The Senior Network Engineer will be the organization’s lead architect and engineer for network and security infrastructure across corporate headquarters, regional offices, project sites, data centers, disaster recovery (DR) facilities, and cloud environments. This role is responsible for designing, implementing, and maintaining robust, secure, and highly available network solutions that connect on-premises and cloud resources.

The ideal candidate will possess in-depth expertise in Palo Alto firewalls, Cisco Meraki, Cisco switching/routing, and cloud networking, with a proven track record of architecting hybrid connectivity between multiple sites and cloud platforms. In addition to engineering responsibilities, this role serves as a technical escalation point, mentor to junior team members, and a key contributor to enterprise infrastructure strategy.

Candidates MUST be local to the Houston, TX area or be willing to relocate to Houston to be considered as this is a HYBRID ROLE.

Key Responsibilities:

• Network Architecture & Design
  • Architect secure, resilient, and scalable network solutions connecting corporate offices, regional locations, project sites, data centers, DR sites, and cloud infrastructure (Azure, AWS, or other platforms).
  • Design and implement multi-data-center network strategies focusing on redundancy, high availability, and disaster recovery readiness.
  • Evaluate and re-architect existing network infrastructure to meet performance, scalability, and security objectives.
  • Design, implement, and maintain a secure Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) to protect critical systems and control data flow between internal and external networks

• Implementation & Administration
  • Install, configure, and maintain LAN/WAN, SD-WAN, and wireless infrastructure in multi-vendor environments, including Cisco, Meraki, Palo Alto, Aruba/HPE, and F5 Load Balancers.
  • Manage and maintain enterprise firewalls, including Palo Alto features such as WildFire, GlobalProtect VPN, threat prevention, and advanced security profiles.
  • Administer Cisco switches, routers, and Meraki cloud-managed networks.
  • Integrate on-premises networks with cloud infrastructure, including secure connectivity to cloud-hosted applications and services.
  • Segregate and harden Operational Technology (OT) infrastructure from Information Technology (IT) networks to minimize cyber risk and enhance system resilience

• Operations & Support
  • Serve as the primary escalation point for complex network and security issues.
  • Troubleshoot and resolve network hardware, software, and circuit-related incidents in collaboration with carriers and vendors.
  • Monitor network performance, availability, and security using enterprise monitoring tools.
  • Maintain detailed documentation, including network diagrams, configuration standards, and operational procedures.

• Security & Compliance
  • Partner with the Information Security team to implement and maintain best security practices for all network segments.
  • Support compliance efforts by ensuring network designs align with security standards and regulatory requirements.
  • Conduct proactive network security assessments and recommend improvements.
  • Develop and enforce network segmentation policies to safeguard production environments and meet compliance standards
  • Monitor and regularly test network boundaries to ensure ongoing protection of OT assets

• Collaboration & Leadership
  • Work closely with service desk personnel, infrastructure teams, and external partners to deliver high-quality IT services.
  • Provide mentorship and cross-training to other team members.
  • Contribute to IT strategy planning, capacity management, and technology roadmap development.

• Business Continuity & Vendor Management
  • Develop and maintain network backup, failover, and disaster recovery strategies.
  • Oversee vendor relationships, support agreements, and procurement of network equipment and services.

Knowledge, Skills, and Experience:

• Education & Experience
  • Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or related field; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
  • 15+ years of IT experience, including 5+ years as a Senior Network Engineer or equivalent.
  • Network certifications such as CCNA required; CCNP, PCNSE, or equivalent preferred.
• Technical Skills
  • Expert-level knowledge of Cisco/Meraki platforms, Express route TCP/IP, OSPF, BGP, QoS, VPN, MPLS, site to site connectivity, and SD-WAN.
  • Advanced proficiency with Palo Alto firewalls, security subscriptions, and VPN technologies.
  • Strong experience in multi-data-center and hybrid cloud network design.
  • Familiarity with Azure/AWS networking, ExpressRoute, Direct Connect, and cloud-native security controls.
  • Proficiency with network monitoring, load balancing, and performance optimization tools.
• Soft Skills
  • Strong problem-solving and analytical skills.
  • Excellent written and verbal communication abilities.
  • Proven ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
  • Strong vendor management and negotiation skills.

Work Environment:

• Hybrid role – onsite three (3) days per week
• Dependable and flexible to work weekends, evenings, nights, and holidays as needed
• Heath’s IT Department operates 24/7/365, providing assistance through proper channels during:
  • Normal working hours
  • Expanded working hours
  • Emergency support hours

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