Network Engineer

Job Title: Network Engineer Contract Duration: Minimum 6 months (potential for extension into multi-year engagements) Location: Richmond, Virginia 23219 (Hybrid)

Overview:
Client is seeking an experienced Network Engineer to join their team. This role requires expertise in network design and deployment, specifically within campus and datacenter environments. The ideal candidate will have at least 10 years of experience in networking technologies and will be responsible for engineering and operational tasks, collaborating with other engineers and the Infrastructure Architect. The role demands a proactive, customer-focused approach to troubleshooting, analyzing, and resolving complex network issues.

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide day-to-day operational and project support for Arista LAN and Wi-Fi infrastructure.
• Design and review network architecture, including EVPN, VxLAN, and leaf-spine topologies.
• Develop and maintain network infrastructure monitoring and alerting strategies.
• Ensure interoperability between Arista and other networking solutions like Cisco and Palo Alto.
• Assist with network provisioning and configuration buildouts using industry-standard automation tools.
• Troubleshoot and resolve complex network incidents, collaborating with vendor support as needed.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with external vendors, particularly Arista TAC.
• Document network infrastructures and processes for continuous improvement.
• Participate in the deployment, upgrades, enhancements, or improvements to the network infrastructure.
• Manage business services requests and resolve incidents within documented SLA timings, adhering to change management processes.
• Ensure network security by implementing solutions, policies, and procedures to mitigate potential threats.
• Participate in ongoing networking, security, and technology training to maintain expertise.

Required Skills and Experience:

• Network Industry Certifications (e.g., CCNP, Arista, etc.)
• 10 years of experience in network design and deployment for campus and datacenter environments.
• Expertise with Arista or other commercial Wi-Fi platforms (e.g., Cisco, Ubiquiti).
• Advanced knowledge of Ethernet, VLANs, VxLAN, VPN, IP Routing, TCP/IP, BGP, IPsec, MACsec, QoS, Wi-Fi, VoIP, and 802.1X.
• Hands-on experience with leaf-spine architectures.
• Centralized network management and an automation mindset are highly desired.
• Strong communication skills (both written and verbal) and customer service orientation.
• Experience working in an ITIL or similar service operational environment.
• Ability to be on-site two days a week for team meetings or as needed.

Preferred Skills:

• Arista CloudVision experience.
• Experience with Palo Alto firewalls, Citrix NetScaler, or load balancing solutions.
• Knowledge of Zscaler Secure Private Access.
• Experience with Nutanix Flow or virtual machine micro-segmentation.
• Microsoft Azure networking knowledge is a plus.
• Experience with a Network Access Control solution.

Additional Notes:

• Candidates with job-hopping tendencies (changing roles every 12 months) will not be considered. A minimum of two years' tenure in recent positions is preferred.
• The role requires a professional, polished candidate who demonstrates strong communication and customer service skills.