Urgent Hybrid Opening for Network Engineer - Washington DC - (Local candidates in MD, DC & VA Only). - SmartIPlace

The Network Engineer role is to develop and maintain the high-level design & low-level design plan for the overall logical and technical network architecture. This individual will provide technical solutions and consulting across the organization, from strategic decision making down to the project planning level. The Network Engineer will gain organizational commitment for all network infrastructure plans and initiate and participate in projects to evaluate technologies and methods for implementing these plans.

Duties and Responsibilities:
Strategy & Planning:
1. Design and implement short- and long-term strategic plans to make certain network capacity meets existing and future requirements.
2. Develop, implement, and maintain policies, procedures, and associated training plans for network resource administration and appropriate use.
3. Develop and deploy methodologies for testing network performance and providing network performance statistics and reports.
4. Conduct research on emerging technologies in support of network development efforts and recommend technologies that will increase cost effectiveness and network flexibility.
5. Develop, document, make recommendations, and communicate plans for investing in network technologies, including analysis of cost reduction opportunities.
6. Participate in the development of network strategies in collaboration with the executive team.
7. Conduct research and make recommendations on products, services, protocols, and standards in support of all network procurement and development efforts.
8. Ensure network services have sufficient capacity, stability, and agility to satisfy service level agreements with business units.
9. Create and maintain documentation as it relates to network configuration, network mapping, processes, and service records.

Acquisition & Deployment:
1. Plan, acquire, and coordinate installation of in-house and remote network devices and appliances across the organization's network.
2. Conduct research and make recommendations on network products, services, protocols, and standards in support of network procurement and development efforts.
3. Design company LANs, WANs, VMs, virtual networks, and wireless networks, including servers, routers, hubs, switches, UPSs, and other devices.
4. Oversee new and existing equipment, hardware, and software upgrades.
5. Interact with vendors, outsourcers, and contractors to secure network products and services.
6. Recommend improvements and/or alternatives to the company's existing systems architecture and technology portfolio.
7. Review new and existing network design projects and procurement or outsourcing plans for compliance with standards and architectural plans.

Operational Management:
1. Establish and maintain regular written and in-person communications with the organization's executives, decision-makers, stakeholders, department heads, and end users regarding pertinent network activities.
2. Conduct feasibility studies for various upgrade projects, improvements, and other conversions.
3. Configure networks to ensure their smooth and reliable operation for fulfilling business objectives and processes.
4. Monitor network performance and troubleshoot problem areas as needed.
5. Oversee installation, configuration, maintenance, and troubleshooting of end user workstation hardware, software, and peripheral devices.
6. Ensure network connectivity of all servers, workstations, telephony equipment, fax machines, and other network appliances.
7. Manage servers, including database, e-mail, print, and backup servers and their associated operating systems and software.
8. Practice network asset management, including maintenance of network component inventory and related documentation and technical specifications information.
9. Monitor and test network performance and provide network performance statistics and reports.
10. Participate in managing all network security solutions.

Education:
1. Bachelor's or Master's degree in IT or Computer Science
2. The equivalent combination of education and successful work experience (15 years) and
3. Cisco Certification in specialized areas is required.

Qualifications:
1. 10 years' experience managing, developing, and delivering strategic network architectural design and operational excellence.
2. 10 years' experience designing enterprise-wide LANs, WANs, WLANs, VPNs, VMs, virtual networks, etc.
3. Excellent knowledge of current protocols and standards
4. Experience designing and implementing Routers, Switches, Firewalls, Security Software
5. Strong collaboration and interpersonal skills
6. Strong knowledge of scaled systems, ability to identify problem areas, uphold network quality, and drive design
7. Expert on of WAN, LAN, and Wi-Fi technology
8. Strong knowledge of IT security requirements and experience working with information security
9. Experience with Lean IT concepts
10. Experience with Information Technology Infrastructure Library (ITIL)
11. Knowledge and understanding of system flow charts, traffic flow, and data processing concepts.
12. Knowledge of applicable data privacy practices and laws.
13. Extensive experience with developing strategic plans.
14. Exceptional analytical, conceptual, and problem-solving abilities.
15. Exceptional understanding of the organization's goals and objectives.
16. Proven experience with network capacity planning, network security principles, and general network management best practices.

Technical Skills:
1. Excellent architecture and technical support documentation skills.
2. Strong interpersonal, written, and oral communication skills.
3. Ability to perform general mathematical calculations for the purpose of creating needs assessments, budgets, and so on.
4. Highly self-motivated and directed.
5. Keep attention to detail.
6. Proven analytical and problem-solving abilities.
7. Experience working in a team-oriented, collaborative environment.
8. Strong interpersonal and consultative skills.
9. Ability to exercise independent judgment and act on it.
10. Experience working in a team-oriented, collaborative environment.