Network Engineer

Network Engineer Type: Contract to Hire (initial contract duration thru 12/30/2026) Location: Milwaukee, WI (hybrid Tues/Thurs onsite plus occasional travel to other locations mileage reimbursed for those drives)
Description:
Requirements:

• MAIN MUST HAVES - Layer 3 networking & Wireless Networking experience.
• Must be in the SE Wisconsin area.
• Travel expected in SE Wisconsin, minimal travel outside of Wisconsin
• On-call rotation basis
• Daily queue support.
• Hybrid role, expected in the office on Tuesday and Thursday
• Can escalate to a tier 2 role, but needs to operate as the current Network Tier 1 team does (minimal escalations)
• Product knowledge preferred: Juniper/HPE (layer3 route/switch), Aruba wireless, Palo firewall and HPE SD Wan (nice to have but not needed). Good knowledge of othe products is a plus.
• Must be fluent in English, good communication skills

Key Responsibilities
Enterprise Network Engineering & Support:

• Provide operational support for enterprise network platforms, including switching, routing, firewalls, and wireless systems.
• Support enterprise wireless platforms through configuration, monitoring, performance tuning, and analytics.
• Diagnose and resolve network incidents.
• Assist with the design and implementation of network enhancements aligned with architectural and security best practices.
• Develop and execute test plans to validate network changes and deployments.
• Provide SD WAN support as needed for routing policies, monitoring, and connectivity.

Hardware Lifecycle Management

• Manage lifecycle activities for a large inventory of network hardware, including switches, firewalls, wireless access points, and SD WAN devices.
• Coordinate planning and execution of hardware upgrades, refresh projects, and decommissioning efforts across multiple locations.
• Maintain accurate documentation of inventory, lifecycle stages, and platform dependencies.
• Collaborate with procurement teams, logistics, and field resources to ensure seamless deployment and transitions.

Platform & Process Optimization

• Identify opportunities to improve network reliability, automation, documentation, and operational processes.
• Stay current with emerging networking technologies, industry trends, and best practices.

Collaboration & Stakeholder Engagement

• Work closely with global and cross functional teams to understand requirements and deliver scalable solutions.
• Communicate technical information effectively to both technical and non technical stakeholders.
• Build and maintain strong working relationships across IT and business units.

Documentation & Knowledge Development

• Create and maintain detailed documentation, including network diagrams, standards, lifecycle plans, and troubleshooting guides.
• Support change control processes and ensure accurate configuration management.

Required Skills & Qualifications

• Strong hands-on experience with enterprise routing, switching, wireless platforms, and firewall technologies.
• Experience supporting large-scale network environments.
• Understanding of network security principles, segmentation, and best practices.
• Strong troubleshooting and analytical skills with experience conducting Root Cause Analysis.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Understanding of change management practices.
• Ability to work effectively with cross-functional and global teams.
• Willingness to learn new tools, technologies, and methodologies.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with automation-driven or template-based management platforms
• Experience working in a multi-vendor network
• Experience with structured lifecycle management processes and asset tracking.
• Understanding of the ITIL framework.