Network Specialist

Siddons-Martin Emergency Group•Houston, TX

About The Position

The Network Specialist is the primary internal hands-on resource for day-to-day network operations across the company’s distributed locations. The role monitors, troubleshoots, maintains, documents, and improves LAN/WAN, Wi-Fi, SD-WAN, firewall, VPN, ISP/circuit, and supporting network services. Regular travel and onsite work are essential. The position also provides operational support for building access-control and security-camera systems. The role administers and supports network environments and the Cisco Meraki cloud-management platform, performs site assessments, maintains network documentation and hardware lifecycle plans, implements approved changes, and coordinates with the company’s network vendor for advanced engineering and complex troubleshooting. It also supports access-control and camera systems, including the Eagle Eye Cloud VMS environment where applicable, while following authorization, privacy, retention, audit, and evidence-handling procedures. The position is separate from Infrastructure/Cloud management. The Director of Technology retains accountability for major network architecture and high-risk changes, the approved network vendor provides advanced engineering support, and Security & Compliance retains security governance. For the Azure-hosted site-to-site VPN hub virtual appliance, the Network Specialist owns network configuration, monitoring, and first response; Infrastructure/Cloud owns the underlying Azure resources.

Requirements

Working knowledge of switching, VLANs, routing, TCP/IP, DHCP, DNS, NAT, Wi-Fi, VPNs, firewalls, and SD-WAN concepts.
Comfort performing hands-on work in network closets and racks and traveling regularly to company locations.
Strong troubleshooting, documentation, communication, and vendor-coordination skills.
Hands-on experience administering Cisco Meraki, including the dashboard, MX security appliances, MS switches, and MR access points.
3–5+ years of practical network or infrastructure support experience, preferably in a multi-site environment.
Degree is not required; equivalent hands-on experience and relevant certifications are accepted.

Nice To Haves

Basic scripting or API automation skills, such as PowerShell, Python, or the Meraki Dashboard API, for fleet-wide reporting and consistent bulk changes.
Cisco CCNA or equivalent networking knowledge.
Relevant Cisco/Meraki training or certification, such as Engineering Cisco Meraki Solutions (ECMS).
Microsoft AZ-104 certification.
Experience supporting building access control, IP security cameras, or cloud-managed VMS/access systems.
Experience with cloud-managed networking platforms other than Cisco Meraki.

Responsibilities

Administer and monitor LAN, WAN, wireless, SD-WAN, VPN, switching, and firewall environments within approved standards.
Troubleshoot site outages, latency, packet loss, DHCP/DNS problems, routing and VLAN issues, wireless issues, and connectivity failures.
Handle first-line ISP and carrier troubleshooting, escalation, and service-restoration validation.
Manage firmware lifecycles for security appliances, switches, access points, and gateways; review upgrades, ensure site maintenance windows are outside local business hours, and maintain consistent supported versions.
Administer the Cisco Meraki dashboard, including administrator accounts and access levels, two-factor authentication, API keys, site time zones, naming standards, and device inventory accuracy.
Participate in scheduled after-hours maintenance windows and on-call incident response, and coordinate backup coverage with the approved network vendor during planned absences.
Perform scheduled network health assessments across approximately 50 company locations in nine states, as well as incident-driven travel.
Inspect network closets, racks, UPS equipment, switches, firewalls, access points, ISP equipment, cabling, labeling, and physical conditions.
Install or replace supported network equipment and validate vendor or carrier work at company locations.
Maintain site diagrams, rack photos, asset information, circuit records, and remediation lists.
Implement approved firewall, VLAN, VPN, segmentation, firmware, and network-security remediation changes.
Follow documented change-control, validation, and rollback procedures for production network changes.
Identify suspicious network activity and escalate according to cybersecurity and CIRP procedures.
Engage the approved network vendor for advanced engineering and complex troubleshooting; provide technical evidence and remain involved through resolution.
Document vendor findings, root causes, fixes, and repeatable procedures to reduce future dependency.
Maintain network diagrams, VLAN/subnet records, circuit information, device inventories, configuration references, support contacts, and runbooks.
Track hardware lifecycle, warranties, platform licenses and renewals, vendor end-of-support dates, capacity constraints, and replacement needs; maintain a rolling hardware refresh plan.
Create HelpDesk troubleshooting guidance for recurring network issues.
Support building access-control and security-camera systems, including the Eagle Eye Cloud VMS environment where applicable.
Perform or coordinate authorized badge/cardholder, door-access, and user-access changes according to documented authorization procedures.
Troubleshoot access controllers, readers, door interfaces, IP cameras, Eagle Eye bridges/gateways, PoE/network connectivity, and related device issues.
Monitor physical-security device health and coordinate firmware updates, replacements, installations, and advanced vendor support.
Include access-control and camera equipment in scheduled site assessments and maintain related inventories, diagrams, vendor contacts, and issue/remediation records.
Support preservation of access logs and surveillance-system evidence during incidents when requested under CIRP procedures; follow security and compliance requirements for authorization, privacy, retention, audit logging, and evidence handling.
Own network configuration, monitoring, and first response for the Azure-hosted site-to-site VPN hub virtual appliance; Infrastructure/Cloud owns its underlying Azure resources.