Lead Network Engineer

Composites One•Schaumburg, IL

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Network Engineer is responsible for the design, implementation, and management of the global network and telecommunications landscape for Composites One. This role supports both local and wide area networks across more than 50 global locations in six countries, encompassing over 500 network assets and serving more than 1,000 end users. The position also involves managing direct reports and third-party Network Service Providers to meet uptime and performance SLAs. Additionally, this role drives the development of enterprise technology standards, governance processes, and performance metrics to ensure IT delivers measurable business value.

Requirements

Minimum of 7 years of experience in network management, including enterprise-level data network planning and operations.
Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science or a related field (or equivalent experience).
Experience leading enterprise network and infrastructure strategy, including SD-WAN, switching, wireless, UCaaS/telecom, internet services, and next-generation firewalls.
Strong expertise in network security architecture, including IDS/IPS and Zero Trust principles.
Advanced knowledge of routing and connectivity protocols such as BGP, OSPF, EIGRP, and ExpressRoute.
Proven ability to drive network reliability and performance using monitoring tools (e.g., SolarWinds, PRTG, Nagios).
Experience with network automation and scripting (Python, Ansible, PowerShell).
Demonstrated success leading complex troubleshooting, incident response, and root cause analysis.
Strong leadership and influencing skills, with the ability to guide cross-functional teams.
Excellent communication skills, with the ability to engage both technical and non-technical audiences.
Self-starter with strong ownership, sound judgment, and the ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment.
Solid understanding of network devices, scalability, and infrastructure design.
Experience with industry-standard networking technologies, including routers, switches, and firewalls.
Hands-on experience with SD-WAN configuration, next-generation firewalls, UCaaS, security management, and wireless networking.

Responsibilities

Design and architect data and telecommunications networks to meet business needs.
Oversee daily network operations, including performance monitoring, incident resolution, and adherence to uptime SLAs.
Maintain network configurations, enabling services, and systems to ensure compliance with security policies and industry best practices.
Manage network hardware, operating systems, and applications, including capacity planning and logistics.
Define and track KPIs to measure network and telecom performance, including SLA targets.
Partner with the Cyber Security team to ensure network security and compliance standards are met.
Collaborate with internal teams and external service providers to ensure seamless delivery of network services.
Provide technical guidance and mentorship to junior engineers and support staff.
Build and maintain strong relationships with stakeholders and cross-functional teams to support effective service delivery.
Contribute to team development by documenting processes, creating knowledge base content, and sharing expertise.
Respond to user issues, escalations, and support requests, ensuring timely and high-quality resolution.
Align technical solutions with business objectives in coordination with IT leadership and service providers.
Manage and evaluate third-party service providers to ensure performance meets or exceeds expectations.
Oversee telecom vendor contracts, budgets, forecasts, and invoicing.
Support the development of technical requirements, business cases, and project plans, including vendor selection and cost-benefit analyses.
Identify and implement innovative technology solutions that enhance business value and customer experience.
Stay current on industry trends, emerging technologies, and best practices.
Drive continuous improvement by identifying and addressing performance gaps across processes and vendors.
Analyze market trends in infrastructure service delivery to identify opportunities for optimization.
Ensure infrastructure solutions align with business goals, risk tolerance, and IT standards.
Develop and maintain a 3-year network and telecom strategy and roadmap.
Foster a culture of continuous learning and improvement.