Network Engineer
Location : Evanston, IL - 2 Days on site
Duration : 6 months contract to Hire
Summary
The Network Engineer is responsible for designing, implementing, operating, and supporting secure, highly available enterprise network infrastructure across on-premises and cloud environments. This role focuses on Palo Alto Next-Generation Firewalls, Cisco Meraki networking platforms, and Azure cloud networking services. The ideal candidate will combine strong technical execution with operational discipline, troubleshooting expertise, and a service-oriented mindset to ensure reliable connectivity, security, and performance for business-critical systems.
Essential Functions, Roles, and Responsibilities:
- Design, implement, and maintain enterprise network infrastructure, including LAN, WAN, WLAN, VPN, and cloud connectivity.
- Deploy, configure, and support Palo Alto NGFWs, including security policies, NAT, VPNs, threat prevention, and logging.
- Administer Cisco Meraki environments, including switches, firewalls, wireless access points, and SD-WAN features.
- Design and support Azure networking services such as VNets, subnets, NSGs, route tables, Azure Firewall, VPN Gateway, and ExpressRoute.
- Monitor network performance, availability, and security using appropriate tools; proactively identify and remediate issues.
- Troubleshoot complex network, firewall, and connectivity issues across hybrid (on-prem and cloud) environments.
- Participate in network architecture planning, upgrades, and lifecycle management initiatives.
- Implement and maintain network security best practices, standards, and documentation.
- Collaborate with systems, cloud, security, and application teams to support infrastructure and business initiatives.
- Provide operational support, including incident response, change management, and on-call escalation as required.
Professional Competencies
- Strong understanding of networking fundamentals, including TCP/IP, routing, switching, VLANs, DNS, and DHCP.
- Hands-on expertise with Palo Alto NGFW platforms and security concepts.
- Proficiency with Cisco Meraki dashboard administration and troubleshooting.
- Working knowledge of Azure cloud networking architecture and hybrid connectivity.
- Ability to diagnose and resolve complex issues across layered network and security domains.
- Experience with network monitoring, logging, and alerting tools.
- Solid documentation, diagramming, and technical communication skills.
- Familiarity with ITIL-based operational processes such as incident, problem, and change management.
- Ability to prioritize tasks, manage multiple initiatives, and work independently.
- Strong collaboration skills and the ability to communicate effectively with both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
Experience and Education Requirements
- 3 7 years of hands-on experience in network engineering or network administration roles.
- Demonstrated experience managing Palo Alto firewalls in production environments.
- Experience administering Cisco Meraki switching, wireless, and firewall platforms.
- Practical experience with Azure networking in enterprise or hybrid-cloud deployments.
- Experience supporting VPN technologies (site-to-site and remote access).
- Exposure to SD-WAN technologies and concepts.
- Experience working in a medium-to-large enterprise network environment.
- Bachelor s degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.
- Relevant certifications preferred (e.g., PCNSA/PCNSE, CCNA/CCNP, Azure Network Engineer Associate).
Experience participating in after-hours support or on-call rotations
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