Lead Network Engineer

Make a difference at one of Florida's premier institutions for education in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). Florida Polytechnic University, ranked the No. 1 public college in the region by U.S. News and World Report, offers a unique working environment that encourages faculty and staff to be part of a culture that prizes collaboration, innovation, and the willingness to go above and beyond to ensure our students and University succeed. Florida Poly offers a small campus academic environment where students form connections with their faculty and peers as they pursue high-value degrees in engineering and applied sciences.

The University is equipped with cutting-edge facilities and equipment and two award-winning, architecturally distinct academic buildings. Its evolving curriculum, designed to meet the needs of industry and provide a life-long educational foundation for students, has helped the institution grow in prominence since its opening in 2014. Florida Poly's deliberately small classes, affordability, and outstanding graduate outcomes have helped it earn recognitions such as being named a top value school, in the top 25 nationally for affordability, and in the top five best universities in the South for tech students. Accredited by ABET and SACSCOC, Florida Poly is educating some of the brightest minds in Florida and attracting standout talent from across the nation.

Florida's only public university exclusively teaching science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) is looking for exceptional candidates to serve as the Lead Network Engineer in the Information Technology Services (ITS) Division

ABOUT FLORIDA POLY:

Make a difference at one of Florida's premier institutions for education in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). Florida Polytechnic University, ranked the No. 1 public college in the region by U.S. News and World Report, offers a unique working environment that encourages faculty and staff to be part of a culture that prizes collaboration, innovation, and the willingness to go above and beyond to ensure our students and University succeed. Florida Poly offers a small campus academic environment where students form connections with their faculty and peers as they pursue high-value degrees in engineering and applied sciences. The University is equipped with cutting-edge facilities and equipment, and two award-winning, architecturally distinct academic buildings. Its evolving curriculum, designed to meet the needs of industry and provide a life-long educational foundation for students, has helped the institution grow in prominence since its opening in 2014. Florida Poly's deliberately small classes, affordability, and outstanding graduate outcomes have helped it earn recognitions such as being named a top value school, in the top 25 nationally for affordability, and in the top five best universities in the South for tech students. Accredited by ABET and SACSCOC, Florida Poly is educating some of the brightest minds in Florida and attracting standout talent from across the nation.

ABOUT FLORIDA POLY INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SERVICES:

The Information Technology Services (ITS) division at Florida Poly is dedicated to positioning the University as a leader among STEM institutions through the innovative use of information technology. Our mission is to transform teaching and learning, empower cutting-edge research, enhance the student experience and success, enable data-driven decision-making, and optimize University operations and services.

Staffed by a team of energetic professionals, we prioritize service excellence, foster innovation, and pursue continuous improvement in a highly collaborative environment. Currently, we are driving a major transformation of IT infrastructures, architectures, and service delivery models to align with Florida Poly's new five-year strategic plan and support its ambitious goals.

Reporting to the Vice President and CIO, ITS is organized into six teams including Academic Technology, IT Support Services, IT Security, IT Infrastructure Services, DevOps (including both data engineering and application engineering), and IT Solutions Delivery.

SUMMARY OF POSITION:

The Lead Network Engineer is a pivotal member of the IT Infrastructure team, reporting directly to the Director of IT Infrastructure. This role is primarily focused on designing, developing, and evolving the network architecture to achieve strategic objectives. As a key leader in network design, the Lead Network Engineer drives the planning and implementation of scalable, secure, and resilient network solutions. The position requires a deep understanding of enterprise network technologies and a forward-looking approach to ensure the infrastructure supports both current and future needs. Effective collaboration with the infrastructure team and key stakeholders is essential to aligning network strategies with broader technology initiatives. Working in a higher education environment, the Lead Network Engineer will thrive in a culture that values collaboration, continuous learning, and innovation. The ideal candidate is a visionary who combines technical expertise with a dedication to fostering innovation, optimizing performance, and maintaining security, ensuring the network remains a robust foundation for all organizational operations.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Network Design and Implementation:
  • Design, deploy, and maintain functional and scalable network systems, including LAN, WLAN, and WAN.
  • Lead short- and long-term planning initiatives to align network infrastructure with organizational requirements.
  • Architect and implement complex switching, routing, and wireless environments that support high-performance voice, video, and data applications.

• Performance Monitoring and Optimization:
  • Monitor and analyze network performance to ensure reliability, availability, and scalability.
  • Automate routine tasks and implement tools to enhance network monitoring and management.
  • Identify and resolve network issues to prevent recurring problems and improve overall system performance.
  • Maintain and improve the security posture of network systems, promptly addressing issues, vulnerabilities, and security requirements in alignment with regulatory guidelines (PCI, CIS, NIST).

• Documentation and Knowledge Sharing:
  • Develop and maintain comprehensive technical documentation for use by operations and support teams.
  • Provide mentorship and technical guidance to team members and end users as needed.

• Innovation and Continuous Improvement:
  • Research, evaluate, and recommend new technologies to address network deficiencies and improve performance.
  • Conduct proof-of-concept evaluations to test innovative solutions before implementation.
  • Participate in disaster recovery planning and simulation exercises to ensure business continuity.
  • Stay abreast of the latest technological advancements by engaging in continuous learning, attending professional conferences, and pursuing relevant training opportunities.

• Vendor and Stakeholder Management:
  • Assess and recommend vendor products, services, and contracts to meet evolving organizational needs.
  • Collaborate with internal stakeholders and external partners to design and implement effective solutions.

• Strategic Planning and Policy Development:
  • Develop and implement network policies, procedures, and capacity planning models to support organizational goals.
  • Provide strategic recommendations to management regarding network infrastructure improvements and investments.
  • Support IT infrastructure project management and ensure alignment with broader organizational initiatives.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

• Technical Expertise:
  • Proven experience managing campus networks, enterprise systems, and network monitoring and management tools such as PRTG.
  • Strong understanding of Cloud Service Provider network environments, including AWS and Microsoft Azure.
  • Hands-on experience with commercial enterprise-level network tools and products, such as Palo Alto firewalls, IPS/IDS, Windows DNS, DHCP, web security, TACACS+, and VPN.
  • Proficiency in designing, configuring, and troubleshooting wired and wireless networks, including secure access solutions leveraging 802.1x, using solutions from multiple vendors such as Cisco, Arista Networks, and Juniper.

• Systems Knowledge:
  • Familiarity with Windows Active Directory Domains, including administration and troubleshooting, as well as deployment and management experience with Windows Servers and Linux Servers.

• Problem-Solving and Ownership:
  • Ability to take ownership of technical issues, perform root cause analysis, and drive resolutions.
  • Proficiency in diagnosing and resolving complex network problems in a time and effective manner.

• Collaboration and Communication:
  • Strong ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with team members, stakeholders, and the public.
  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills to convey technical information clearly and concisely to diverse audiences.

• Adaptability and Innovation:
  • Demonstrated ability to adapt to evolving technologies and integrate solutions from multiple network vendors.
  • A proactive approach to researching and implementing innovative technologies to optimize network performance and security.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related field and two or more years' experience in a similar role; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Master's Degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related field and five or more years' experience in a similar role.
• Industry Certifications such as CCNP, CCIE, JNCIP, JNCIE, or equivalent, demonstrating advanced expertise in network engineering and architecture.

REQUIRED LICENSES, CERTIFICATIONS, AND/OR OTHER SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS OF LAW:

• Must possess a valid driver's license.
• This position requires a criminal background check, which may include a Level II screening as required by Florida Statute *435.04.
• This position is subject to federal and state privacy regulations.

NORMAL WORK SCHEDULE: This position is salary exempt. The normal work schedule is Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.; however, occasional overtime (weekends and evenings) may be required. Travel between campus locations may be required.

TARGET HIRING SALARY: $85,000 - $96,250, commensurate with experience. Benefits include medical, personal, and parental leave, State of Florida health insurance, and retirement plans.

APPLICATION DEADLINE DATE: The position is open until filled; however, review of applications will commence immediately.

APPLICATION PROCESS: In addition to completing the online application, all Applicants are required to upload the following as an attachment to the application (preferably in PDF format):

• Cover Letter
• Resume
• List of at least three (3) professional references (names and contact information)

SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS TO APPLICANTS:

This role will be primarily based at the main Florida Polytechnic University campus in North Lakeland, but also has periodic duties on the Poly South campus which is physically located on the Lakeland campus of Polk State College.

This position requires a background check, which includes a level II screening as required by the Florida Statute *435.

This role may include a hybrid schedule of 4 days in the office (Wednesday required), and 1 day remote.

DIVERSITY STATEMENT:

Florida Polytechnic University is an equal opportunity/equal access institution. It is the policy of the Board of Trustees to provide equal opportunity for employment and educational opportunities to all (including applicants for employment, employees, applicants for admission, students, and others affiliated with the University) without regard to race, color, national origin, ethnicity, sex, religion, age, disability, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status or genetic information.

Employment is contingent upon eligibility to work in the US. An appointment is not final until proof is provided.

FLORIDA POLY BENEFITS INFORMATION

Florida Poly qualified employees have the opportunity to take advantage of a variety of health benefits (through the State of Florida) to help meet their specific needs, as well as the needs of their family. This comprehensive coverage includes flexible spending accounts, medical and life insurance, and worker's compensation.

Health benefits are administered through People First, on behalf of the State of Florida, as pre-tax insurance plans. People First handles all new hire enrollments, coverage changes, premium administration, and dependent eligibility. Their Service Center is staffed Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m.-6 p.m. EST, at 1-866-663-4735.

RETIREMENT

Florida Poly offers great options for retirement. From the required selection of a state plan to additional voluntary retirement plans, our employees have many opportunities to save and prepare for their future. Click here for more information.

FLORIDA POLY BENEFITS

• Perks and Discounts
• Annual Leave
  • To help promote work-life balance, Florida Poly provides a generous leave program, which includes paid time off and paid holidays. Qualified employees may accrue 22 days of annual leave. In addition, the University observes the holidays listed in our University Holidays policy FPU-1.008.
• Sick Leave
  • Qualified employees may also accrue 12 days of annual sick leave and participate in our Sick Pool Program.
• Employee Assistant Program (EAP)

EXPLORE LAKELAND FLORIDA

Conveniently located along I-4 between Tampa and Orlando, Lakeland is home to Florida Polytechnic University and many other businesses and attractions. Click here to explore Lakeland, Florida.

SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS REGARDING ATTACHMENTS:

Required attachments are listed on each posting. Please be sure to attach all required documents in the Resume/CV field before continuing through the application. Once your application has been submitted, no changes may be made and additional attachments will not be considered.

An unofficial copy of the degree/transcript is acceptable during the application process. For positions requiring a degree, the official transcripts are required upon hire.

Foreign Transcript: Transcripts issued outside of the United States require a equivalency statement from a certified transcript evaluation service verifying the degree equivalency to that of an accredited institution within the USA. This report must be attached with the application and submitted by the application deadline.

All document(s) must be received on or before the closing date of the job announcements.

This position requires a background check, which may include a level II screening as required by the Florida Statute*435.04.