Senior Network Engineer/Architect (Network Communications Analyst IV)

About the role

San Diego State University is seeking an experienced Senior Network Engineer/Architect to help shape the future of the enterprise network infrastructure connecting SDSU’s campuses, research environments, and university operations.

Responsibilities

• Design and evolve highly available enterprise wired, wireless, core, WAN/Internet, data center, cloud-connected, and research network architectures.
• Engineer complex Layer 2 and Layer 3 environments, including routing, switching, segmentation, redundancy, QoS, IPv4/IPv6, BGP, OSPF, and related technologies.
• Assess capacity, performance, resiliency, lifecycle needs, and technical debt to guide network modernization.
• Develop network architecture strategies and multi-year roadmaps that support university growth and technology priorities.
• Serve as technical lead and network architect for complex, university-wide infrastructure projects and network lifecycle initiatives.
• Lead projects from requirements and architectural design through migration, testing, deployment, validation, and operational transition.
• Develop implementation plans, migration strategies, testing criteria, risk mitigation, and rollback procedures.
• Cookordination complex projects across IT teams, campus partners, Facilities, vendors, consultants, service providers, and other stakeholders.
• Perform advanced packet, protocol, routing, telemetry, RF, and performance analysis to identify root causes and long-term solutions.
• Engineer high-availability and fault-tolerant network services and support restoration during significant network incidents.
• Use network observability and analysis technologies to optimize performance, coverage, security, and infrastructure reliability.
• Develop network architecture diagrams, engineering standards, reference architectures, configuration standards, and technical runbooks.
• Evaluate emerging networking, cloud, wireless, automation, security, observability, and research technologies.
• Provide technical direction and mentorship to network engineers and analysts while promoting strong engineering and documentation practices.
• Review and validate vendor and integrator designs to ensure solutions meet SDSU’s technical, security, resiliency, and architectural standards.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience supporting and maintaining enterprise-level wired and wireless network environments, including complex, multi-protocol routed networks.
• Advanced knowledge of TCP/IP, switching, routing, network security, wireless technologies, protocols, and network architectures.
• Experience supporting and managing Palo Alto firewalls, including security configuration and administration within an enterprise environment.
• Hands-on experience with enterprise networking technologies such as HPE Aruba wireless, Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise (ALE) routing and switching, Aruba ClearPass, or comparable platforms.
• Advanced ability to design, engineer, implement, troubleshoot, and validate complex enterprise network solutions while maintaining continuity of critical services.
• Experience leading network infrastructure projects, including hardware upgrades, lifecycle replacements, migrations, and other large-scale modernization initiatives.
• Experience using network management, monitoring, analysis, and diagnostic tools to troubleshoot connectivity and assess network performance.
• Demonstrated ability to lead and communicate effectively with technical teams, vendors, and stakeholders, while managing multiple priorities and projects in a fast-paced technical environment.

Skills

• Large-scale enterprise wired and wireless network architecture
• Advanced routing and switching, including BGP, OSPF, IPv4/IPv6, segmentation, and high availability
• Aruba, ALE/Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise, Palo Alto Networks, Infoblox, ClearPass, or comparable enterprise platforms
• Network security and access control
• Network observability, packet analysis, RF engineering, and performance troubleshooting
• Enterprise network modernization, lifecycle refreshes, and infrastructure migrations
• High-performance or research networking
• Technical architecture, documentation, and standards development
• Leading complex network infrastructure projects
• Vendors, integrators, service providers, and other technical partners
• Advanced certifications such as CCIE, CCNP, Aruba advanced/expert-level certifications, PCNSE, AWS/Azure Advanced Networking, or equivalent

Benefits

Full benefits package includes generous time off, retirement, health coverage, education support, and optional offerings.

Pay

Initial step placement is not expected to exceed Step 11 ($10,033/month).

Schedule

Standard SDSU work hours are Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., but may vary based on operational needs.