Senior Network Engineer

Posting Summary Logo:

Posting Number:
STA00300PO26

Job Family:
Information Technology

Job Function:
Enterprise Network Engineering

USC Market Title:
Enterprise Network Engineer

Link to USC Market Title:

Job Level:
P4 - Professional

Business Title (Internal Title):
Senior Network Engineer

Campus:
Columbia

Work County:
Richland

College/Division:
Division of Information Technology

Department:
IT Network Services

State Pay Range:
T08

USC Market Range:
MRM - $107,351 $136,872 $166,394

Anticipated Hiring Range:
$107,351- $136,872

Location of Vacancy:

Part/Full Time:
Full Time

Hours per Week:
37.5

Work Schedule:

• Standard working schedule: 8:30am 5:00pm
• Must be willing to work a flexible schedule to meet the needs of the department.

Basis :
12 months

Job Search Category:
Information Technology

About USC About University of South Carolina:
From the Upstate to the Lowcountry, the University of South Carolina system is transforming the lives of South Carolinians through the impact of our eight institutions and 20 locations throughout the state. More than 50,000 students are enrolled at one of eight institutions, including the research campus in Columbia and comprehensive four-year universities in Aiken, Upstate and Beaufort. In addition, our Palmetto College campuses in Salkehatchie, Union, Lancaster and Sumter enable students to earn associate or bachelors degrees through a combination of in-person, online or blended learning. All of our system institutions place strong emphasis on service helping to build healthier, more educated communities in South Carolina and beyond.

Veterans' Preference Statement:
The University of South Carolina is committed to equal opportunity and proudly values the skills and experience military veterans bring to our workforce. Across South Carolina, we are making veterans a priority for employment and recognize their vital contributions to our state and our communities.

Benefits for FTE Positions The University of South Carolina (USC), through the State of SC and Public Employee Benefit Authority (PEBA), offers employees a valuable benefits package, including health and life insurance, generous paid leave and retirement programs. To learn more about USC benefits, access the "Working at USC" section on the Applicant Portal at Research Grant or Time-limited positions may be eligible for all, some, or no benefits, based on the grant or project funding.

Position Description Advertised Job Summary:
Senior Network Engineer

Spend your days enjoying one of the most beautiful university campuses in America at the University of South Carolina, located in the vibrant capital city of one of the nations fastest-growing states. Join us in advancing the Division of Information Technology as we build and support a modern, secure, and high-performing network environment that powers teaching, research, and student success. As a Gamecock, you will work alongside a collaborative, talented, and forward-thinking team, applying your expertise to deliver reliable, innovative connectivity solutions that enhance the digital experience across our campus community.

The Senior Network Engineer is responsible for designing, implementing, and supporting enterprise wireless and wired network infrastructure across the university. This role serves as a technical expert in wireless networking, ensuring high availability, performance, and security while supporting academic, research, and administrative operations. The position also plays a key role in automation, monitoring, and continuous improvement of network services in a dynamic campus environment.

Key Responsibilities:

• Network Design & Management: Design, implement, and manage secure, high-performance wireless, LAN , and WAN network infrastructure, including RF design, site surveys, and capacity planning. This includes architecting and deploying infrastructure such as Wi-Fi, cellular, and microwave systems; routers, switches, and firewalls; and automation platforms for configuration management, monitoring, and incident response.
• Orchestration, Automation, and Network Engineering: Develop and maintain network automation and orchestration solutions and workflows using tools such as Python, Ansible, APIs, and Infrastructure-as-Code frameworks. Manage integrations of automation platforms with network management and security systems.
• Metrics, Monitoring, and Performance Optimization: Design and manage network metrics, telemetry, monitoring, and performance optimization solutions, including dashboards and KPIs; collaborate with cross-functional teams to analyze data and trends, establish benchmarks, and drive continuous improvements in reliability, scalability, and security.
  
  
• Tier 3 Network, Security, and Automation Support: Provide Tier 3 support for complex network and security issues, including troubleshooting, root cause analysis, and collaboration with internal teams and vendors. Responsible for diagnosing and resolving advanced problems related to network performance, configuration, interoperability, automation workflows, and cybersecurity across technologies such as Wi-Fi, cellular, microwave, and wired Ethernet systems.

What Were Looking For:

• Five (5) or more years of experience supporting enterprise wireless and wired network infrastructure in a higher-education or large-campus, multi-site environment.
• Strong knowledge of networking technologies (routing, switching, wireless, firewalling, 802.1X, RADIUS , NAC , automation, monitoring, metrics and telemetry, and security architectures.)
• Hands-on experience with tools and platforms such as Aruba, Cisco, Juniper, Fortinet, Clearpass, LibreNMS, Grafana, Netbox, Ansible, Python, Ekahau, AirMagnet.
• Ability to troubleshoot complex issues, automate processes, create detailed documentation, automation workflows, maintain pace with rapidly changing technology, and communicate effectively with stakeholders.

Why Join Us?

• Work on large-scale, complex network environments that support a major research university, offering unique technical challenges and opportunities to grow your expertise at scale.
• Play a key role in shaping and advancing wireless networking strategy and innovation across a large, dynamic campus environment.
• Join a collaborative, high-performing team with opportunities to mentor others and expand your leadership and technical influence.
• Work hands-on with cutting-edge technologies, including network automation, telemetry, and advanced security design, to drive modern, scalable solutions.

Perks of the University of South Carolina:

• Downtown COLA Location: Enjoy working in the heart of Columbia, SC, with easy access to vibrant city life, dining, and cultural events.
• Energetic Leadership: Thrive under the guidance of an energetic and innovative leadership team dedicated to transforming IT at USC , making your role impactful and exciting.
• Comprehensive Benefits: Competitive salary, state retirement plan, and generous health benefits
• Work-Life Balance: Paid time off, university holidays, and flexible work opportunities
• Professional Growth: Access to training, certifications, and career development resources

Job Related Minimum Required Education and Experience:

• Requires a bachelors degree in a job-related field and 4 or more years of job-related experience, which may be substituted by an equivalent combination of job-related certification, training, education, and/or experience.

Required Certification, Licensure/Other Credentials:

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bachelors degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, Engineering, or related field and 5 years of professional network engineering experience; or equivalent.
• Five (5) or more years of experience supporting enterprise wireless and wired network infrastructure in a higher-education or large-campus environment.
• Professional certifications such as Cisco CCNP Enterprise/ CCNA , Aruba ACMP / ACSP , Juniper JNCIS / JNCIP , CWNA / CWNP , or Fortinet Certified Professional with NSE4 (FortiOS Administrator) and NSE5 (Secure Networking).
• Experience with Aruba networking, Juniper, wireless systems, wireless controllers, and RF design tools (Ekahau, AirMagnet) at an enterprise level.
• Experience with Cisco access layer.
• Experience with 802.1X, RADIUS , NAC , and ClearPass.
• Experience with automation (Python, Ansible, APIs), monitoring (LibreNMS, Grafana, NetBox), proficient with Fortinet security architecture, tools, and administration with the ability to coordinate multi-site deployments with internal teams and vendors.

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities:

• Knowledge of networking standards, behavior, authentication systems, automation concepts, and network security best practices.
• Skill in designing and deploying enterprise environments, troubleshooting complex network issues, performing RCA , automating configuration tasks, analyzing performance data, and maintaining documentation.
• Ability to create and support campus infrastructure, develop documentation and topology maps, secure network systems, perform RF analysis, monitor networks via KPIs and telemetry, automate tasks, mentor junior staff, and communicate effectively with stakeholders.
• Ability to present summary and detailed data to various audiences, and to write comprehensive reports and keep detailed records.
• Ability to establish and maintain working relationships with users, vendors, and other employees.
• Employees must be able to self-train and maintain pace with rapidly changing technology as required.

Job Duties Job Duty:
Network Design & Management:

Responsible for the design, implementation, and management of secure, high-performance communication networks across wireless, LAN , and WAN environments. This includes architecting and deploying infrastructure such as Wi-Fi, cellular, and microwave systems; routers, switches, and firewalls; and automation platforms for configuration management, monitoring, and incident response.

Conduct detailed site surveys, spectrum analyses, and network assessments to ensure optimal coverage, capacity, and resilience. Configure and troubleshoot network and security devices, implement advanced routing, switching, and segmentation strategies, and apply automation tools (e.g., Python, Ansible, or similar frameworks) to streamline provisioning and maintenance tasks.

Collaborate with cross-functional teams to integrate secure wireless and wired technologies into broader enterprise architectures, ensuring alignment with organizational objectives and regulatory compliance. Continuously monitor and analyze network performance and security posture, applying proactive improvements to enhance reliability, scalability, and protection against evolving threats.

Maintain comprehensive documentation of network designs, configurations, automation workflows, and performance metrics to support operational excellence and ongoing optimization.

Essential Function:
Yes

Percentage of Time:
40

Job Duty:
Orchestration, Automation, and Network Engineering
Responsible for designing, developing, and implementing automated solutions that streamline the deployment, configuration, monitoring, and optimization of secure wireless, LAN , and WAN networks. This includes creating and maintaining orchestration workflows, scripts, and Infrastructure-as-Code (IaC) frameworks to minimize manual intervention, enhance reliability, and ensure consistent performance across diverse network environments.

Integrate automation platforms with network management and security systems, leveraging APIs and tools such as Ansible, Python, RESTful services, and CI/CD pipelines to enable dynamic provisioning, real-time configuration management, and automated compliance enforcement. Implement automation for network security functionssuch as firewall policy updates, access control validation, and vulnerability scanningto ensure continuous alignment with cybersecurity and regulatory standards.

Continuously monitor and analyze automated processes and network telemetry to ensure operational accuracy, scalability, and performance optimization. Collaborate with cross-functional engineering and security teams to integrate orchestration and automation capabilities into the universitys broader IT and research infrastructure, supporting innovation, resilience, and rapid service delivery.

Essential Function:
Yes

Percentage of Time:
25

Job Duty:
Metrics, Monitoring, and Performance Optimization

Responsible for developing and managing comprehensive metrics frameworks to measure, analyze, and optimize the performance, reliability, and security of wireless, LAN , and WAN networks. This includes defining and tracking Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) such as signal strength, throughput, latency, packet loss, availability, and security event metrics to ensure the network meets established Service Level Agreements (SLAs) and organizational objectives. Collect and aggregate performance and security data from network monitoring, automation, and orchestration systems to provide actionable insights. Design and maintain real-time dashboards and reports that visualize network health, trends, and anomaly detection using tools such as SNMP , NetFlow, Syslog, API integrations, and telemetry analytics platforms . Perform advanced data analysis to identify performance bottlenecks, capacity constraints, configuration drift, and potential vulnerabilities. Use these insights to drive proactive maintenance, optimize configurations, and support automation-driven corrective actions. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to establish performance and security benchmarks, validate network enhancements, and ensure that both wired and wireless infrastructures continuously meet evolving standards for scalability, compliance, and operational excellence.

Essential Function:
Yes

Percentage of Time:
15

Job Duty:
Tier 3 Network, Security, and Automation Support

Provides Tier 3 engineering support for complex and escalated issues across wireless, LAN , WAN , and security infrastructures. Responsible for diagnosing and resolving advanced problems related to network performance, configuration, interoperability, automation workflows, and cybersecurity across technologies such as Wi-Fi, cellular, microwave, and wired Ethernet systems. Perform in-depth Root Cause Analysis ( RCA ) and develop corrective and preventive actions for critical incidents affecting connectivity, performance, or security posture. Collaborate with vendors, automation teams, and internal engineering groups to troubleshoot, patch, and optimize systems, ensuring minimal downtime and full compliance with operational and security standards.

Leverage monitoring and orchestration tools to proactively detect and resolve anomalies through automated remediation workflows when possible. Maintain and refine troubleshooting procedures, create detailed post-incident documentation, and contribute to continuous improvement by identifying systemic issues and recommending design or process enhancements. Provide advanced technical guidance, knowledge transfer, and mentorship to Tier 1 and Tier 2 support teams, strengthening overall operational maturity and promoting consistent adherence to best practices in network security, reliability, and automation.

Essential Function:
Yes

Percentage of Time:
10

Job Duty:
Professional Development :
Obtain and maintain job training and certifications as required by job responsibilities. Self-train and keep pace with rapidly changing technology as needed. Participate in communities of practice.

Essential Function:
Yes

Percentage of Time:
5

Job Duty:
Perform additional duties as required.

Essential Function:
No

Percentage of Time:
5

Position Attributes Employees in Safety-Sensitive or Security-Sensitive positions will be subject to pre-employment and post-employment drug testing in accordance with University policy HR 1.95 Drug and Alcohol Testing.

Safety Sensitive or Security Sensitive:
No

Hazardous weather category:
Non-Essential

Posting Detail Information Number of Vacancies:
1

Desired Start Date:

Job Open Date:
05/18/2026

Job Close Date:
06/26/2026

Open Until Filled:
No

Special Instructions to Applicant:
Positions are advertised for a minimum of five (5) business days on our job website. After five (5) business days, positions can be closed at the discretion of the department at any time. This employment site is updated on a regular basis. The length of the recruitment and screening process may vary from position to position, depending upon a variety of factors. Should review of your qualifications result in a decision to pursue your candidacy, you will be contacted by phone or email.

We are only accepting applications submitted by June 26, 2026.

The University of South Carolina offers a valuable benefits package including but not limited to:

• Health and Life Insurance
• Retirement Programs
• Paid Tuition
• Dependent Scholarships
• Annual Leave
• Sick Leave
• 13 Paid Holidays (including an extended December holiday)
• Paid Parental Leave
• Professional Development Opportunities

Click here to learn more about why you should work at USC .

Quicklink for Posting:

EEO Statement:
The University of South Carolina does not discriminate in educational or employment opportunities or decisions for qualified persons on the basis of age, ancestry, citizenship status, color, disability, ethnicity, familial status, gender (including transgender), gender identity or expression, genetic information, HIV /AIDs status, military status, national origin, pregnancy (false pregnancy, termination of pregnancy, childbirth, recovery therefrom or related medical conditions, breastfeeding), race, religion (including religious dress and grooming practices), sex, sexual orientation, veteran status, or any other bases under federal, state, local law, or regulations.