Network Infrastructure Engineer III

Position Purpose and Objectives:

As an IT Infrastructure Engineer, you support the cooperative’s vision and mission by providing reliable, high-performing IT infrastructure and services across the organization, including the OT environment. Reporting to the VP of IT Infrastructure and Operations, you are responsible for progressing, maintaining, and supporting IT & OT hyper-converged infrastructures, public cloud infrastructure, cybersecurity technologies & practices, implementing the disaster recovery program, and participating in assigned projects.

This position works with a diverse range of technologies across the focus areas of hybrid cloud infrastructure, network engineering, end user computing engineering, identity and access management, and systems administration. This is a hybrid position, primarily remote, but will require on-site work at any United Power location with little notice.

Your contributions will directly impact the organization’s success, ensuring the stability, performance, and security of IT and OT infrastructures while delivering an excellent end-user and member experience.

Essential Functions and Responsibilities:

• Engages in planning, design, implementation, administration and support activities for infrastructure technologies, integrations, cybersecurity, and disaster recovery across the focus areas of:
  • Hybrid Cloud Infrastructure
  • Network Engineering
  • End User Computing Engineering
  • Identity and Access Management
  • Systems Administration
• Collaborates with vendors and managed service providers for the administration of infrastructure technologies and incident resolution.

• Documents designs, implementations, standards, and changes, and provides knowledge transfer to the IT team to ensure familiarity with the infrastructure environment.
• Applies and suggests improvements to standards, practices, and procedures for delivering infrastructure services.
• Proactively researches and recommends new technologies, tools, and approaches in each focus area to drive continuous improvement and innovation aligned with current and future business needs.
• Supports end-user experience by handling and documenting incidents and service requests related to infrastructure technologies in the ITSM platform.
• Participates in a cross-discipline team to perform regular cybersecurity functions, including review, discussion, and remediation of alerts, threats, and vulnerabilities.
• Engages in cyber incident response planning and functions and provides backup coverage for key cyber functions.
• Maintains working familiarity with all business functions, processes, systems, and aspects of the United Power technology environment.
• Ensures compliance with security policies, baselines, and best practices in the design, implementation, and maintenance of IT infrastructure and services.
• Creates, expands and maintains professional and productive working relationships with peers and stakeholders. Works collaboratively with colleagues and fosters a spirit of cooperation in the workplace.
• Communicates unresolved or highly visible issues to IT department leadership.
• Participates in a 24/7 on-call schedule within the department.
• Performs other such duties as may be requested or assigned to fulfill the needs of United Power in the interest of good management practice.

Progression and Proficiency:

The IT Infrastructure Engineer class series consists of four positions: IT Infrastructure Engineer I, II, III, & IV. Positions in the IT Infrastructure Engineer class series are flexibly staffed and based on demonstrating proficiency across the core skills and identified focus areas.

Proficiency levels are defined as:

• Novice
  • Possesses a basic understanding of tasks in this sphere and can perform them with some or no support in a relatively low-pressure environment.
• Practitioner
  • Demonstrates an advanced understanding of issues and topics in this sphere.
  • Able to operate effectively under time constraints and pressure, with minimal or no assistance.
  • Implements strategies and tactics to achieve goals and can adapt and improvise when necessary.
• Expert
  • Capable of operating effectively in conditions of uncertainty and stress.
  • Willing and able to improve the skills of Novices when requested.
  • Able to evaluate and implement new ideas proposed by Practitioners.
  • Contributes to the development of best practices and standards within the sphere.

• Ninja
  • Able to perform complex tasks in conditions of high uncertainty, stress, and conflict, within tight timeframes and with minimal or no mentorship.
  • Demonstrates strong collaborative leadership skills and can effectively lead small teams.
  • Innovates and introduces new ways of working, organizing, and teaching, and actively shares knowledge with those who are willing to learn.
  • Recognized as a thought leader and expert within the organization for topics in this sphere.

Core Skills and Required Knowledge:

• In reflection of the importance that United Power places on cybersecurity, all classifications in the series are expected to have familiarity with the CIS Critical Controls.
• Novice or higher proficiency level across all focus areas, with a minimum of one focus areas at the practitioner level or above.
• Demonstrated aptitude and enthusiasm for learning new technologies, with curiosity and ability to formulate questions when identifying and evaluating solutions or researching problems.
• Deliver exceptional customer service to peers and end-users, consistently demonstrating a strong commitment to customer satisfaction.
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively, and as a member of a team.
• Possess exceptional communication skills, both written and verbal. Ability to determine the technical skill level of the information recipient, and to formulate and tailor communications accordingly.
• Ability to work independently based on general and specific direction, project task assignments, and departments’ priorities. Day to day work is self-initiated and self-directed.
• Ability to organize and drive own daily activities based on both broad and specific directives, processes, and procedures, with ability to meet multiple deadlines, and effectively handle multiple tasks.
• Ability to collaborate with others to participate in root cause analysis and solve problems both within and outside area of technical expertise.
• Diagnose and resolve complex technical problems independently within areas of technical expertise.
• Demonstrated knowledge of and administration skills for the Microsoft 365 platform.
• Ability to explain the concepts of cloud computing, DNS, the OSI model, and virtual private networking to people with varying levels of technical knowledge.

Focus Area: Hybrid cloud infrastructure

Hybrid cloud infrastructure combines on-premises hyper-converged solutions and public cloud resources to create a flexible and scalable computing environment.

Focus Area: Network Engineering

Network engineering involves designing, implementing, and maintaining the organization’s network infrastructure to ensure reliable, secure, and efficient connectivity. Key skills include BGP, OSPF, SASE, VPN, MLAG, NGFW policy, wireless and cloud networking.

Focus Area: EUC (End User Computing) Engineering

EUC engineering focuses on designing, deploying, and managing the computing environments and devices used by end-users. Key skills include Microsoft Windows, MDM, VDI, PowerShell and application packaging.

Focus Area: Identity and Access Management

Identity and Access Management (IAM) ensures the right individuals access the right resources at the right times for the right reasons. Key skills include hybrid Active Directory, SSO, OAuth, SAML, PKI, ADCS, NAC, FIDO2.

Focus Area: Systems Administration

Systems administration involves managing and maintaining the organization’s server and application infrastructure ensuring the smooth operation of critical systems. Key skills include Windows & Linux administration, patching, backup & recovery, DNS, DHCP and email services.

Supervision Received and Exercised:

Receives both general and specific, guidance and direction from VP of IT Infrastructure & Operations, CIO, or IT project managers.

Education, Training and Experience:

IT Infrastructure Engineer I/II/III/IV

Equivalent to graduation from a four-year college or university with major coursework in computer science, information systems or a closely related field. Equivalency may be demonstrated through a combination of training and progressively responsible experience that resulted in the required specialized knowledge and abilities to perform the assigned work in lieu of a degree.

Relevant advanced technical certifications, current training, actual work experience that is consistent with the job classifications and progression. Demonstrated experience as the technical lead for routine/small technical projects preferred.

IT Infrastructure Engineer II

AND combined 4 years’ advanced, hands-on technical engineering and administration experience in technologies relevant to the position.

IT Infrastructure Engineer III

AND combined 8 years’ advanced, hands-on technical engineering and administration experience in technologies relevant to the position.

IT Infrastructure Engineer IV

AND combined 10 years’ advanced, hands-on technical engineering and administration experience in technologies relevant to the position.

Discretion/Latitude:

Works independently and as a member of the IT Infrastructure team, based on general and specific direction, Service Desk cases, project task assignments, department’s priorities. Day to day work is self-initiated and self-directed based on priorities established by VP of IT Infrastructure & Operations, Project Managers, or CIO.

IT Infrastructure Engineer I / II

Ability to organize and drive own daily activities based on both broad and specific directives, processes and procedures, with ability to meet multiple deadlines, and effectively handle multiple tasks.

IT Infrastructure Engineer III / IV

Ability to organize and drive own daily activities based on primarily on broad directives, processes and procedures, with ability to meet multiple deadlines, and effectively handle multiple tasks with little direct guidance.

Impact:

It is essential that the end users’ and members’ experience with the technology environment be positive, safe and productive. This position significantly contributes to that experience, and United Power’s ability to deliver services to our members. This role is critical to the goal of delivering a reliable and high-performance infrastructure.

Liaison:

Works with all employees and external vendors.

Essential Physical & Mental Requirements:

• Majority of time requires sitting, bending at neck, waist, legs, and arms; twisting body; and changing positions at will. Occasional driving, standing, walking, stooping, bending, kneeling, reaching and stooping.
• Lift and carry 5-40 pounds frequently and push/pull up to 100 pounds occasionally.
• Requires repetitive motions with hands and fingers such as keyboarding, use of telephones, cell phones, etc.
• Requires close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and the ability to focus.

• Noise level in work environment is moderate. Work requires close attention to detail and accuracy and is varied in nature with regular interruptions.  Work is subject to irregular hours.
• Requires the ability to drive a vehicle between office locations.

Working Conditions:

Office setting 95% of the time.  5% of the time may need to work in a support role while outdoors, in a warehouse or maintenance environment (dust, uneven surfaces and all types of weather and temperature variations). While the position will be primarily located in one office, up to 50% of the time may be spent at other offices depending on business needs and projects.

Department: Information Services      FLSA Status: Exempt      Grade: I: 17; II: 19; III:20, IV:21      Updated: August 2024

Typical Hiring Range:

Pay Grade: 17: $84,500 - $91,300 annually

Pay Grade: 19: $97,700 - $110,400 annually

Pay Grade: 20: $107,000 - $123,600 annually

Pay Grade: 21: $119,800 - $138,400 annually

We are interested in every qualified candidate who is eligible to work in the United States. However, this position is not eligible for visa sponsorship. 

In addition to a competitive salary, we offer a generous benefits package that includes an employee retirement plan, 401K with match, paid holidays, vacation & sick leave, medical, dental, vision, short-term disability, long-term disability, and life insurance. For a full list of benefits, please visit our careers page at https://www.unitedpower.com/careers.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer

Not to discriminate on the basis of Race/Color/Creed/Religion/Sex(including Gender Identity, Pregnancy, Sexual Orientation)/Marital Status/ Age (40 or older)/National Origin /Veteran or Military Status/Disability/Medical Condition/ Unemployment Status or any other characteristics prohibited by Federal, State and/or local laws.

Salary : $84,500 - $91,300