Senior Network and Communications Engineer

South Metro Fire Rescue•Centennial, CO

3d•$120,349 - $141,100•Onsite

About The Position

The Senior Network and Communications Engineer is responsible for ensuring the reliability, performance, and security of South Metro Fire Rescue’s network and communication infrastructure. This position manages the design, implementation, and optimization of enterprise network systems, including wired and wireless networks, voice systems, data storage, virtualization, and related technologies. The Senior Network and Communications Engineer leads planning, configuration, troubleshooting, and continuous improvement initiatives that support the operational needs of the organization.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in computer science or related field and certified network administration training is required.
A minimum of six (6) years of experience in the installation and maintenance of LAN/WAN network systems, working in telecommunications, and installation and maintenance of operating systems.
A minimum of three (3) years of experience in computer systems administration.
Possess and maintain a valid Colorado Driver’s license and an acceptable driving record in accordance with the SMFR’s Driving Records Policy.
Must obtain CPR certification within one (1) year of hire.
Ability to demonstrate strong customer service orientation.
Excellent general-purpose computer knowledge and computer skills, and broad experience with many IT services.
Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously, respond to changing priorities, work with frequent interruptions, and adhere to deadlines in stressful situations.
Ability to provide clear concise verbal and written instructions to other employees and supervisors.
Ability to maintain collaborative relationships with SMFR personnel with the express purpose of aiding and increasing efficiency.
Skill in verbal and written communication and the ability to comprehend broad and complicated conceptual ideas or strategies and implement such ideas or strategies.
Ability to prepare clear, concise, and accurate reports, correspondence, and other written materials.
Ability to work independently and set priorities.
Ability to interact well with a diverse population with outstanding interpersonal and communication skills.
Ability to exercise sound independent judgment and initiative within established guidelines.
Strong understanding of SMFR’s goals and objectives in addition to SMFR’s standard concepts, practices, and procedures.
Knowledge of: Cisco Routers and Switches, Cisco Wireless controllers and access points, Cisco Wireless 5.0Ghz Point to Point radios, Exalt Point to Point 4.9 GHz and 11 GHz radio systems, VMware Infrastructure 3.5 and vSphere 4.0, HP hardware including HP Proliant servers and Proliant Blade servers, HP MSA SAN solutions, and Microsoft Windows server.
Ability to obtain and maintain a Colorado Driver’s License and be insurable by the district’s insurance provider.
Proven knowledge of systems development life cycle methodologies.
Project management skills.
Ability to conduct research into issues and products as required.
Ability to present ideas in business-friendly and user-friendly language.
Highly self-motivated and directed, with keen attention to detail.
Proven analytical and problem-solving abilities.

Responsibilities

Designs, implements, and maintains network and telecommunications systems, including LAN, WAN, Internet, intranet, and wireless infrastructure.
Manages and monitors all network and communication hardware and software to ensure optimal performance.
Plans and coordinates the acquisition, installation, and configuration of network and telecommunications systems.
Develops and enforces policies, procedures, and documentation for network administration, resource use, and security.
Analyzes network utilization, performance, and capacity; implements improvements as needed.
Manages and supports virtualization and storage platforms, including VMware and SAN systems.
Configures, manages and optimizes servers and storage environments.
Supports and maintains enterprise systems such as email, imaging, and collaboration platforms (e.g., SharePoint).
Evaluates emerging network, telecommunications, and virtualization technologies and recommend strategic upgrades.
Develops short- and long-term infrastructure plans to meet organizational requirements.
Negotiates with vendors and contractors to procure products and services that align with budget and performance goals.
Manages and maintains system backup and recovery infrastructure to ensure data integrity and business continuity; installs, configures, and supports backup and recovery software, hardware, and related systems; schedules, monitors, and verifies completion of daily, weekly, and periodic backup jobs; performs data recovery and restoration for files, servers, or entire systems as needed; troubleshoots backup and restores failures, identifying and resolving underlying issues promptly.
Ensures all backup and recovery processes align with organizational policies, security standards, and recovery objectives
Coordinates with department heads and end users to ensure technology aligns with organizational objectives.
Maintains regular written and verbal communication with leadership and key stakeholders regarding system performance, initiatives, and challenges.
Provides technical support for complex network, system, and telecommunications issues.
Maintains high level of customer support; prioritizes IT and communication service issues submitted to the service desk; answers phone calls, assigns and troubleshoots service desk tickets; identifies computer, printer, application, and network problems and works toward resolutions.
Participates in an on-call rotation providing after-hours support during evenings and weekends as needed; responds to after-hours incidents and coordinates communications and recovery actions.
Performs additional technology-related duties and special projects as assigned.