W2 contract || Aruba Network Engineer

Location: Dallas, TX (Onsite from day one) • Duration: 6+ months • Minimum experience: 8+ years • Type: W2 contract

Monitoring & Incident Management

• Monitor Aruba network health (switches, WLCs, APs) via Aruba Central / AirWave and SolarWinds NPM/NCM
• Triage, diagnose, and resolve L1/L2 incidents within defined SLA timelines; escalate P1/P2 issues per the escalation matrix
• Participate in bridge calls for major incidents and provide timely RCA documentation

Change & Configuration Management

• Execute approved changes (firmware upgrades, VLAN/SSID changes, ACL updates, config pushes) through the change control process
• Maintain configuration backups, version control, and standardization using SolarWinds NCM or equivalent

Wireless & Wired Support

• Manage SSID provisioning, RF troubleshooting, and Aruba Central/AirWave administration
• Support ArubaOS‑CX switch provisioning, VLANs, LACP, spanning‑tree, and interface‑level diagnostics
• Support ClearPass‑based NAC, guest onboarding, and 802.1X troubleshooting

Reporting

• Maintain runbooks, SOPs, and network diagrams
• Generate SLA compliance and health‑check reports
• Contribute inputs to Monthly/Quarterly Operational Reviews (MOR/QBR)

Planning & Design

• Conduct site surveys and validate Aruba wireless/wired design against Low‑Level Design (LLD) specifications
• Support Bill of Materials (BoM) validation and hardware procurement coordination with vendors/OEM

Implementation Stage

• Configure and deploy Aruba switches, APs, and controllers for new site rollouts or refresh projects
• Execute migration/cut‑over activities (e.g., legacy vendor to Aruba, firmware/version upgrades across multiple sites) within approved maintenance windows
• Prepare and follow Method of Procedure (MOP) documents, rollback plans, and test/UAT checklists

Transition & Closure Support

• Provide post‑go‑live hypercare, defect triage, and knowledge transfer to the BAU support team
• Deliver as‑built documentation, project closure reports, and lessons‑learned inputs
• Coordinate with Project Managers on status updates, risks, and timeline dependencies

Required Technical Skills

• Hands‑on experience with ArubaOS‑CX switches, ArubaOS (Instant AP / Controller based), Aruba Central, AirWave, and ClearPass
• Solid grounding in routing & switching fundamentals (VLAN, STP, LACP; basic OSPF/EIGRP)
• Wireless fundamentals: 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax, RF planning and site‑survey basics
• Working knowledge of network monitoring platforms (SolarWinds NPM/NCM preferred)
• ITIL‑aligned Incident/Problem/Change management, plus familiarity with project delivery methodology (Waterfall/Agile basics)
• Experience preparing MOPs, test plans, and as‑built documentation
• Exposure to automation/scripting (Python, Ansible) for config deployment and reporting is an advantage

Certifications (Preferred)

• Aruba Certified Switching Associate/Professional (ACSA/ACSP)
• Aruba Certified Mobility Associate/Professional (ACMA/ACMP)
• Aruba Certified ClearPass Associate (ACCA)
• ITIL Foundation
• PMP / CAPM or equivalent project fundamentals exposure (optional)
• CCNA (general networking baseline – optional)

Soft Skills

• Ability to context‑switch between reactive BAU firefighting and structured, milestone‑driven project work
• Clear, structured communication for both customer‑facing incident updates and project status reporting
• Composure under pressure during major/P1 incidents and tight project cut‑over windows
• Ownership mindset with strong follow‑through on RCA, permanent fixes, and project deliverables
• Willingness to work rotational shifts and occasional extended hours during go‑lives/cut‑overs