Network Operations Engineer I

Les Schwab Tire Centers•Bend, OR

10d•Onsite

About The Position

The Network Operations Engineer I is a member of the Network Operations team responsible for helping maintain the stability, performance, and security of network infrastructure across more than 500 retail stores, headquarters, and distribution centers. The role supports network monitoring and operations, contributing to customer experience, store productivity, business expansion, and a product/service operating model. The engineer monitors network health, responds to and triages alerts, performs initial troubleshooting, and provides Level 1 and Level 2 support for LAN/WAN, Wi-Fi, and VPN issues. The role also assists with network-device deployment and maintenance, documents configurations and procedures, participates in scheduled maintenance and off-hours support, coordinates with vendors, and performs additional operational duties related to iSeries and check printing. The position collaborates with other IT teams to support system and application availability, identifies recurring network problems and their root causes, and contributes to network integrations for new stores, acquisitions, and expansions. It also assists with testing new technologies and continuous improvement. The work is primarily desk-based in an office environment, with an on-call rotation and occasional availability for urgent issues outside regular hours.

Requirements

Associate's degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.
At least 1 year of experience in network operations, technical support, or a similar IT role.
CompTIA Network+ certification.
Foundational understanding of TCP/IP, DNS, and DHCP.
Familiarity with network protocols such as OSPF, BGP, VLANs, and QoS.
Experience with network monitoring tools such as SolarWinds, PRTG, or Nagios.
Basic knowledge of common network hardware, including Cisco, Meraki, or Aruba.
Ability to perform basic command-line interface operations on network devices.
Proficiency in Google Workspace, including Google Docs, Google Sheets, and Gmail.
Strong problem-solving and analytical skills, with attention to detail.
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, including the ability to explain technical information clearly to non-technical stakeholders.
Ability to work independently and as part of a team in a fast-paced environment.
Strong organizational skills and ability to prioritize tasks and manage time effectively.
Proactive attitude and willingness to learn and adapt to new technologies.
Ability to help others, consider others' ideas and opinions, share information, give proper credit, and fulfill team responsibilities.
Ability to meet the stated physical requirements, including frequent and repetitive use of hands and fingers to operate computer and office equipment, reaching with hands and arms, and lifting no more than 10 pounds.
Ability to communicate verbally and exchange information by phone and in person.
Availability to participate in an on-call rotation and respond when rare urgent issues require coordination or escalation.

Nice To Haves

Experience in a multi-site retail environment.

Responsibilities

Monitor network performance, availability, and health across stores, headquarters, and distribution centers using established monitoring tools.
Respond to and triage network alerts and incidents in a timely manner, escalating to senior engineers or other IT teams as needed.
Perform initial troubleshooting to diagnose connectivity and performance issues.
Provide Level 1 and Level 2 operational and technical support for LAN/WAN, Wi-Fi, and VPN connectivity.
Assist with deployment, configuration, and maintenance of routers, switches, firewalls, and access points.
Document network configurations, procedures, and troubleshooting steps.
Participate in scheduled maintenance and off-hours support as required to minimize business disruption.
Collaborate with third-party vendors on issue resolution, service provisioning, and technology roadmapping; support adherence to SLAs and effective integration of vendor solutions.
Perform additional operational duties related to iSeries and check printing.
Identify and contribute to solutions that improve network reliability and speed, store productivity, and customer experience.
Collaborate with Omnichannel Retail, ITOM Operations, and other IT teams to support system and application availability.
Contribute to problem management by identifying root causes of recurring network issues.
Support network integration for new store openings, acquisitions, and expansions.
Assist in testing and validating new network technologies and solutions.
Contribute to the team's vision and strategy, including innovation and continuous improvement in network operations.
Participate in an on-call rotation and coordinate or escalate urgent issues, including occasional work outside regular hours.