Network Engineer

The University of Southern California’s (USC’s) Information Technology Services (ITS) is seeking two (2) talented Network Engineers with an exceptional commitment to service excellence to join our collaborative team.

As the Network Engineer, you will be an integral member of the Network Infrastructure team, collaborating with diverse and talented team members to help solve multidimensional information technology problems, improve customer experience, and generate value for our campus stakeholders across a broad base of departments and constituencies.

THE WORK YOU WILL DO

The Network Engineer provides network engineering and technical support for LAN, WAN, and network infrastructure to ensure university network systems are operating at peak efficiency with little or no downtime. This role designs, configures, troubleshoots, and maintains university network equipment across multiple platforms. The Network Engineer ensures that all networking activities are aligned to industry best practices as well as ITS and university policies, processes, and procedures. This role may provide technical and training assistance to other ITS teams. As a member of ITS, the Network Engineer demonstrates ITS values in action as part of our service excellence.

The Network Engineer:

• Configures, installs, and maintains network devices. Ensures high network availability, reliability, security, and other performance attributes based on best-in class service levels. Provides hands-on, proactive and reactive maintenance, and troubleshooting support. Provides subject-matter expertise for Tier 1- and Tier 2-service teams. Executes campus network architecture, design, implementation, and network operations by ensuring alignment with ITS and campus security requirements. Tracks key metrics by configuring and maintaining a proactive Network Monitoring System that leverages existing tools and leading-edge practices. Participates in day-to-day network operations (e.g., upgrading and applying software updates and patches to network devices).
• Collaborates with team members to establish project plans, schedules, and priorities. Participates in the development, implementation, and maintenance of policies, procedures, and associated training plans for network administration, operations, and disaster recovery. Creates custom scripts to improve network efficiency and enhance network automation.
• Engages appropriate customers to resolve network issues. Consults with university departments to determine device suitability and capability for campus network connections, in accordance with approved network and security policies.
• Collaborates with team members and management, implementing effective solutions to support the network engineering team’s vision. Maintains currency with technology, standards, and best practices. Supports process improvement efforts within the team and across the ITS organization.
• Works collaboratively with others within ITS and other university departments to deliver highly reliable network services. Proactively creates and maintains detailed written documentation. Openly shares experience and subject-matter expertise with co-workers through written and oral presentations. Provide timely communications to stakeholders, technical staff, and management as required.
• Maintains currency with new and emerging technologies and approaches, leveraging the latest industry knowledge to identify opportunities for innovation and continuous improvement. Pursues information on new network engineering developments, reading journals and other pertinent publications, talking with vendors, and participating in professional organizations, meetings, conferences, seminars and training courses.
• Actively participates in the identification of root causes to network issues, recommending or effecting realistic solutions. Analyzes network data and statistics to both proactively and reactively resolve network issues. Collaborates with industry experts and vendors to find and implement effective technology applications. Solves complex, vendor-specific problems, and submits bug reports to vendors.
• Aids the cultivation of an inclusive environment and a culture of trust and transparency, sharing information broadly, openly, and deliberately. Builds and maintains collaborative relationships with diverse groups of peers, team members, and leadership. Actively embodies ITS values and behaviors (e.g., accountability, ethics, best-in-class customer service).

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

Candidates for the position of Network Engineer must meet the following qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field such as computer science, computer information systems, etc., or equivalent combination of education, training, and experience.
• Four (4) years of experience in information technology or network engineering.
• Experience with enterprise networking technologies, tools, and processes including routing and switching, L4-7 traffic management (e.g., load balancing), firewalls, data center fabric, campus networks, VoIP, wireless networks, network access control (NAC), virtualization, and hybrid cloud.
• Proficient with network operating systems including Arista EOS, Cisco IOS/XE/XR, Aruba AOS, and Linux, or similar.
• Experience with L2 protocols including STP,DHCP, 802.1X, LACP, MLAG, VXLAN bridging etc.
• Proficient with addressing mechanisms (DNS, DHCP, IPAM, or similar), and practical experience with L1 technologies (SMF, MMF, DWDM, Transceivers, AOC, Twinax, Fiber fan-outs, or similar)
• Firm understanding of TACACS/RADIUS, and experience with network traffic analysis for troubleshooting (tcpdump, Wireshark, Netflow/sFlow, iperf, etc.)
• Exposure to or experience with programming/scripting languages used to automate networks (e.g., Python, Ansible).
• Experience with L3 protocols and techniques, including MP-BGP, OSPF, VXLAN routing,VRFs, VRRP, and VARP, or similar.
• Experience with other network protocols and methods, including Traffic Engineering, NAT, TCP/IP, Multicast, and IPv6.
• Experience with firewall configuration and administration.
• Ability to engage with third-party vendors, including evaluating multiple vendor data products, documenting test plans, assisting in vendor selection, and developing deployment workbooks.
• Ability to create presentation materials, generate reports, and present them to leadership.

PREFERRED REQUIREMENTS

Ideal candidates for the position of Network Engineer meets the following qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in computer science, computer information systems, information technology, or relevant field.
• Six (6) or more years of experience in information technology or network engineering.
• Network Engineering related certifications like CCIE and CCNP.
• Experience with Ethernet VPN (EVPN), in-depth knowledge with DataDog, SolarWinds Orion (or other NMSs), Arista, Palo Alto, Fortinet, BlueCat or ClearPass.

THE TEAM

The ITS vision aligns strategy, business, and services; affirms ITS cultural values; empowers cross-functional teamwork; embraces world-class best practices; and promotes innovation, excellence, agility, and efficiency. To achieve this vision, ITS is committed to providing a modern technology infrastructure that is resilient and delivers the performance necessary to meet the demands of a growing customer base, training in the latest technologies for its highly productive and motivated workforce, outstanding customer experience, and technology services that are aligned with the university’s mission to provide exceptional learning opportunities for students. ITS is creating a workplace where employees can develop cutting-edge skills, take pride in the services they provide, and have access to the roles and career paths that align to their abilities and potential. We are looking for top talent to join us on our journey.

ITS CULTURE

USC’s ITS organization represents a diverse and talented team, committed to supporting a collaborative culture and delivering secure and innovative IT services, core to the mission of USC. ITS values accountability, excellence, and commitment to exceptional customer experience. ITS strives for a supportive and inclusive culture that encourages employees to do their best work every day and where individuals are recognized and celebrated for their contributions.

ABOUT USC

USC is the leading private research university in Los Angeles—a global center for arts, technology, and international business. With more than 47,500 students, we are located primarily in Los Angeles but also in various US and global satellite locations. As the largest private employer in Los Angeles, responsible for $8 billion annually in economic activity in the region, we offer the opportunity to work in a dynamic and diverse environment, in careers that span a broad spectrum of talents and skills across a variety of academic and professional schools and administrative units. As a USC employee and member of the Trojan Family—the faculty, staff, students, and alumni who make USC a great place to work—you will enjoy excellent benefits, including a variety of well-being programs designed to help individuals achieve work-life balance.

Come join the USC ITS team and work as a trusted partner in shaping an environment of innovation and excellence.

The annual base salary range for this position is $127,889.50 to $130,500.00. When extending an offer of employment, the University of Southern California considers factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the candidate’s work experience, education/training, key skills, internal peer equity, federal, state, and local laws, contractual stipulations, grant funding, as well as external market and organizational considerations.

Minimum Education: Bachelor's degree Combined experience/education as substitute for minimum education Minimum Experience: 4 years Minimum Field of Expertise: Experience with enterprise networking technologies, tools and processes, including routing and switching, L4-7 traffic management (e.g., load balancing), firewalls, data-center fabric, campus networks, VoIP, wireless, network admission control (NAC), virtualization, and hybrid cloud. Proficient with network operating systems including Arista EOS, Cisco IOS/XE/XR, Aruba AOS, and Linux, or similar. Experience with L2 protocols including STP, DHCP, 802.1X, LACP, MLAG, VXLAN bridging, etc. Proficient with addressing mechanisms (DNS, DHCP, IPAM, or similar), and practical experience with L1 technologies (SMF, MMF, DWDM, Transceivers, AOC, Twinax, Fiber fan-outs, or similar). Firm understanding of TACACS/RADIUS, and experience with network traffic analysis for troubleshooting (tcpdump, Wireshark, Netflow/sFlow, iperf, etc.). Exposure to or experience with programming/scripting languages used to automate networks (e.g., Python, Ansible). Experience with L3 protocols and techniques, including MP-BGP, OSPF, VXLAN routing, VRFs, VRRP, and VARP, or similar. Ability to engage with third-party vendors, including evaluating multiple vendor data products, documenting test plans, assisting in vendor selection, and developing deployment workbooks. Experience with other network protocols and methods, including Traffic Engineering, NAT, TCP/IP, Multicast, and IPv6. Ability to create presentation materials, generate reports, and present them to leadership. Experience with firewall configuration and administration.