Network Engineer II

About the role

We design and manufacture components, instruments, and systems that transform the world by identifying, enabling, and accelerating key photonics (i.e., light-based) technologies. Whether you're early in your career or bringing years of experience, you'll find opportunities to grow, take ownership, and make meaningful contributions from day one. The Network Engineer II is responsible for designing, installing, administering, and troubleshooting network systems and equipment throughout the enterprise, including WAN/LAN, hybrid cloud services, telecoms, IoT, and workplace devices. This role will assume one or many of the following responsibilities and mentor support to the rest of the team to support customers and end-users. Although based in Newton, NJ, occasional duties may be required at other Thorlabs locations.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate and schedule resources supporting goals and projects; communicate with internal business leaders and vendors.
• Stay current with applicable product lines and technologies; test proof-of-concept technologies and make recommendations.
• Maintain documentation standards as required.
• Cross-train and mentor other Network Engineers on system knowledge.
• Enforce network and security best practices and policies.
• Maintain consistent builds and standards for a robust, stable, and secure data and system environment.
• Plan and track expenses cost-effectively for applicable areas.
• Adhere to company policies, procedures, and directives regarding workplace behavior.
• Perform routine patch/change management of core systems and devices.
• Support customer requests and provide end-user training as required.
• Plan, design, deploy, and maintain network projects and lifecycle management.
• Configure and manage Layer 2/3 systems and perform advanced complex changes with vendor support.
• Plan, design, deploy, and maintain VOIP projects and lifecycle management.
• Audit firewalls, routers, and switches routinely to maintain secure and reliable configurations.
• Test failover network scenarios (e.g., VPN backup, wireless backup).
• Maintain and monitor efficient use of WAN/LAN resources by systems and end-users.
• Manage and design Microsoft networking services (DHCP, DNS, DFS, etc.).
• Use scripting to support system automation and management.

Requirements

• Minimum of 6 years of related experience in an enterprise IT environment.
• Experience with Cisco and Arista switches, ISE, and firewalls.
• Experience diagnosing hardware, security, compliance, and application issues.
• ITIL Foundations v4 experience is a plus.

Qualifications

• AS Degree, BA/BS preferred (or equivalent experience) in Computer Science or a related field.
• Certifications such as CCNA, CCNP, CCIE, Arista ACE, NSE 4, Azure, AWS, ITIL, PMP/Prince2/Agile, or Scrum are a plus.

Skills

• Excellent written, communication, and technical documentation skills.
• Ability to prioritize multiple projects and tasks; act independently.
• Willingness to support off-hours, weekends, and international travel.
• Initiative to take on additional responsibilities.

Pay

The estimated pay range for this role is $96,000 - $116,000 annually.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance.
• Company-paid life insurance.
• Generous PTO package.
• 401(k) plan.
• Tuition reimbursement.