Senior Network Engineer – Tier 3​/Network Architect

Houston, United States | Posted on 08/13/2025

• Salary 65-75hr contract 120k when hired directly
• City Houston
• State/Province TX
• Country United States

Location: Hybrid (Primarily Remote with On-Site Support as Needed – Central Houston, TX)

Employment Type: Full-Time

Position Overview

We are seeking a highly skilled Senior Network Engineer to serve as a Tier 3 escalation point and network architecture leader within our infrastructure team. This is a hands‑on technical role that combines advanced network engineering expertise with strategic design, architecture, and mentorship responsibilities.

The ideal candidate is a Cisco expert with extensive experience in Cisco Fire Power, Cisco Catalyst, Cisco Meraki, SD‑WAN, unified communications, and enterprise‑level routing and switching
. You will play a key role in supporting, designing, and optimizing our network infrastructure while mentoring junior staff and collaborating with cross‑functional teams to ensure performance, reliability, and scalability.

About the Team

You will be joining a close‑knit infrastructure group consisting of:

• 1 Network Project Manager
• 1 Junior Server Administrator
• 1 Senior Server Administrator
• 1 Server Specialist

Key Responsibilities

Serve as the highest level of network escalation (Tier
3), providing on‑site and remote technical support.

Architect, design, implement, and maintain complex LAN/WAN, wireless, firewall, and voice infrastructures.

Configure and manage enterprise-level Cisco Fire Power, Catalyst, Meraki
, and SD‑WAN/MPLS connectivity solutions.

Support and configure unified communications including CUBE routers, voice gateways, and SIP
.

Integrate cloud networking solutions, including Azure Express Route connectivity.

Implement and manage advanced routing and switching protocols (
OSPF, BGP, EIGRP, STP
) and redundancy technologies (
HSRP, VRRP, GLBP
).

Configure, monitor, and secure wireless networks (802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax) using tools like Ekahau for spectrum analysis.

Manage and optimize firewall rules, VPNs (
SSL and Site‑to‑Site
), and IDS/IPS systems.

Conduct packet analysis using Wireshark and Net Flow analyzer tools to diagnose and resolve network performance issues.

Perform capacity planning and scalability assessments to ensure network growth readiness.

Collaborate with cross‑functional teams to integrate network solutions into enterprise systems.

Lead network‑related projects, ensuring timelines and deliverables are met.

Maintain detailed network documentation and troubleshooting guides.

Research and recommend new technologies to improve performance, security, and efficiency.

Mentor junior and mid‑level network engineers.

Engage in customer‑facing technical discussions to align solutions with business objectives.

Participate in on‑call rotations, including nights and weekends, for critical issues and maintenance windows.

Minimum Qualifications

Associate degree in an IT‑related field or equivalent work experience.

CCNP certification (mandatory);
CCIE strongly preferred
.

8+ years of experience in network engineering.

Advanced experience with Cisco Fire Power, Cisco Catalyst, Cisco Meraki
.

Experience with
SD‑WAN and MPLS solutions.

Proficiency with unified communications (CUBE routers, voice gateways, SIP).

Cloud networking experience, specifically Azure Express Route
.

Expertise in advanced switching and routing protocols (
OSPF, BGP, EIGRP, STP
).

Experience with
wireless standards (802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax) and Ekahau tools.

Strong firewall configuration and management skills.

Expertise with VPNs (
SSL and Site‑to‑Site
).

Knowledge of IDS/IPS, DNS, DHCP, ICMP, SNMP
, and other core network protocols.

Experience with packet analysis and Net Flow tools (
Wireshark, Manage Engine Net Flow Analyzer
).

Strong analytical, troubleshooting, and problem‑solving skills.

Excellent documentation and communication skills.

Project management experience and ability to coordinate across teams.

Adaptability, continuous learning mindset, and customer service focus.

Willingness to work off‑hours for maintenance or emergencies.

Hybrid role: Primarily remote, with required on‑site work in Central Houston for critical support, installations, and projects.

Flexibility for…