to an IRA) that allows you control over the amount of pre-tax salary dollars you defer as well as the flexibility to choose between multiple investment options.

Social Security
All state employees are covered by the federal Social Security and Medicare systems. The state and the employee pay an equal amount into the system.

Public Service Loan Forgiveness
If you are employed by a government or not-for-profit organization, and meet the qualifying criteria, you may be eligible to receive student loan forgiveness under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.

Holidays
Full-time and part-time employees are entitled to paid holidays and one paid personal holiday per calendar year.

Note: Employees who are members of certain Unions may be entitled to additional personal leave day(s), please refer to position specific Collective Bargaining Agreements for more information.

Full-time employees who work full monthly schedules qualify for holiday compensation if they are employed before the holiday and are in pay status for at least 80 nonovertime hours during the month of the holiday; or for the entire work shift preceding the holiday.

Part-time employees who are in pay status during the month of the holiday qualify for the holiday on a pro-rata basis. Compensation for holidays (including personal holiday) will be proportionate to the number of hours in pay status in the month to that required for full-time employment, excluding all holiday hours. Pay status includes hours worked and time on paid leave.

Sick Leave
Full-time employees earn eight hours of sick leave per month. Overtime eligible employees who are in pay status for less than 80 hours per month, earn a monthly proportionate to the number of hours in pay status, in the month to that required for full-time employment. Overtime exempt employees who are in pay status for less than 80 hours per month do not earn a monthly accrual of sick leave.

Sick leave accruals for part-time employees will be proportionate to the number of hours in pay status, in the month to that required for full-time employment. Pay status includes hours worked, time on paid leave and paid holiday.

Vacation (Annual Leave)
Full-time employees accrue vacation leave at the rates specified in (1) or the applicable collective bargaining agreement (CBA). Full-time employees who are in pay status for less than 80 nonovertime hours in a month do not earn a monthly accrual of vacation leave.

Part-time employees accrue vacation leave hours in accordance with (1) or the applicable collective bargaining agreement (CBA) on a pro rata basis. Vacation leave accrual will be proportionate to the number of hours in pay status, in the month to that required for full-time employment.

Pay status includes hours worked, time on paid leave and paid holiday.

As provided in , an employer may authorize a lump-sum accrual of vacation leave or accelerate the vacation leave accrual rate to support the recruitment and/or retention of a candidate or employee for a Washington Management Service position. Vacation leave accrual rates may only be accelerated using the rates established WAC 357-31-165.

Note: Most agencies follow the civil service rules covering leave and holidays for exempt employees even though there is no requirement for them to do so. However, agencies are required to adhere to the applicable RCWs pertaining holidays and leave.

Military Leave
Washington State supports members of the armed forces with 21 days paid military leave per year.

Bereavement Leave
Most employees whose family member or household member dies, or for loss of pregnancy, are entitled to five (5) days of paid bereavement leave. In addition, the employer may approve other available leave types for the purpose of bereavement leave.

Additional Leave
Leave Sharing

Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)
Leave Without Pay

Please visit the State HR Website for more detailed information regarding benefits.

Updated 01-07-2026
01

How did you learn of this employment opportunity?

• WorkSource Center or Website (WorkSourceWA.com)
• L&I Talent Management Consultant
• L&I Employee
• Professional/Personal Network
• Monster
• College/University Website/Career Fair
• LinkedIn
• Facebook
• Verg
• Craigslist
• Indeed
• Twitter
• Job Fair (Military)
• Career Fair
• EHS Careers
• American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA)
• Radio Advertisement
• Newspaper/Magazine
• L&I Website
• Other

02

If you indicated "Other" please specify where you heard about this position.
03

Will you now or in the future require sponsorship for an immigration-related employment benefit?

• Yes
• No

04

PLEASE READ THE BELOW AND TYPE YOUR INITIALS IN RESPONSE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT YOU HAVE READ AND UNDERSTAND THESE STATEMENTS.
I will NOT attach or place any medical information within the application, resume, or cover letter. If I do, I understand that it will be rejected and I may be provided an opportunity to apply again without including my confidential health information, while the posting is still open and applications are being accepted.
I will not share my medical information with hiring managers or interview panels.

05

The application process requires that you submit a completed work history and three (3) professional references. Please indicate if you have completed the required work history and professional references.

• Yes, I have completed the work history portion of my application and have included 3 professional references.
• No

06

Are you a Washington State resident or willing to relocate to WA?

• Yes
• No

07

What is your highest level of completed education in Information Technology, Computer Science, Business Administration or a closely related field?

• Some college education
• Associate's degree
• Bachelor's degree
• Master's degree or higher
• None of the above

08

How many years of professional IT experience do you have in the System Administration of large multi-site switching environments, firewall administration for both local and cloud, remote access, etc?

• I have no experience
• I have less than 6 years of experience
• I have 6-7 years of experience
• I have 8-9 years of experience
• I have 10 years or more of experience

09

List the roles in your work history where you earned the System Administration experience you marked in the previous question and describe your experience. If you don't have this experience, please indicate "N/A"
10

How many years of professional experience do you have administering enterprise firewalls (on-premises and/or cloud)?

• I have no experience
• I have less than 6 years of experience
• I have 6-7 years of experience
• I have 8-9 years of experience
• I have 10 years or more of experience

11

Which of the following best describes your experience supporting IT cloud firewalls?

• I have no experience
• I have less than 6 years of experience
• I have 6-7 years of experience
• I have 8-9 years of experience
• I have 10 years or more of experience

12

List the roles in your work history where you earned the experience you marked in the previous question and describe your experience. If you don't have this experience, please indicate "N/A"
13

Which of the following firewall tasks have you performed independently in a production environment? Select all that apply.

• Created and administered firewall security configurations
• Reviewed Access Control List (ACL) requests to verify they meet security requirements
• Implemented ACL or rule changes across multiple interconnected systems
• Diagnosed firewall issues using log review or packet capture analysis
• Managed firewall licensing and system patching
• Followed and documented formal change control for network/security changes
• Administered cloud-based firewalls
• None of the above

14

Which of the following have you configured or supported in a production environment? Select all that apply.

• BGP routing
• MPLS or metropolitan optical network connections
• Layer 2 and Layer 3 switching
• Core and edge switches in a multi-site environment
• Enterprise wireless networks
• Remote or field office routers
• Network monitoring and management tools
• None of the above

15

Which of the following have you implemented or maintained? Select all that apply.

• Site-to-site or client VPN
• Secure remote access for external vendors or third parties
• Intrusion Detection/Prevention Systems (IDS/IPS)
• Network Access Control (NAC)
• Vulnerability management tools
• Secure file transfer systems
• None of the above

16

Which best describes your experience with hybrid networks that combine on-premises and cloud services?

• No experience
• Supported existing hybrid connections
• Configured cloud networking and security components
• Designed or led integration of on-premises and cloud networks

17

Which of the following certifications do you currently hold? Select all that apply.

• Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)
• Offensive Security Certified Professional (OSCP)
• Other current network or security certification
• None

18

If you selected Other current network or security certification above, please indicate what that certification is. If not selected, please indicate N/A.
Required Question