Senior Network Advisor

AESO•Calgary, AB

9d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Alberta Electric System Operator (AESO) is responsible for the safe, reliable, and economic planning and operation of the Alberta Interconnected Electric System. We provide open and non-discriminatory access to Alberta’s interconnected power grid and also facilitate Alberta’s competitive wholesale electricity market. The AESO strives to foster an inclusive, diverse and equitable workplace where people feel respected and welcomed for who they are, together we deliver high performance and innovative results. Reporting to the Manager, IT Infrastructure and Applications, the Senior Network Advisor plays a key senior role in overseeing network initiatives and related activities. Working closely with IT Infrastructure & Operations and Cybersecurity teams, this role analyzes network performance, supports incident restoration, and applies industry best practices to optimize reliability, scalability, and security. Success in this role requires strong communication skills and the ability to clearly convey complex technical concepts to diverse technical and non-technical stakeholders.

Requirements

Completion of a bachelor’s degree in computer science or a two‑year technical diploma in computer technology, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
10+ years of experience in networking, including networking fundamentals (TCP/IP, DNS, DHCP, NAT, ARP, ICMP), strong understanding of the OSI model, and enterprise routing and switching technologies such as OSPF, BGP, IGRP, IS‑IS, VLANs, 802.1Q trunking, STP, and inter‑VLAN routing.
Experience with Extreme Networks and Cisco Systems networking technologies, including routing, switching, and enterprise infrastructure design, deployment, and optimization.
Experience with network security architecture and threat mitigation using Fortinet (FortiGate), including firewall design, security policies, NAT, VPNs, and high availability.
Strong experience with VPN technologies (SSL/TLS, IPsec), including site‑to‑site and remote access, with expertise in IPsec (IKEv1/v2, Phase 1 and 2), encryption standards, and complex hybrid troubleshooting.
Experience with load balancing (Layer 4 and 7, including F5 BIG‑IP and NGINX), network monitoring and troubleshooting using tools such as Wireshark, SolarWinds, and Nagios, and protocols including SNMP, NetFlow, and Syslog.
Experience with wireless networking (802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax), access point configuration, wireless security (WPA2/WPA3), and technologies such as VoIP (SIP, QoS) and Software‑Defined Networking (SDN).
Understanding of virtualization, Windows/Unix servers, and their network requirements.
This role may require travel to various locations in Calgary and surrounding areas. The successful candidate must have a valid driver’s license and reliable transportation, as public transit is not available at all locations.

Responsibilities

Offer guidance and direction to Network Administrators and other Network Advisors.
Design the overall structure and layout of the network, considering organizational goals and requirements, while working with AESO’s Cybersecurity team to implement security measures such as firewalls, intrusion detection and prevention systems, and encrypted connections.
Monitor network performance and utilization, identify and troubleshoot issues, and improve performance by reducing bottlenecks, fine‑tuning configurations, and upgrading equipment.
Recommend optimal configuration settings to enhance performance, security, and reliability, identifying misconfigurations, redundant or conflicting settings, and providing recommendations for fine‑tuning network devices and protocols.
Provide senior‑level assistance in troubleshooting by offering guidance, analysis, and diagnostic insight to identify and resolve network issues.
Determine well in advance when and where additional network resources are required to ensure scalability and consistent, reliable performance.
Assist with the integration of cloud services into the organization’s network infrastructure and support the planning and implementation of network expansion to accommodate growth and new services.
Develop and implement data and network recovery plans and ensure disaster recovery readiness.
Work with equipment vendors and service providers to ensure the network is well supported and operates smoothly.
Implement network automation technologies to reduce manual tasks, improve efficiency, and increase reliability.
Plan, implement, maintain, and troubleshoot voice communication network infrastructure, including traditional telecommunication and modern voice technologies.
Define network standards and work with Network Administrators to ensure standards, documentation, and procedures are accurate, followed, and kept current to support reliable operations.
Provide informal guidance and support to Network Administrators and users to ensure effective use and maintenance of the network.
Maintain familiarity with AESO regulations, including Critical Infrastructure Protection (CIP) and CSOX, and follow established change control and incident review processes.