Principal IT Engineer - Networking

SHI International Corp.•Austin, TX

4d•$180,000 - $200,000•Hybrid

About The Position

The Principal IT Engineer – Networking designs, implements, and operates enterprise network solutions with a primary focus on Cisco and Meraki wired and wireless technologies. This role is responsible for the day-to-day reliability and performance of campus and branch connectivity, partners with security and infrastructure teams to integrate identity and access controls (e.g., Cisco ISE), and drives continuous improvement through standardization, documentation, and automation. The Principal IT Engineer leads incident triage and resolution, executes change activities using established change-management practices (e.g., ServiceNow), mentors junior engineers, and contributes to technical direction and roadmap planning. This position is hybrid and requires regular onsite presence in Somerset, NJ or Austin, TX, with scheduling determined by business needs.

Requirements

Expert-level troubleshooting across Layer 2 and Layer 3 networking in enterprise environments.
Advanced ability to design, operate, and optimize wired and wireless enterprise networks (Cisco and/or Meraki).
Strong understanding of routing, switching, high availability, and network resiliency concepts.
Proficiency in identity and access integrations, including 802.1X, RADIUS/TACACS+, and network segmentation.
Ability to analyze network performance using telemetry and monitoring tools.
Experience managing firewall technologies, including policy configuration, NAT, VPN, and traffic analysis.
Knowledge of cloud networking concepts, including VPC/VNet design, routing, VPN connectivity, and security controls.
Familiarity with IT service management processes (incident, problem, and change management).
Scripting and automation capability using tools such as PowerShell, Python, or APIs.
Strong communication skills with the ability to explain complex technical concepts to technical and non-technical audiences.
Proven analytical problem-solving skills using structured troubleshooting methodologies.
Ability to collaborate effectively across cross-functional teams and influence stakeholders.
Mentorship capability to guide and develop junior engineers.
Ability to prioritize and adapt in a dynamic environment with competing operational and project demands.
Completed Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science or a related field, or relevant work experience required
10+ years of hands-on experience supporting and engineering enterprise networks.
Demonstrated experience designing, implementing, and operating Cisco and/or Meraki wired and wireless environments.

Nice To Haves

Cisco certifications such as CCNA, CCNP, and/or Meraki CMNA.
Experience with Cisco ISE design and policy administration in an enterprise environment.
Experience performing wireless surveys and using RF and spectrum analysis tools.
Experience with network automation, configuration management, or infrastructure-related tooling.

Responsibilities

Design, configure, and operate Cisco Wireless LAN Controllers (e.g., Catalyst 9800 series) and Meraki wireless networks.
Plan and optimize RF designs (channel, power, roaming, capacity) and validate changes using surveys and spectrum analysis.
Implement and maintain SSIDs, guest access, segmentation, and wireless security standards aligned to corporate policies.
Troubleshoot complex wireless issues across controller, access point, client, and authentication layers; lead root-cause analysis and remediation.
Integrate wireless access with Cisco ISE (802.1X, MAB, posture/policy) to enforce identity-based access controls.
Monitor wireless health and user experience; define and improve alerts, KPIs, and operational runbooks.
Design, implement, and maintain enterprise LAN/WAN infrastructure, including campus and branch connectivity.
Configure, optimize, and troubleshoot routing and switching technologies (e.g., VLANs, STP, HSRP/VRRP, OSPF, BGP; EIGRP where applicable).
Operate Cisco switching and routing platforms (e.g., Catalyst, Nexus) and associated services (DHCP relay, DNS dependencies, NTP, QoS).
Engineer resiliency and high availability, including redundant paths, fast convergence, and failover testing, and document design decisions.
Monitor and analyze performance using telemetry and network-management methods (e.g., SNMP, NetFlow) to drive performance improvements.
Plan and execute upgrades, expansions, and lifecycle refreshes in partnership with site IT, security, and application stakeholders.
Lead incident triage, escalation, and resolution for network-related events; perform root-cause analysis and implement preventative actions.
Maintain operational hygiene, including monitoring and alert tuning, capacity tracking, asset and configuration accuracy, and routine health checks.
Execute changes through established change-management processes (e.g., ServiceNow), including risk assessment, implementation planning, and backout procedures.
Create and maintain network documentation (standards, diagrams, runbooks) and promote reuse and standardization across sites.
Automate repeatable tasks and reporting using scripts and APIs; identify opportunities to reduce manual effort and improve reliability.
Partner with service desk teams and junior engineers to enhance troubleshooting workflows and knowledge-sharing resources.