Field Network Engineer

This position is a contract-to-hire opportunity that is 100% onsite in Tacoma, WA. Duration: 6-month contract with potential to extend or convert.

Schedule

• Monday – Friday (6:00 PM – 6:30 PM PST OR 7:30 AM – 4:00 PM PST)

Responsibilities

• Design, deploy, configure, monitor, and troubleshoot enterprise and manufacturing network infrastructure.
• Support routers, switches, access points, wireless controllers, firewalls, and network security appliances.
• Provide hands-on support for LAN, WAN, WLAN, and industrial Ethernet environments across office and manufacturing locations.
• Configure and troubleshoot WAN connectivity, including Internet, Broadband, MPLS, SD-WAN, and related network equipment.
• Support manufacturing and Operational Technology (OT) environments, including Industrial Control Systems (ICS), PLCs, HMIs, manufacturing switches, firewalls, and supporting infrastructure.
• Help ensure reliable and secure connectivity between IT and OT networks while maintaining appropriate segmentation and availability requirements.
• Partner with plant operations, Controls Engineers, Systems Controls Engineers, engineering teams, and OT vendors to troubleshoot complex, production-impacting network issues.
• Support deployment of new manufacturing technologies, including connected sensors, water meters, and other devices connecting to manufacturing control networks.
• Assist with OT system expansions, modernization initiatives, and vendor-supported implementations.
• Respond to network incidents, troubleshoot issues, restore services, and participate in Incident, Problem, and Change Management processes.
• Assist with root cause analysis for significant outages and recurring network issues.
• Develop and maintain network diagrams, topology documentation, configuration standards, asset inventories, and operational procedures.
• Support the development and continuous improvement of SOPs and operational standards.
• Provide clear documentation and knowledge transfer to support ongoing IT/OT operations.

Requirements

• 7+ years of professional networking experience, with significant hands-on experience supporting manufacturing, factory, or industrial environments.
• Direct experience working within a manufacturing/factory environment; candidates with only theoretical networking experience will not be considered.
• CCNA certification strongly preferred. Candidates without a CCNA may be required to obtain the certification while on the job.
• Hands-on experience with Cisco IOS.
• Strong experience with Layer 2 and Layer 3 routing and switching.
• Strong understanding of TCP/IP, IPv4, and IPv6.
• Strong knowledge of networking protocols, routing, switching, and network fundamentals.
• Direct experience with industrial/OT networking and connectivity between IT and manufacturing control environments.
• Experience working with Rockwell, Controls Engineers, Systems Controls Engineers, or similar industrial automation teams.
• Experience supporting the deployment and connectivity of industrial devices such as sensors, water meters, PLCs, HMIs, or other manufacturing equipment.
• Experience with network troubleshooting, incident response, root cause analysis, and change management.
• Strong documentation and communication skills.

Travel

If converted to FTE, there will be 20-25% required travel out of state.

Benefits

• Medical, vision, dental, and life and disability insurance available for contract/temporary professionals.
• Eligibility to enroll in the company 401(k) plan for hired contract/temporary professionals.