Sr. Network & Infrastructure Engineer

Title: Senior Network & Infrastructure Engineer

Department: Information Technology

Reports To: Director of IT Operations

Supervises People: No

How to Apply: www.chicagobears.com/jobs

About the Role

The Senior Network & Infrastructure Engineer is responsible for the design, implementation, optimization, and support of the organization’s network and infrastructure systems. This role ensures high availability, performance, and security of all network and infrastructure components in alignment with IT strategies and organizational goals. The individual should be well-versed in enterprise networking, cloud infrastructure, and security best practices, with a strong emphasis on Cisco technologies. This role requires collaboration with IT leadership, vendors, and cross-functional teams to deliver scalable and resilient infrastructure solutions. The position does not have direct reports but plays a key role in mentoring junior engineers and supporting critical IT operations. This role will work out of all Chicago Bears locations (Lake Forest, 123 Wacker, Soldier Field).

Who We Are

As one of the founding franchises of the NFL, family is the core of who we are. We believe every person matters and we can collectively achieve success through our values of respect, championship mindset, community, and perseverance. We’re different from other companies, as our vision is to be “one of one”. We strive to be a championship football organization that consistently performs at a level of excellence on and off the field Our people represent a vast array of cultural backgrounds, human experiences and perspectives and we believe they, collectively and as authentic individuals, are our greatest resource. Our working environment is one where your talent and contributions are valued by the organization and the community.

Responsibilities

Network Architecture, Operations & Planning:

• Design, implement, and maintain LAN/WAN, wireless, and cloud-based network infrastructure.
• Monitor network performance and troubleshoot issues to ensure 99.9% uptime.
• Maintain network infrastructure, including routers, switches, and firewalls, ensuring network changes are implemented without incident.
• Implement and manage network segmentation, firewalls, and VPNs to ensure secure access.
• Conduct quarterly network assessments and capacity planning to support business growth.
• Be hands-on with hardware, including performing firmware updates and physical maintenance, while also leveraging vendor support for similar tasks to maximize efficiency.
• Collaborate effectively with the IT team to lead, define, and execute the club’s networking and infrastructure strategies in alignment with club strategies, IT strategies, and existing timing and resource constraints.
• Establish proactive budgetary requirements for hardware, software, and service-related maintenance, licensing, replacements, and investments.

Infrastructure Management:

• Oversee the deployment and maintenance of physical and virtual servers, storage systems, and backup solutions.
• Manage cloud infrastructure (e.g., Azure, AWS) and hybrid (Nutanix, VM) environments.
• Ensure infrastructure scalability, redundancy, and disaster recovery readiness.
• Maintain infrastructure documentation and configuration standards, with quarterly reviews and updates.
• Develop and maintain 1, 3, and 5 year refresh roadmaps for all networking hardware and infrastructure components to ensure senior leadership can budget and plan accordingly.

Security & Compliance:

• As applicable to our networking and infrastructure environments, and in collaboration with the IT Security Architect, ensure that the club meets or exceeds Chicago Bears, NFL, and other applicable IT security standards, policies, and regulations.
• Respond to and resolve network and infrastructure-related security incidents

Vendor Management:

• Manage relationships with third-party vendors including all hardware and software vendors, as well as our network monitoring provider, ensuring SLA compliance and proactive issue resolution.
• Evaluate vendor performance quarterly and ensure alignment with network and infrastructure goals.

Project Implementation & Support:

• Lead infrastructure and networking projects from planning through execution, ensuring scope, budget, and timeline adherence.
• Provide level 3 support for escalated infrastructure and network issues.

End-User and Technology Support:

• Provide timely response to support requests in collaboration with the IT Operations Team, focusing on first point of contact resolution.
• Focus on customer service and end user education in all end user interactions.
• Document and communicate all issues thoroughly across the team.

Event & Incident Support:

• Participate in an on-call rotation for critical infrastructure support, including nights, weekends, and holidays, as needed.
• Provide technical support during major corporate events and game days, ensuring 100% availability of network and infrastructure services.

Other Responsibilities:

• Provide on-site and after hours (weekends, holidays) end user support, including game day support.
• Job responsibilities and the above-mentioned support responsibilities will involve travel to all Chicago Bears facilities, including Halas Hall, Soldier Field, and 123 N. Wacker.
• Provide game-day, NFL Draft, and training camp technical support, with the ability to travel as needed.
• Ensure high availability and functionality of technology during events through the use of preventative maintenance checklists.

Qualifications :

• Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or related field, or equivalent experience.
• Minimum 10 years of experience in network and infrastructure engineering roles.
• Strong knowledge of Cisco networking technologies; CCNA certification or (equivalent experience) required.
• Experience with cloud platforms (Azure, AWS), virtualization (VMware, Hyper-V), and storage solutions.
• Familiarity with ITIL practices and network monitoring best practices.
• Able to work non-traditional hours, in non-traditional settings, including evenings, weekends, and holidays including working all home games.
• Excellent problem-solving, communication, and organizational skills.
• Strong professional communication skills, both written and oral.
• Ability to establish rapport with various business and football departments and build strong interpersonal relationships.
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, high-pressure environment.

What We Offer

We remain committed to upholding the standard of being a first-class organization and employer of choice. Our goal is to provide quality support and a diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment for our most important resource, our people.

COMPETITIVE INDUSTRY PAY

The Senior Network & Infrastructure Engineer is a full-time non-contract position. This position is a SALARY (exempt) role.

The expected salary range for this role is $120,000 - $140,000 per year. Exact compensation may vary based on skills, experience, and other job-related factors.

BENEFITS & PERKS

Our full-time offerings include but are not limited to:

• Core Coverage: 100% paid premium for healthcare and dental coverage, affordable vision offerings, 100% paid premium for disability and employee life insurance coverage, paid FMLA (including paid paternity leave)
• Investments: employer paid pension plan, 401K with matching
• Flexible Work Location: Up to 2 days a week of remote work (role dependent)
• Time to Recharge: Minimum of 10 paid vacation days, 5 paid sick/mental health days, 4 paid floating holidays, 2 paid days to volunteer, 2 paid days to volunteer, plus 10 paid holidays
• Experiences: complimentary home game tickets & parking, ability to buy tickets to away games and fan events
• Gear: yearly Bears gear package plus 50% off at the Bears Pro Shop
• Wellness: FREE breakfast, lunch, snacks and drinks, access to onsite fitness facilities and BearsFit , complimentary Calm app access
• Connection: Social events for staff and their families, Employee Resource Groups, Service Milestones, and more
• Professional Development: complimentary LinkedIn Learning access, leadership programming, guest speakers, mentorship, and more

Additional information on employee benefits can be found by visiting www.ChicagoBears.com/jobs .

Our Commitment to Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

The Chicago Bears organization continues to deepen its commitment to establishing an inclusive, equitable work environment that reflects the diversity within our communities and fan base. We value, respect and appreciate diversity at all levels, on and off the field, and are guided by a vision of success that includes integrating diversity, equity, and inclusion into our club's DNA and culture. The Chicago Bears seek to attract, retain and develop top talent, regardless of personal characteristics, and we invite and encourage all individuals to apply for positions of interest.

The specific statements shown in each section of this description are not intended to be all-inclusive. They represent typical elements and criteria necessary to successfully perform the job. Chicago Bears Football Club, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer.