Senior Network Engineer

San Diego County Regional Airport Authority • San Diego, CA

4h • Hybrid

About The Position

The Information & Technology Services department is looking for a Senior Network Engineer with a technical leadership focus on designing, implementing, and advancing the enterprise network infrastructure at San Diego International Airport. This role serves as a subject matter expert for complex networking environments, including routing, switching, wireless, security, data center technologies, and software-defined network systems within a high-availability airport operation. Working across technical teams, vendors, and project stakeholders, this position will lead and support network modernization efforts, including wireless upgrades within Terminal 2 and infrastructure buildouts aligned with Terminal 1 Phase 1B construction. The Senior Network Engineer will provide design review, configuration, implementation, troubleshooting, and performance recommendations to ensure new and existing environments are secure, resilient, and built to support evolving airport operations. The ideal candidate will bring strong enterprise networking expertise, sound technical judgment, and the ability to lead complex assignments with a high degree of independence. They are methodical in troubleshooting, proactive in identifying risks and improvements, and committed to building clear documentation, diagrams, standards, and procedures that support long-term operational continuity. This role also requires strong communication and collaboration skills to guide technical decisions, partner with stakeholders, and support team members through complex infrastructure work. This role offers the opportunity to shape critical network infrastructure in a dynamic airport environment where reliability, security, and thoughtful design matter. The Senior Network Engineer will partner with stakeholders to develop clear standards, diagrams, and documentation that strengthen SAN’s long-term operational continuity. While construction projects shape what passengers see, the Senior Network Engineer helps lead the invisible infrastructure that powers every connection, transaction, and operational system across the airport campus.

Requirements

• Five years of progressively responsible experience in information Technology and associated systems, networking, or security systems of which one year of experience was serving in a project lead or supervisory capacity or any equivalent combination of education, training, and/or experience.
• Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a major in computer science, management information systems, or a closely related field.
• Completion of the Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP) certification may substitute for 2-years of the educational requirement.
• Maintain a valid driver’s license and the ability to maintain insurability under the Authority’s vehicle insurance policy.
• Successful completion of a fingerprint-based background investigation, training, and testing required for employment and operation of Authority and San Diego County physical security, surveillance, radio and telecommunications equipment.
• Analytical Problem Solving— Evaluates complex technical issues, researches root causes, and applies sound judgment to implement effective, sustainable solutions.
• Communication— Clearly documents technical designs and procedures and communicates effectively with engineers, stakeholders, and vendors.
• Technical Judgment— Exercises discretion in change management, system configuration, and security practices within a high-availability environment.
• Collaboration— Works effectively with cross-functional teams while taking ownership of assigned responsibilities and deliverables.
• Project Leadership — Leads or coordinates complex network infrastructure projects by prioritizing work, aligning stakeholders, managing technical deliverables, and supporting successful implementation.
• Technical Proficiency— Demonstrates advanced knowledge of enterprise networking principles across wired, wireless, wide-area, security, and data center environments.
• Technology Environment Cisco DNAC Cisco Identity Service Engine (ISE) 802.1x Authentication ASA and FTD Cisco Firepower Management Center (FMC) Cisco ACI Data Center

Nice To Haves

• Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP) Enterprise or Security
• Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE)
• Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA)
• CompTIA Network+ or Security+
• AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner
• AWS Solutions Architect – Associate
• Microsoft Azure (AZ-700) certification
• Microsoft Azure Network Engineer Associate

Responsibilities

• Design, configure, implement, and maintain enterprise routing, switching, wireless, firewall, VOIP, and VPN technologies within a Cisco-based environment.
• Lead and perform hands-on network design, configuration, and buildout work for wireless upgrades in Terminal 2, Terminal 1 Phase 1B, and other airport construction projects.
• Configure and manage wired and wireless network infrastructure through Cisco Catalyst Center, formerly DNAC, supporting network policy, access control, and operational monitoring within a Software Defined Access environment.
• Design, configure, and support Cisco ACI, Identity Services Engine (ISE), Secure Firewall technologies, and related monitoring and analytics platforms.
• Monitor network health and availability; analyze capacity and performance; recommend and implement patches, firmware updates, and configuration improvements to maintain uptime.
• Diagnose and resolve routine to highly complex network issues; perform root cause analysis and collaborate with stakeholders to restore service and prevent recurring incidents.
• Develop a comprehensive understanding of current and legacy network environments, including system dependencies, integrations, and data flows, to support effective troubleshooting, project transition, and long-term infrastructure planning.
• Develop and maintain detailed network diagrams, as-built designs, architecture documentation, and standard operating procedures to support operational continuity and knowledge sharing.
• Serve as a hands-on technical lead on complex network projects; coordinate with vendors, senior engineers, internal teams, and stakeholders to review designs, implement changes, and support infrastructure lifecycle initiatives.
• Develop and support contingency planning, vulnerability assessments, penetration testing, and security audits to ensure resilient and secure infrastructure.
• Participate in a rotating on-call schedule to support critical network operations.
• Frequently drives an Airport Authority vehicle on the airfield to access sterile areas and other secure facilities across the airport campus.

Benefits

• 14 paid holidays
• 18 – 33 days of vacation (PTO)
• parental and child care benefits
• salary continuance for family & parental leave
• tuition reimbursement
• retirement plan options including our comprehensive pension plan and 457 defined contribution plan
• annual employer-funded Lifestyle Spending Account

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior