Network Operations Engineer I

Les Schwab•Bend, OR

9d•Onsite

About The Position

The Network Operations Engineer I is a member of the Network Operations team and helps ensure 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 performance, availability, and health; responds to and triages alerts and incidents; and performs initial troubleshooting. The position provides Level 1 and Level 2 support for LAN/WAN, Wi-Fi, and VPN issues; assists with deploying, configuring, and maintaining network devices; documents configurations and procedures; and participates in scheduled maintenance and off-hours support. It also involves vendor coordination, operational duties related to iSeries and check printing, collaboration with other IT teams, problem management, and support for new stores, acquisitions, and network technology validation. This is primarily a desk-based office position. The employee participates in an on-call rotation and must be available to coordinate or escalate rare urgent issues, which may require work outside regular hours or remote or in-person support. For eligible full-time employees, benefits include a quarterly bonus, insurance, a company-funded retirement plan, paid time off, disability coverage, an employee discount, and tuition assistance. Benefits are subject to change and governed by plan documents and company policy.

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; multi-site retail experience is preferred.
CompTIA Network+ certification is required.
Foundational understanding of networking concepts, including 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, such as Cisco, Meraki, or Aruba equipment.
Ability to perform basic command-line interface (CLI) operations on network devices.
Proficiency in Google Workspace, including Google Docs, Google Sheets, and Gmail.
Strong problem-solving and analytical skills and 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, including the ability to prioritize tasks and manage time effectively.
Proactive attitude and desire to learn and adapt to new technologies.
Demonstrated teamwork, including helping others, considering others' ideas and opinions, sharing information, giving proper credit, and fulfilling team responsibilities.
Ability to sit regularly and stand and walk occasionally; frequent and repetitive use of hands and fingers to operate a computer, mouse, keyboard, and office equipment; ability to reach with hands and arms; lift no more than 10 pounds; close visual acuity and ability to adjust focus; and verbal communication and information exchange by phone and in person.
Availability for an on-call rotation and occasional work outside regular hours when urgent issues arise.

Nice To Haves

Experience in a multi-site retail environment.
Familiarity with network hardware such as Cisco, Meraki, or Aruba equipment.
Experience with monitoring tools such as SolarWinds, PRTG, or Nagios.

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 when necessary.
Perform initial troubleshooting of network issues, including connectivity problems and performance degradation.
Provide Level 1 and Level 2 operational and technical support for LAN/WAN, Wi-Fi, and VPN connectivity issues.
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 provide off-hours support as required to minimize business disruption.
Collaborate with third-party vendors on issue resolution, service provisioning, and technology roadmapping; help ensure SLA adherence 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 IT teams, including Omnichannel Retail and ITOM Operations, 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 through 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 or remote or in-person support.