Network Engineer

Salary: Depends on Qualifications
Location : Houston, TX
Job Type: Regular Full-time
Job Number: 15554
Department: Universal Services
Opening Date: 09/05/2025
Closing Date: 10/5/2025 11:59 PM Central
Max Number of Applicants: 100

Position Description
About Harris County and Universal Services:

Harris County Universal Services (Universal Services) is transforming the way the County does business and seeking a Network Engineer to join our team.
Universal Services is the enterprise IT solutions center for the departments and offices of Harris County, providing Information Technology, Public Safety and Justice Technologies, 311 Constituent Engagement Services, Fleet Services, and Records and Information Governance Services.
Harris County is the third largest and most diverse county in the nation, with a population of more than 4.7 million. Harris County

Commissioners Court, the County's governing body, directs a budget of more than $4 billion providing essential services including flood control, infrastructure, healthcare, housing, and justice administration.
This is a great time to join Universal Services as we enhance critical services to Harris County residents and internal customers.
Position Overview:

Responsible for the architecture, design, purchase, implementation, and support of data network solutions. Plans and executes and leads large scale systems projects. Participates with other IT functions to work complex problems where analysis requires in-depth evaluation of various factors. Assists with work assignments to other team members to accomplish team objectives. Works closely with customers, business analysts, and team members to understand business requirements that drive the analysis and design of quality technical solutions. These solutions must be aligned with business and IT strategies and comply with the organization's architectural standards. Assists in the development of and manages a network and security architecture governance process. Provides technical guidance to project team areas as appropriate.
Job Responsibilities:

• Responds to customer incidents and requests in support of data network services.
• Proactively monitors and maintains data network health and performance.
• Implements data network solutions.
• Designs data network solutions.
• Mentors less experienced members of the team.
• Creates and evolves architectures for data network and security services, activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this position.
• Management may, at its discretion, assign, or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time.

Harris County is an Equal Opportunity Employer
;br> If you need special services or accommodations, please call or email
This position is subject to a criminal history check. Only relevant convictions will be considered and, even when considered, may not automatically disqualify the candidate.

Requirements
Education:

• Bachelor's Degree in related fields

Experience:

• Seven (7) years' experience building and operating data network solutions in a medium or large enterprise, with five (5) years at a network engineering level and three (3) years working with network architecture

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities:

• Must possess excellent interpersonal and written/oral communication skills.
• The ability to interact with staff at all levels.
• Must excel with customer service, with general computer use, with data network fundamentals, with troubleshooting techniques, with verbal and written communication, and with Microsoft Office and Visio software.
• Must be proficient with basic and advanced configuration and support of data network equipment (routers, switches, access points, firewalls, load-balancers, etc.)

Applicants for this position will be subject to a criminal background check that includes being fingerprinted. This applies to any position with network access to Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) or access to an area where CJIS is received, maintained or stored either manually or electronically (i.e. custodian, maintenance).

Automatic Disqualification:

• Convictions, probation, or deferred adjudication for any Felony, and any Class A Misdemeanor
• Convictions, probation, or deferred adjudication for a Class B Misdemeanor, if within the previous 10 years
• Open arrest for any criminal offense (Felony or Misdemeanor)
• Family Violence conviction

NOTE: Qualifying education, experience, knowledge and skills must be documented on your job application. You may attach a resume to the application as supporting documentation but ONLY information stated on the application will be used for consideration. "See Resume" will not be accepted for qualifications.
Preferences
Education:

• Bachelor's degree in: Computer Science, Information Technology, Computer Engineering, Network Engineering or related technical fields

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities:

• Networking protocols: TCP/IP, BGP, OSPF, VLANs
• Network devices: Routers, switches, firewalls, VPNs
• Security principles: IDS/IPS, firewalls, encryption, access control
• Cloud networking: Azure, AWS, SD-WAN, hybrid environments
• CUCM systems and Cisco IP phones (for telecom-integrated roles)
• Network monitoring tools: SolarWinds, Wireshark, Nagios
• Hardware: Arista Switching, Aruba Wireless, Palo Alto
• Configuration & troubleshooting of network hardware/software
• Performance optimization and uptime assurance
• Documentation of network architecture and changes
• Incident response and root cause analysis
• Automation using scripting (Python, Bash) or orchestration tools
• Collaboration with cross-functional teams and vendors
• Analytical thinking for diagnosing complex issues
• Effective communication for technical and non-technical audiences
• Adaptability to emerging technologies and evolving infrastructure
• Teamwork in dynamic and high-pressure environments
• Leadership and mentoring (for senior roles)

General Information
Position Type and Typical Hours of Work:

• Monday Friday | 40hrs
• Regular Full-time | Onsite Position
• Hybrid Schedule
• May be required to work more than forty hours during the workweek and/or weekends and 24 on-call infrequently, as needed.
• Subject to performing other duties as assigned.
• Must live or plan to live in the Houston Texas metropolitan area.

Employment may be contingent on passing a drug screen and meeting other standards.

Due to a high volume of applications positions may close prior to the advertised closing date or at the discretion of the Hiring Department.

HARRIS COUNTY EMPLOYEE BENEFITS

Harris County offers a highly competitive benefits program, featuring a comprehensive group health plan and defined benefit retirement plan.
The following benefits are offered only to Harris County employees in regular (full-time) positions:
Health & Wellness Benefits

• Medical Coverage
• Dental Coverage
• Vision Coverage
• Wellness Plan
• Life Insurance
• Long-Term Disability (LTD) Insurance
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Healthcare Flexible Spending Account
• Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account

Paid Time Off (PTO)

• Ten (10) days of vacation leave per year (accrual rate increases after 5 years of service)
• Eleven (11) County-observed holidays
• One (1) floating holiday per year
• Paid Parental Leave*
• Sick Leave

Retirement Savings Benefit

• 457 Deferred Compensation Plan

The following benefits are available to Harris County employees in full-time and select part-time positions:

• Professional learning & development opportunities
• Retirement pension (TCDRS defined benefit plan)
• Flexible work schedule*
• METRO RideSponsor Program*

* Participation may vary by County department. The employee benefits plans of Harris County are extended to all eligible participants across various departments with the exception of the Harris County Community Supervision and Corrections Department, for which the cited Health & Wellness Benefits are administered through the State of Texas.
In accordance with the Harris County Personnel Regulations, group health and related benefits are subject to amendment or discontinuance at any time. Harris County Commissioners Court reserves the right to make benefit modifications on the County's behalf as needed.
For plan details, visit the Harris County Benefits & Wellness website:
01

Which of the following best describes your highest level of education completed as it relates to this position?Qualifying information must be documented in the Education section of your application.

• High School or GED diploma
• Associate Degree
• Bachelor's Degree
• Master's Degree or higher
• None of the above

02

If you selected a college degree in response to the previous question, which of the following best describes your major?

• Computer Science
• Information Technology
• Computer Engineering
• Network Engineering
• Other Related Field
• Unrelated Field
• N/A; No Degree

03

Please describe your educational background including level of education completed, area of study and completed major and minor programs.
04

Which of the following best describes your verifiable experience building and operating data network solutions in a medium or large enterprise?(To be considered, qualifying experience must be documented in your application's employment history)

• Less than seven (7) years
• Seven (7) years but less than eight (8) years
• Eight (8) years but less than nine (9) years
• Nine (9) years or more
• I do not have this experience

05

Does your experience include a minimum of five (5) years of working at a network engineering level?

• Yes
• No

06

Does your experience include three (3) years of working with network architecture?

• Yes
• No

07

Please provide details about your verifiable experience building and operating data network solutions in a medium or large enterprise.Do not use "Please see Resume" or "See Resume"(To be considered, qualifying experience must be documented in your application's employment history)Please include your (a) role(s), (b) types of organizations, (c) scope of duties and responsibilitiesIf you do not have this experience, please type "None" in the space provided.
Required Question