Network Architect

Work Place Flexibility: Hybrid

Legal Entity: Entergy Services, LLC

**This is a hybrid position and is located in Little Rock, AR, The Woodlands, TX, New Orleans, LA, or Jackson, MS. Those outside of these areas would be required to relocate. Relocation assistance and sponsorship is not available for this posting***

***The official job title for this position is IT Consultant, Sr***

Job Summary/Purpose

This position is responsible to design, implement, and maintain complex network infrastructures across the organization. This role is critical in ensuring the performance, security, and scalability of the enterprise data network environment.

Job Duties/Responsibilities

• Own the end-to-end lifecycle of network infrastructure, including design, deployment, performance turning, proactive maintenance, firmware upgrades, and lifecycle management to ensure reliable and secure connectivity across the organization.
  • Provide expert analysis of proposed infrastructure changes regarding need, immediate impact, future capability, required supportive skills, and the respective cost for each, including opportunity cost.
  • Develop strategic and tactical plans for network expansion including cloud and software define, advanced routing, switching, load balancer, Mesh Networking and wireless technologies in Data Center environments, corporate environments, Operational Technology environments and Wide Area Networking solutions.
  • Serve as a Technical Mentor and SME for junior engineers and assist with skill development and project coordination.
  • Support leadership in identifying opportunities for emerging technologies, through collaboration, to enable business strategies. Provide an advisory role with the client on the impact of new technologies on their existing technical and network environment.
  • Capture business capability requirements, functional requirements, and expected service levels from business unit to create an actionable IT-Networking roadmap (a long-range plan for the business that identifies specific IT investments in infrastructure to support business objectives).
  • Maintain strong understanding of networking technology needs and solutions for the business unit. Regularly visit business units to assess satisfaction and identify follow-up opportunities. Consider alternate delivery models for meeting business needs.
  • Participate in the installation, monitoring, maintenance, support, and optimization of all network hardware, software, and communication links. Perform analysis at physical, data plane, control plane, and higher order protocol layers in troubleshooting support.
  • Create and maintain implementation plans, and documentation as it relates to network configuration, network mapping, processes, and service records.
  • Oversee and implement new and existing technologies, equipment, hardware, and software upgrades.
  • Conduct research on network products, services, protocols, and standards to remain abreast of developments in the networking industry.
  • Lead resolution of complex technical problems through coordination of efforts with Entergy IT personnel, customers, and vendors Develop, implement, and maintain policies, procedures, and associated training plans for network administration, usage, and disaster recovery.
  • Interact and coordinate with vendors, outsourcers, and contractors to secure network products and services.
  • Respond as the Data Network representative in an 'on-call' 24x7 rotation to resolve emergent issues in both Corporate, OT and Automated Metering / Distribution Automation network environments.
  • Work with Business and Project Management teams to review strategies and requirements. Ensure business and functional requirements are maintained throughout the development/configuration process. Review and analyze results to validate the functions of the delivered solution.

Minimum Requirements

Minimum Education Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in business, Engineering, Computer Science, or related discipline, or equivalent work experience.
• Master's degree is a plus.
• Additional Technical certifications and/or professional licenses are a plus.

Minimum experience required for the position.

• Sr IT Consultant:
  • 8+ years relevant networking experience.
  • 5+ years' solution design experience.

Minimum knowledge, skills, and abilities required for the position.

• Demonstrated knowledge / experience in Network Technologies including but not limited to networking protocols, TCP/IP, DHCP, DNS, network management tools, use of packet capture and other troubleshooting tools.
• Understanding of routing and switching technologies, as well as network security technologies (firewalls, IDS, IPS devices).
• Proficient in routing protocols (OSPF, BGP, IS-IS) and other networking features -NAT, Access-Lists, route re-distribution, IP Multicast, VLANs, spanning tree, spine-leaf architecture. Priority given to previous networking experience maintaining NERC CIP.
• Strong understand of IP addressing design.
• Strong verbal and written communications skills.
• Ability to document business requirements and develop technical solutions to meet the requirements.
• Experience in financial management of project deliverables.
• Experience as the technical lead for major implementation and/or network projects.
• Knowledge and experience with cloud networking and automation/scripting tools are a plus.

Preferred knowledge, skills, and abilities

• Demonstrated knowledge and experience of Distribution Automation Assets, including but not limited to DNP protocols, PI Vision, SCADA and Engineering Design and Specifications.
• Advanced technologies, MPLS, VRF, BGP, Software Defined Networking, Cloud Networking
• Strong Analytical and Data Analysis Skills.

Certificates, licenses, etc. recommended for the position.

Preferred:

• Senior IT Consultant - Network Professional/Expert level- i.e. CCNP/CCIE, JNCIP/JNCIE, etc.
• Cloud certifications are a plus.

#LI-TR1

#LI-HYBRID

Primary Location: Texas-The Woodlands Texas : The Woodlands || Arkansas : Little Rock || Louisiana : New Orleans || Mississippi : Jackson
Job Function: Information Technology
FLSA Status: Professional
Relocation Option: No Relocation Offered
Union description/code: NON BARGAINING UNIT
Number of Openings: 1
Req ID: 119232
Travel Percentage:25% to 50%

An Equal Opportunity Employer, Minority/Female/Disability/Vets. Please click here to view the EEI page, or see statements below.

EEO Statement: The Entergy System of Companies provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, amnesty, or status as a protected veteran in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws. The Entergy System of Companies complies with applicable state and local laws governing non-discrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment including, but not limited to, recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

The Entergy System of Companies expressly prohibits any form of unlawful employee harassment based on race, color, religion, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, or veteran status. Improper interference with the ability of the Entergy System of Company employees to perform their expected job duties is absolutely not tolerated.

Accessibility: Entergy provides reasonable accommodations for online applicants. Requests for a reasonable accommodation may be made orally or in writing by an applicant, employee, or third party on his or her behalf. If you are an individual with a disability and you are in need of an accommodation for the recruiting process please click here and provide your name, contact number, the accommodation requested and the requisition number that you are requesting the accommodation for. Employee Services will contact you regarding your request.

Additional Responsibilities: As a provider of essential services, Entergy expects its employees to be available to work additional hours, to work in alternate locations, and/or to perform additional duties in connection with storms, outages, emergencies, or other situations as deemed necessary by the company. Exempt employees may not be paid overtime associated with such duties.

Equal Opportunity

The non-confidential portions of the affirmative action program for individuals with disabilities and protected veterans shall be available for inspection upon request by any employee or applicant for employment. Please contact to schedule a time to review the affirmative action plan during regular office hours.

WORKING CONDITIONS:
As a provider of essential services, Entergy expects its employees to be available to work additional hours, to work in alternate locations, and/or to perform additional duties in connection with storms, outages, emergencies, or other situations as deemed necessary by the company. Exempt employees may not be paid overtime associated with such duties.

Please note: Authorization to work in the United States is a precondition to employment in this position. Entergy will not sponsor candidates for work visas for this position.