Job Description

ORGANIZATIONAL OVERVIEW

The Connecticut Education Network (CEN) is Connecticut?s trusted internet partner, committed to our member community and its success. By honoring this commitment, we have grown the member customer network and maintained our reputation as one of the best and highest performing Internet Service Providers serving CT for over 20 years. Join CEN to discover a culture that is rooted in innovation and thrives on collaboration. Imagine loving what you do, where you do it, and contributing to a mission and vision that provides unprecedented value to CT. 

For many, meaningful work is a calling. We are looking for the right person to join the technical team of 5, leverage their experience and skillset to help progress our architectural agenda and in turn, impart the highest positive impact across some of the deserving verticals in the industry: schools, libraries, colleges & universities, municipalities, public safety, museums, cultural arts, and health care.

The work environment is flexible, with hybrid work from home options, 7-hour workdays, and a family-oriented atmosphere, so you have the space to spend that hard-earned time.

This sense of community extends to collaborations with other state-level, research & education service providers across the US. We meet monthly to discuss best practices, operational challenges, and network designs, so know that we?re not in this alone, as opposed to the competitive private sector.

Personal and professional development is important to CEN and regularly allocate budget to fund continual learning such as all-access passes to vendor on-demand training curriculum, in-person formal classes + labs and/or industry conferences, and leadership development at the individual contributor level. We want to see the best version of you and help reach your highest potential.

Our member-customers know us by name, and we know their networks. We count them as some of the most vocal, ardent supporters at the town, county, and state legislative levels, advocating for each other and our collective economies of scale to help drive value and pass along CapEx, OpEx savings that lift all boats.

JOB SUMMARY

This is a general posting to fill a role anywhere from an entry-level network associate to a senior engineer.  Candidates will be selected based on qualifications for the senior most role first. 

CEN, through The University of Connecticut (UConn) Information Technology Services (ITS), has an opportunity for a network professional to join the network services team. Under the direction of the Engineering Team Lead, this position encompasses the management of a Tier2 service-provider network with relevant services including DIA, MPLS VPNs, managed-firewall, hosted DNS, content-filtering, internet-exchange peerings, content caching, and more. Individuals considered for this position must be highly motivated, work well individually and in teams, exercise good judgment, and understand and evaluate complex, interrelated network systems.

CEN offers a challenging, fast-paced, and rewarding environment where incumbents will grow professionally while advancing the CEN mission, vision, values, business, and brand. The CEN office is located at 55 Farmington Ave, Hartford, CT.  As a team aligned under UConn, this position offers a great work/life balance and an excellent benefits package.

UConn has been named the top public university in New England for over a decade and is ranked among the top public universities in the nation. The University is also a Carnegie Foundation Research University; a prestigious honor shared by only the nation's top higher education institutions.

SALARY

• $64,405 ? $83,727, Junior Network Engineer / Network Administrator (P4, Network Admin 1)
• $80,790 ? $105,027, Network Engineer (P6, Network Administrator 2)
• $90,485 - $117,630, Senior Network Engineer (P7, Network Administrator 3)

Note: Please indicate the specific role you?re applying for in the cover letter.  All minimum qualifications must be met at the applicable level to be eligible for consideration at that level. Applicable role will be verified by the hiring committee with respect to qualifications and demonstrated experience.

BENEFITS INCLUDE

• Defined contribution with employer match or defined benefit program retirement options.
• Excellent and affordable healthcare options.
• 35-hour work week.
• 22 paid vacation days per year, in addition to paid sick leave and 13 paid holidays.
• Annual merit increase program.
• Employee and dependent tuition waivers.
• A highly desirable work environment and work-life balance.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Junior Network Engineer/Network Administrator

• Ensure the continuous, uninterrupted availability and functionality of the network.
• Perform installation, provisioning, and decommissioning of devices and services.
• Troubleshoot and resolve network related problems, occasionally under extreme pressure.
• Manage timely response to service requests and incidents within ticketing systems.
• Manage system logs and monitoring data, including applications programming for reports.
• Update and maintain database records, as-built documentation, and operating procedures.
• Provide training and knowledge updates to staff colleagues and/or student employees.
• Maintain and monitor inventory, assets, and tracking of equipment, parts, and materials.
• Participate in on-call rotation, including after-hours escalation support as needed.
• Maintain vendor relationships, manage contract installations, and liaise with end users.
• Produce and maintain documentation such as engineering plans, specifications, and diagrams.
• Lead, execute, and contribute to all aspects of projects from inception to completion.
• Create, debug, test, and deploy network automation scripts and programming languages.
• Contribute to and execute business continuity/disaster recovery plans as needed.
• Develop and maintain Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) and peer workplan reviews.
• Lead testing and recommend purchases of hardware, software, security, and related products.
• Maintain accurate fiber asset records, liaise with providers, and assist in estimating.
• Contribute to technical specifications and requirements for procurement documents.
• May direct or supervise one or more student employees. 
• May help with virtual and/or physical events and presentations to peers and/or CEN community.
• Must have a driver?s license and ability to travel to sites within CT, New England, and New York.
• Perform other duties as required.

Network Engineer (inclusive of Junior Engineer/Network Administrator)

• Lead outage resolution and post-incident reviews including detailed root cause analysis.
• Ensure the CEN is secure and follows industry best practices in maintaining/testing its security.
• Write advanced scripts and/or software programs to assist with automation and/or telemetry.
• Perform optimizations including tuning, upgrading, troubleshooting, capacity planning, etc.
• Research network technologies and stay up to date on advancement in the field.
• Help design and implement network systems including physical and logical topology.
• Mentor junior engineering staff and help with cross-team competency.
• Serve as a subject matter expert (SME) on optical, packet, security, and/or cloud services.
• Write technical specifications and requirements for procurement needs and documents.
• May provide leadership, supervision, and/or professional development plans for staff.

Senior Network Engineer (inclusive of Network Engineer)

• Perform long-range planning of the overall network, architecture, security, and capacity.
• Design and implement complex network systems including physical and logical topology.
• Present network plans to management staff/key stakeholders aligning strategy and need.
• Lead business continuity/disaster recovery planning, testing, and execution.
• Oversee network implementation processes, including setting schedules and budgets.
• Serve as the final escalation point for incidents, requests, design reviews, and vendor escalations.
• May represent team and organization on advisory boards, councils, forums, etc.

RELATED SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES

• Problem Solving: Demonstrates sound analytic and diagnostic skills dealing with issues that are defined and/or where information is available but must be further manipulated. Once decisions are made, will follow and direct action to implement intended results. Breaks a problem down to manageable pieces and implements effective, timely solutions. Openly and directly confronts issues until resolved.
• Team Orientation: Builds relationships with peers and other departments to achieve objectives. Balances team and individual responsibilities. Exhibits objectivity and openness to others? views. Gives and welcomes feedback. Puts success of team above self.  Responsibilities are assigned with some latitude for setting priorities and decision-making using established policies and procedures. Results are reviewed with the next-level team lead/manager for clarification and direction before proceeding.
• Productivity, Planning, and Time Management: Is proficient in office productivity software such as O365 suite, MS Teams, Google Apps, etc. for collaboration, word processing, spreadsheets, presentations, e-mail, etc.  Works with the project or team lead in identifying those tasks that are most important, establishes clear priorities, and understands the larger picture. Executes tasks and creates documentation as required.
• Physical Demands:  This position involves extended periods of sitting and the extensive use of computers and office equipment.  May involve stooping, kneeling, crouching, and/or working on step ladders. Involves close vision, color vision, depth perception, and focus adjustment. Must be able to lift 40 lbs. to shoulder height and must have a valid license and ability to drive.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Junior Network Engineer/Network Administrator

1. Bachelor's Degree (BD) in a Science, Technology, Engineering, Math (STEM) field + 2 years of related experience.
2. 1-2 years of experience must include programming or scripting experience, working directly with network systems.
3. Demonstrated ability to work well with people, handle technical problems, and work well under occasional extreme pressure.
4. Very good verbal communication and writing skills.
5. Demonstrated understanding of OSI Layers 1 ? 4 and TCP/IP protocols.

Network Engineer (inclusive of Junior Network Engineer/Network Administrator)

1. BD in a STEM field + 4 years of related experience.
2. Experience leveraging BGP, OSPF, and/or ISIS in medium to large-scale networks.
3. Strong Demonstrated ability to troubleshoot complex inter-related network systems.
4. Demonstrated ability to write specifications, and document existing, and planned systems.
5. 3-4 years of programming experience, which includes working directly with network systems.

Senior Network Engineer (inclusive of Network Engineer)

1. BD in a STEM field + 6 years of directly related experience.
2. 3 years experience as the network lead or senior engineer in support of a large-scale network.
3. Demonstrated ability to write specifications, and document existing and planned systems.
4. Experience leveraging MPLS and traffic engineering.
5. Experience leveraging VRFs in complex network environments.
6. Experience developing and/or maintaining emergency/incident response plans.
7. Proven experience in providing high-profile outage resolution and post-incident reviews.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

Junior Network Engineer/Network Administrator

1. JNCIA, CCNA, or equivalent level certification or better.
2. Career certification(s) in cybersecurity, programming, and/or cloud provider service.
3. Demonstrated scripting ability utilizing one or more of Bash, Python, Perl, and Ansible.
4. Experience with MS Visio and/or similar apps for network diagrams, process flows, etc.
5. Advanced knowledge of DNS configurations and troubleshooting.
6. Experience with routing protocols including OSPF, BGP, and/or MPLS.
7. Support for server applications on both Windows and/or Linux platforms.
8. Experience in outside plant fiber optic cabling systems design.

Network Engineer (inclusive of Junior Network Engineer/Network Administrator)

1. Master?s Degree (MD) in a related field OR 5 years experience in an enterprise network environment or Service Provider network.
2. JNCP, CCNP, or equivalent level certification or better.
3. Network Security experience and/or career certifications. 
4. Demonstrated ability leveraging MySQL, MariaDB, Docker, and/or GitHub.
5. Experience with optical networking systems including CWDM and DWDM.
6. Experience with Cisco ONS 15454/NCS2k and/or other optical networking platforms.
7. Experience with web content filtering, associated regulations, and technologies.

Senior Network Engineer (inclusive of Network Engineer)

1. Advanced Degree (Master's or Doctorate) in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) discipline or related to computer networking.
2. 7+ years of experience in a large-scale network with an emphasis in more than one IT discipline (such as network architecture, network management, optical networks, advanced design, and implementation of large-scale network systems, etc.).
3. Experience managing networks in a service provider or multi-tenant environment.
4. Project Management certification or demonstrated experience.
5. CCIE or JNCIE certification, with preference in the Service Provider track.
6. Experience with active and/or passive CWDM and DWDM technologies.

APPOINTMENT TERMS

This is a full time, annually renewable (end-dated) position. The University offers a competitive salary, outstanding benefits, including employee and dependent tuition waivers at UConn, and a highly desirable work environment. Salary will be commensurate with the successful candidate?s background and experience. For additional information regarding benefits visit: . For additional information about the University visit: . Other rights, terms, and conditions of employment are contained in the collective bargaining agreement between the University of Connecticut and the University of Connecticut Professional Employees Association (UCPEA).

TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

Employment of the successful candidate is contingent upon the successful completion of a pre-employment criminal background check.

TO APPLY

Please apply online at , Staff Positions, Search #498398 to upload a  resume, cover letter,  and contact information for  three (3) professional references.

This job posting is scheduled to be removed at 11:55 p.m. Eastern time on February 24, 2025. 

All employees are subject to adherence to the State Code of Ethics which may be found at  .

All members of the University of Connecticut are expected to exhibit appreciation of, and contribute to, an inclusive, respectful, and diverse environment for the University community.

The University of Connecticut aspires to create a community built on collaboration and belonging and has actively sought to create an inclusive culture within the workforce. The success of the University is dependent on the willingness of our diverse employee and student populations to share their rich perspectives and backgrounds in a respectful manner. This makes it essential for each member of our community to feel secure and welcomed and to thoroughly understand and believe that their ideas are respected by all. We strongly respect each individual employee?s unique experiences and perspectives and encourage all members of the community to do the same. All applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status.

The University of Connecticut is an AA/EEO Employer.

Network Associate

About University of Connecticut

The University of Connecticut is a national leader among public research universities, with more than 30,000 students seeking answers to critical questions in classrooms, labs, and the community. A culture of innovation drives this pursuit of knowledge throughout the University’s network of campuses. Connecticut’s commitment to higher education helps UConn attract students who thrive in the most competitive environments, as well as globally renowned faculty members. Our school pride is fueled by a history of success that has made us a standout in Division I athletics. UConn fosters a diverse and vibrant culture that meets the needs and seizes the opportunities of a dynamic global society.

Connections working at University of Connecticut

Job Tags

Holiday work, Full time, Contract work, Remote job, Work from home, Flexible hours,

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