Sr. Network Engineer

Vanderbilt University • Nashville, TN

1d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Senior Network Engineer designs, implements, and optimizes network infrastructure across campus, data center, and cloud-connected environments to ensure secure, scalable, and high-performance connectivity. This role leads the delivery of complex network solutions, applies advanced technical judgment to troubleshoot and resolve critical issues, and contributes to the design and continuous improvement of network architectures. The role provides technical leadership, mentors others, and ensures reliable network services across large-scale environments. Work is performed independently with accountability for the delivery and quality of technical solutions.

About the Work Unit: Vanderbilt University Information Technology is a human-centric organization that advances our university by delivering innovative solutions and frictionless experiences through collaboration.

Key Functions and Expected Performance:

Network Design & Delivery
Designs and implements network solutions across large campus, data center, and cloud-connected environments using established architectures and standards to deliver scalable and reliable connectivity. Leads the delivery of complex network initiatives by coordinating technical work, dependencies, and implementation activities to ensure successful and timely outcomes. Designs and optimizes routing, switching, segmentation, and authentication services using established designs and configuration standards to ensure secure and efficient traffic flow. Designs and optimizes wireless and high-performance network environments, including research and high-throughput data flows, to maintain performance, capacity, and reliability. Contributes to the design and improvement of automation and delivery workflows by applying scripting, APIs, and tooling to increase efficiency and reduce manual effort in network configuration and deployment.

Analysis & Problem Resolution
Leads technical response for complex and cross-domain network incidents using monitoring data, logs, and diagnostic tools to restore service and stabilize network performance. Conducts root cause analysis by evaluating network behavior across systems and environments and driving corrective actions that reduce recurrence and improve reliability. Acts as an escalation point for high-impact or ambiguous issues by providing technical direction and coordinating resolution across teams to ensure timely service restoration. Identifies patterns in recurring issues and improve operational practices, tooling, and workflows to reduce incident volume and enhance network reliability over time.

Performance Engineering & Capacity Planning
Performs advanced performance analysis and capacity planning by evaluating network behavior and utilization to ensure infrastructure can support current and projected demand. Identifies bottlenecks and systemic limitations by analyzing traffic patterns and performance data to implement targeted improvements that enhance throughput, latency, and user experience. Evaluates the impact of new services, applications, and traffic patterns on shared network platforms and adjust designs to maintain performance and service quality. Uses operational and performance data to inform engineering decisions and implement improvements that reduce recurring issues and improve overall network reliability. Uses data ‑ driven analysis to support informed engineering decisions and reduce reactive work.

Standards, Automation & Security Integration
Develops and refines technical standards for routing, segmentation, and network security controls. Designs and implements automation solutions for network provisioning and configuration management using scripting, APIs, and tooling to reduce manual effort and improve consistency. Ensures network designs and implementations meet security and access control requirements by applying and validating configurations during deployment to maintain secure network services. Improves engineering practices and documentation by identifying gaps and implementing updates that increase consistency and reduce configuration errors.

Collaboration, Influence & Knowledge Sharing
Reviews network designs and changes proposed by others by providing constructive feedback focused on scalability, security, and operational readiness to improve implementation quality. Mentors engineers through design discussions, incident reviews, and shared problem-solving to strengthen team capability and technical consistency. Collaborates with security, infrastructure, and application teams to coordinate complex changes and manage cross-team dependencies and risks. Produces clear technical documentation that supports knowledge transfer, troubleshooting, and long-term maintainability of network services.

Requirements

• 5-7 years of progressive, relevant experience in Network Engineering is necessary
• Advanced expertise in enterprise network design, routing, switching, and high ‑ availability architectures is necessary
• Demonstrated ability to independently resolve complex, ambiguous network incidents using structured root ‑ cause analysis is necessary
• Experience with network performance analysis, capacity planning, and scaling to support growth is necessary
• Proficiency in network automation, configuration management, using scripting or infrastructure ‑ as ‑ code approaches is necessary
• Strong understanding of network security principles, segmentation models, and enterprise access control requirements within enterprise environments is necessary
• Ability to influence peers, provide technical mentorship, and collaborate across teams without formal authority is necessary
• Demonstrated commitment to VUIT’s Guiding Principles is necessary

Nice To Haves

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Information Technology or related field is preferred
• Advanced networking or automation certifications (e.g., Cisco CCNP, DevNet Professional, Aruba ACP, or equivalent) are preferred

Responsibilities

• Designs and implements network solutions across large campus, data center, and cloud-connected environments using established architectures and standards to deliver scalable and reliable connectivity.
• Leads the delivery of complex network initiatives by coordinating technical work, dependencies, and implementation activities to ensure successful and timely outcomes.
• Designs and optimizes routing, switching, segmentation, and authentication services using established designs and configuration standards to ensure secure and efficient traffic flow.
• Designs and optimizes wireless and high-performance network environments, including research and high-throughput data flows, to maintain performance, capacity, and reliability.
• Contributes to the design and improvement of automation and delivery workflows by applying scripting, APIs, and tooling to increase efficiency and reduce manual effort in network configuration and deployment.
• Leads technical response for complex and cross-domain network incidents using monitoring data, logs, and diagnostic tools to restore service and stabilize network performance.
• Conducts root cause analysis by evaluating network behavior across systems and environments and driving corrective actions that reduce recurrence and improve reliability.
• Acts as an escalation point for high-impact or ambiguous issues by providing technical direction and coordinating resolution across teams to ensure timely service restoration.
• Identifies patterns in recurring issues and improve operational practices, tooling, and workflows to reduce incident volume and enhance network reliability over time.
• Performs advanced performance analysis and capacity planning by evaluating network behavior and utilization to ensure infrastructure can support current and projected demand.
• Identifies bottlenecks and systemic limitations by analyzing traffic patterns and performance data to implement targeted improvements that enhance throughput, latency, and user experience.
• Evaluates the impact of new services, applications, and traffic patterns on shared network platforms and adjust designs to maintain performance and service quality.
• Uses operational and performance data to inform engineering decisions and implement improvements that reduce recurring issues and improve overall network reliability.
• Uses data ‑ driven analysis to support informed engineering decisions and reduce reactive work.
• Develops and refines technical standards for routing, segmentation, and network security controls.
• Designs and implements automation solutions for network provisioning and configuration management using scripting, APIs, and tooling to reduce manual effort and improve consistency.
• Ensures network designs and implementations meet security and access control requirements by applying and validating configurations during deployment to maintain secure network services.
• Improves engineering practices and documentation by identifying gaps and implementing updates that increase consistency and reduce configuration errors.
• Reviews network designs and changes proposed by others by providing constructive feedback focused on scalability, security, and operational readiness to improve implementation quality.
• Mentors engineers through design discussions, incident reviews, and shared problem-solving to strengthen team capability and technical consistency.
• Collaborates with security, infrastructure, and application teams to coordinate complex changes and manage cross-team dependencies and risks.
• Produces clear technical documentation that supports knowledge transfer, troubleshooting, and long-term maintainability of network services.

Benefits

• Hybrid Work Arrangement: This position is eligible for a hybrid work schedule, combining on ‑ campus and remote work.
• On-call Responsibilities: The position includes rotating on-call duties for after-hours incident response and requests.

What This Job Offers

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