Network Engineer - Oil & Gas Infrastructure

Overview

On Site
$80
Contract - W2
Contract - Independent

Job Details

Network Engineer 

We are seeking a hands-on Network Engineer to assess, design, and modernize large-scale field communications infrastructure for a distributed energy operation.

Key Responsibilities

  • Assess and document existing network infrastructure across remote operational sites, including PLCs, towers, cellular devices, and cloud integrations.

  • Develop a detailed network topology map and identify opportunities to improve redundancy, uptime, and data integrity.

  • Design and coordinate implementation of a modernized field communication architecture leveraging cellular, radio, and satellite technologies.

  • Evaluate connectivity options (LTE/5G, radio, satellite) for performance, reliability, and cost-effectiveness.

  • Configure and optimize radios, routers, and access points to ensure consistent coverage and minimal downtime.

  • Implement secure VPN or SD-WAN connectivity strategies to link field systems to enterprise or cloud environments.

Required Expertise

  • Proven experience in network engineering, field communications, or SCADA/telemetry systems in industrial or distributed environments.

  • Strong working knowledge of:

  • Cellular networking (LTE, 5G, dual-SIM failover)

  • Radio systems (licensed and unlicensed)

  • Satellite networks (e.g., Starlink, Hughes)

  • VPN / SD-WAN architectures

  • Industrial PLC communication protocols (Modbus, MQTT, OPC UA)

  • Ability to design and document network architecture for operational technology (OT) environments.

    Preferred Qualifications

    • 6+ years of experience in network engineering or field communications within energy, utilities, or manufacturing.

    • Experience with telemetry and remote data acquisition systems.

    • Familiarity with RF coordination and frequency licensing.

    • Exposure to cloud-connected IoT or telemetry solutions (Azure, AWS).

    • Background in managing vendors and implementation projects in distributed operations.

    Additional Details

    • Employment Type: Contract-to-Hire

    • Work Model: Primarily onsite or field-based with flexibility for remote coordination.

    • Travel: Heavy travel at project start; occasional thereafter.

    Determining compensation for this role (and others) at Vaco/Highspring depends upon a wide array of factors including but not limited to the individual’s skill sets, experience and training, licensure and certifications, office location and other geographic considerations, as well as other business and organizational needs. With that said, as required by local law in geographies that require salary range disclosure, Vaco/Highspring notes the salary range for the role is noted in this job posting. The individual may also be eligible for discretionary bonuses, and can participate in medical, dental, and vision benefits as well as the company’s 401(k) retirement plan.
    • Employers have access to artificial intelligence language tools (“AI”) that help generate and enhance job descriptions and AI may have been used to create this description. The position description has been reviewed for accuracy and Dice believes it to correctly reflect the job opportunity.