Network Engineer (Network and Communications Analyst IV, Range 1) - San Francisco Bay Region Network

San Francisco State University•San Francisco, CA

42d•$98,772 - $127,764•Onsite

About The Position

The Network Engineer is a technical expert responsible for planning, designing, implementing, operating, and continuously improving enterprise network infrastructure across the San Francisco Bay Region Network, partner institutions, and auxiliary organizations. Reporting to the Senior Director of Network and Telecommunications Infrastructure, the position works with minimal supervision and supports secure, reliable, scalable, and resilient connectivity across multiple universities. The role leads complex network infrastructure initiatives and advises management, technical teams, vendors, and campus stakeholders on enterprise network architecture, modernization, reliability, security, performance, and operational standards. It develops technical strategies, architecture recommendations, standards, procedures, and best practices aligned with organizational priorities, regulatory requirements, and long-term service needs. The Network Engineer evaluates, designs, deploys, administers, maintains, and optimizes network hardware, configurations, monitoring platforms, security controls, and integrated communications technologies. The role leads multi-site design and deployment efforts, manages complex connectivity requirements, resolves highly complex technical issues, analyzes capacity and performance trends, and recommends future improvements. It collaborates across technical, administrative, and institutional leadership groups to support consistent security, service continuity, operational excellence, and effective enterprise network services. This is a one-year probationary, full-time position assigned to on-campus operations at SFSU in California. The regular schedule is Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Occasional travel among Network universities and work outside standard business hours may be required. Occasional telework may be possible, but work is expected to be performed in California.

Requirements

Equivalent to a bachelor's degree in a related field and five years of relevant experience; additional relevant experience may substitute for required education year for year, and an advanced degree in a related field may substitute for required experience year for year.
Expert knowledge of network and communications administration, equipment, infrastructure, concepts, principles, and technologies.
Expert skill applying and interpreting standards and guidelines and recommending procedures, protocols, and standards as appropriate.
Expert analytical and organizational skills to prioritize and coordinate large, complex, strategic network and communications projects.
Expert communication and interpersonal skills to explain complex technical systems and procedures and persuade stakeholders and management regarding design and development options.
Successful completion of a background check.
Ability to provide proof of U.S. citizenship or authorization to work in the United States within three business days of hire.

Nice To Haves

Experience working in higher education, multi-campus systems, or similarly complex public sector organizations.

Responsibilities

Plan, design, implement, administer, maintain, and improve complex enterprise network infrastructure supporting the Network, partner institutions, and auxiliary organizations.
Provide technical expertise for wired, wireless, remote access, firewall, network management, monitoring, and related communications infrastructure.
Coordinate and provide technical direction for complex network initiatives, including upgrades, lifecycle replacements, new deployments, modernization, configuration changes, and multi-site improvements.
Maintain technical stewardship of network architecture and infrastructure services supporting high-impact operations across multiple universities and partner organizations.
Develop and recommend network architecture strategies, standards, procedures, protocols, and best practices.
Advise management, technical teams, vendors, and campus stakeholders on network and communications solutions, modernization, integration, and reliability.
Evaluate networking technologies and service trends and recommend infrastructure solutions and long-term improvements.
Direct the resolution of complex and unique network infrastructure issues, developing new approaches where needed.
Prepare technical analyses, architecture recommendations, implementation strategies, risk assessments, cost estimates, business justifications, and project documentation.
Oversee configuration, deployment, monitoring, lifecycle maintenance, and optimization of network hardware, systems, and services.
Coordinate integrated network and communications work with technical teams, information security, vendors, consultants, facilities staff, and campus stakeholders.
Provide expertise in network security administration, access controls, firewall policy management, secure remote access, vulnerability remediation, and network protection.
Develop, recommend, implement, and support network security standards, procedures, protocols, and best practices.
Direct complex security and administration initiatives, including firewall reviews, access-control improvements, patch management, vulnerability remediation, and configuration standardization.
Advise stakeholders on network security, compliance requirements, risk mitigation, and operational controls.
Administer and oversee network management, monitoring, reporting, and configuration systems.
Evaluate security alerts, vulnerability information, audit findings, configuration risks, and operational trends; recommend corrective actions and improved controls.
Maintain network documentation, configuration and change records, diagrams, procedures, incident documentation, and service activity records.
Develop and implement network governance practices, change-management procedures, and operational controls.
Monitor and analyze network performance, capacity, utilization, service demands, and operational metrics; recommend improvements to reliability, availability, resiliency, scalability, and service delivery.
Direct resolution of complex performance, capacity, availability, and reliability issues, including root-cause analysis.
Develop and recommend performance standards, monitoring practices, reporting procedures, and operational improvements.
Support administration, monitoring, and optimization of unified communications platforms and integrated voice services when network performance or reliability is affected.
Evaluate call quality, network performance, and integrated network-telecommunications requirements and recommend improvements.
Provide technical analysis and recommendations for network planning, lifecycle management, future-state improvements, and long-term service needs.
Provide technical guidance, mentoring, training, and knowledge transfer to staff and project teams.
Contribute to equity, diversity, and inclusion and promote organizational values including innovation, teamwork, respect, excellence, integrity, service, and accountability.
Comply with policies and procedures concerning privacy, authorized use of resources, and security of systems and data; demonstrate safe work practices.
Perform other related responsibilities as requested.