Senior Network Engineer

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas•Topeka, KS

7d•$96,240 - $131,500•Hybrid

About The Position

The Senior Network Engineer serves as the senior technical administrator for Information Services, maintaining and optimizing enterprise network systems across Data Center, LAN, WAN, and Wi-Fi infrastructure to meet business needs and service-level expectations. The role oversees complex system analysis, project management activities, and critical maintenance to support reliable and secure operations. It also guides technology decisions, mentors team members, and collaborates with senior leadership to balance performance, cost, and long-term strategic objectives. The position may be performed hybrid or onsite under the company’s Telecommuting Policy. Applicants must reside in Kansas or Missouri, or be willing to relocate as a condition of employment. The employee must be reachable by mobile services outside working hours for upgrades, system outages, and configuration changes. The role is open to multiple job levels. IT&S 16 requires at least five years of IT and/or application development experience, with a stated salary range of $96,240–$114,300. IT&S 17 requires at least eight years of IT and/or application development experience, with a stated salary range of $110,800–$131,500. The employer states that salary ranges are good-faith estimates and may vary based on the candidate’s skills, education, experience, and training.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent required.
At least five years of experience in IT infrastructure required; the IT&S 17 level specifies at least eight years of experience in IT and/or application development.
Technical training with certification in assigned technology is required as applicable.
Strong written and verbal communication skills, including technical and business documentation.
Ability to manage time, work independently, and collaborate effectively in team environments.
Project management skills, including developing estimates and managing deliverables.
Strong analytical skills for troubleshooting, evaluating infrastructure effectiveness, and conducting gap analysis.
Demonstrated leadership in designing, operating, and evolving medium- to large-scale Data Center, LAN, and WAN environments, with expertise in Layer 2 and Layer 3 routing and switching architectures.
Effective negotiation skills with internal stakeholders and external vendors.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office and standard PC utilities.
Must reside in Kansas or Missouri, or be willing to relocate.
Must be accessible via mobile services during non-working hours for upgrades, system outages, and configuration changes.
Ability to lift and handle IT or office equipment weighing up to 25 pounds.
Ability to sit for prolonged periods and work at a computer; manual dexterity to operate a keyboard, mouse, and other IT-related tools; ability to work in a standard office environment and attend meetings in person or virtually.

Nice To Haves

Scripting experience, such as Python or Postman.
Preferred experience with Cisco, Cisco ACI, Cisco Catalyst DNA Center, Cisco ISE, Cisco Catalyst Wireless, Cisco SDA, Aruba Wireless, Palo Alto, VMware, SolarWinds, Wireshark, Allegro, Gigamon, or cloud technologies.
Experience with protocols including BGP, OSPF, EIGRP, VRF, VXLAN, ISIS, LISP, QoS, IPSEC, TCP/IP, 802.1X, RADIUS, VPC, LACP, HSRP, DNS, DHCP, and IPv6.
Bachelor’s degree or completion of a Computer Science Program from a Technical Trade School.
Demonstrated experience managing assigned technology by performing regular and critical maintenance tasks within defined service levels.
Successful completion of the Infrastructure Advanced Learning Program.
Training in ITIL, COBIT, and Agile.

Responsibilities

Implement infrastructure projects and system changes using established project management practices.
Analyze business requirements, assess infrastructure impact, and identify gaps in existing processes.
Monitor system performance, conduct regular audits, and perform routine maintenance to prevent downtime.
Design and document infrastructure architecture and workflows, and define policies, standards, procedures, and strategic direction for infrastructure operations.
Perform infrastructure monitoring, maintenance, and upgrades while ensuring technology solutions align with service expectations, standards, and best practices.
Manage infrastructure costs and negotiate service-level agreements with internal stakeholders and vendors.
Mentor and guide team members by sharing technical expertise, best practices, and operational knowledge.
Stay current with industry trends, technologies, and best practices.
Remain accessible via mobile services during non-working hours for upgrades, system outages, and configuration changes.