Cisco Network Engineer

About the role

Hybrid 3 days on-site in Charlotte, NC. Our client seeks a Cisco Network Engineer to implement, modernize, and manage critical network infrastructure across the Midwest region. The role focuses on Cisco enterprise routing, switching, SD-WAN, wireless, and network security supporting substations, corporate offices, and other business-critical locations. The engineer will implement, test, troubleshoot, and document reliable network solutions in a large, process-driven environment and will work both independently and within an Agile engineering team. Due to client requirements, applicants must be willing and able to work on a w2 basis.

Responsibilities

• Configure, implement, test, and support Cisco routers, switches, wireless access points, and related network infrastructure using established standards and templates.
• Deploy and support Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN solutions including WAN edge, transport connectivity, segmentation, centralized policies, and application-aware routing.
• Support WAN modernization across SD-WAN, MPLS, private Ethernet, internet, cellular, and other WAN services.
• Troubleshoot routing, switching, SD-WAN, wireless, WAN connectivity, firewall policy, and Layer 2/Layer 3 issues.
• Implement and validate resiliency, segmentation, failover, quality of service, and high availability.
• Prepare engineering job packages with equipment lists, installation instructions, implementation and test plans, rollback procedures, and documentation.
• Create and maintain physical and logical network drawings, rack elevations, wiring diagrams, layouts, and power drawings in Microsoft Visio.
• Ensure monitoring, alarming, logging, asset records, and operational documentation are complete before production cutover.
• Coordinate, activate, test, and troubleshoot private and public WAN circuits.
• Monitor implementation work for compliance with engineering standards, cybersecurity requirements, regulations, and procedures.
• Support network automation using Python, Ansible, REST APIs, Git, or comparable tooling.
• Collaborate with engineering, operations, cybersecurity, field resources, carriers, vendors, and business partners.
• Follow formal change management practices including impact analysis, peer review, approvals, validation, rollback planning, and documentation.
• Participate in planned implementations, maintenance, and troubleshooting outside normal business hours as required.
• Work within an Agile engineering environment on team-based projects.

Requirements

• 5 or more years of hands-on experience in an enterprise environment.
• Proven experience configuring, implementing, or supporting Cisco routers and switches.
• Understanding of IPv4, subnetting, TCP/IP, VLANs, IEEE 802.1Q, Spanning Tree, and link aggregation.
• Working knowledge of OSPF, BGP, enterprise WAN concepts, and route selection.
• Ability to troubleshoot Layer 2 and Layer 3 connectivity with a structured approach.
• General understanding of wireless, firewall, access control, and network segmentation.
• Working knowledge of copper and fiber cabling standards and connector types.
• Ability to create and maintain accurate technical documentation and network diagrams.
• Attention to detail with adherence to engineering, cybersecurity, and change processes.
• Effective written, verbal, interpersonal, and teamwork skills.
• Ability to work productively with limited supervision.
• Willingness and ability to support scheduled work outside normal business hours.
• Desired: Cisco CCNA/CCNP or comparable experience.
• Desired: Experience with Cisco Catalyst platforms and IOS/IOS-XE, Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN (Viptela), VRFs, MPLS L3VPNs, DMVPN, IPsec, QoS, route maps, prefix lists, ACLs, BGP communities.
• Desired: Cisco Catalyst Center, Cisco ISE, Cisco ACI, controller-based wireless.
• Desired: Palo Alto Networks or Cisco Secure Firewall.
• Desired: Automation with Python, Ansible, REST APIs, Git, PowerShell, or Bash.
• Desired: SolarWinds, BlueCat IPAM, Opengear, SNMP, syslog, NetFlow, packet analysis tools.
• Desired: Experience preparing job packages, implementation/test/rollback plans, equipment lists, and diagrams.
• Desired: Experience with SCADA, OT networks, substations, control centers, regulated utilities, or critical infrastructure.
• Desired: Experience with Jira, Agile methods, and formal change management.