Location: Long Beach, CA

Hours: Full-time - Contract-to-Hire (Hourly)

The role

Infinite Reality is seeking an experienced Senior Network Engineer to join our team and help ensure the robustness, security, and scalability of our network infrastructure. Reporting to the Chief Information Officer, this senior-level position will focus on providing dedicated maintenance to our network architecture, with an emphasis on hardening the systems to ensure high availability and reliability. This role is primarily focused on network engineering, including maintaining, securing, and optimizing network infrastructure. However, during times when networking tasks are slower or less demanding, the role will also take on System Administrator responsibilities. This includes supporting IT systems and operations to ensure seamless organizational efficiency and making the most of available resources. 

As a Senior Network Engineer, you will play a pivotal role in shaping the network architecture that powers Infinite Reality’s immersive experiences, collaborating with cross-functional teams to implement solutions that meet both operational and security requirements. If you’re passionate about maintaining and evolving high-performance network infrastructures while supporting broader IT operations, this is an exciting opportunity to make a lasting impact in a fast-paced, cutting-edge environment.

What you’ll do

• Network Design and Implementation: Develop scalable, high-performance network infrastructure tailored to meet organizational needs. Implement robust firewall configurations, VPN setups, and secure routing protocols to mitigate vulnerabilities and reduce risks. Create and maintain comprehensive network documentation, including diagrams, configurations, and troubleshooting guides.
• Maintenance and Optimization: Perform routine network maintenance, updates, and upgrades to ensure system security, reliability, and compliance with industry standards. Analyze traffic patterns, identify bottlenecks, and recommend improvements to enhance overall network efficiency. Collaborate with security teams to implement best practices and continuously monitor network security to address potential threats and vulnerabilities.
• Troubleshooting and Support: Diagnose and resolve complex network issues promptly, working closely with cross-functional teams to identify root causes and implement long-term solutions. Provide network support for both on-premise and cloud-based environments, ensuring seamless integration and performance across all platforms. Manage user accounts, permissions, and IT system configurations to maintain secure and efficient operations.
• Collaboration and Mentorship: Work with vendors and external service providers to evaluate, implement, and optimize network hardware and software solutions. Mentor junior engineers by providing guidance on network best practices, troubleshooting techniques, and security protocols.
• Strategic Planning: Develop and update detailed network maps covering topology, hardware locations, VLAN configurations, and more. Identify current hardware deployments, document configurations, lifespan, and performance benchmarks, and develop maintenance and replacement schedules. Create and enforce network policies and procedures to standardize practices, improve operational efficiency, and ensure compliance.
• IT Infrastructure Management: Assist with server and IT infrastructure management, performing system maintenance, updates, and backups to support system security and business continuity. Contribute to implementing and enforcing IT policies and procedures to enhance operational efficiency and support organizational goals.

What you’ll bring

• Proven Network Engineering Expertise: You bring 7+ years of experience in network engineering and System Admin, with a strong track record of designing, implementing, and maintaining high-performance, reliable, and scalable network infrastructures. Your expertise includes networking protocols, routing, switching, and network security, enabling you to deliver robust network solutions that meet business needs.
• Strong Security Knowledge: You possess extensive experience with network security practices, including firewall configuration, VPNs, secure routing protocols, and threat mitigation. Your focus on hardening network systems ensures a secure environment, minimizing risks and safeguarding organizational data.
• Cloud Networking Proficiency: You are well-versed in managing network configurations in hybrid and multi-cloud environments (AWS, Azure, GCP). Your strong understanding of cloud security best practices enables you to integrate cloud solutions seamlessly into the organization’s existing infrastructure.
• Networking Certifications and Technical Skills: Certifications such as Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP), CompTIA Network+, or equivalent demonstrate your expertise in network architecture and troubleshooting. You are proficient in advanced network design and performance optimization, ensuring systems meet operational and security requirements.
• Leadership and Collaboration: Your strong leadership and interpersonal skills enable you to work collaboratively across functional teams, including engineering, IT, and security. You excel in leading projects, mentoring junior engineers, and ensuring that all network operations align with organizational goals.
• Problem-Solving and Troubleshooting: You are highly skilled at diagnosing and resolving complex network issues quickly and effectively. Your ability to analyze traffic patterns, identify bottlenecks, and suggest improvements ensures smooth network operations and optimal performance.
• Vendor Management Experience: You bring experience in managing relationships with external vendors and service providers, ensuring that network hardware and software solutions meet performance expectations and budgetary constraints.
• Documentation and Communication: You excel in documenting network configurations, performance metrics, and troubleshooting procedures. You can effectively communicate complex technical information to both technical and non-technical stakeholders, ensuring clarity and consistency across teams.
• Adaptability and Continuous Improvement: You thrive in fast-paced, dynamic environments and bring a continuous improvement mindset. Whether addressing new network challenges or adopting new technologies, you adapt quickly and ensure that systems evolve to meet the company’s growing needs.

We’ll be extra pumped if you have

• Experience with SD-WAN: Familiarity with Software-Defined Wide Area Network (SD-WAN) solutions to optimize branch connectivity and streamline network management.
• Automation and Scripting Skills: Experience with automation tools (e.g., Ansible, Python) to streamline network configurations, monitoring, and maintenance tasks.
• Advanced Network Security Knowledge: In-depth understanding of security frameworks and protocols (e.g., NIST, CIS), including experience with network segmentation and threat detection.
• Wireless Networking Expertise: Experience in designing, deploying, and managing enterprise-level wireless networks (Wi-Fi 6, 802.11ax).
• Cloud Networking Knowledge: Familiarity with cloud-native networking technologies and cloud security, particularly in hybrid and multi-cloud environments.
• Disaster Recovery Experience: Expertise in designing and implementing network disaster recovery strategies, ensuring business continuity in the event of network failures or security incidents.
• Performance Monitoring Tools: Experience with network monitoring and management tools (e.g., SolarWinds, Nagios, PRTG) to assess and optimize network health and performance.
• Network Load Balancing: Knowledge of load balancing technologies and techniques to distribute traffic efficiently and maintain high availability.
• Vendor Negotiation Experience: Experience negotiating contracts and managing relationships with network hardware and service providers.
• ITIL Knowledge: Familiarity with ITIL frameworks for improving IT service management processes and ensuring the efficient delivery of network services.
• Emerging Technology Exposure: Familiarity with emerging networking technologies, such as 5G, edge computing, or IoT networking, and their implications for enterprise network architectures.

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