Network Engineer - Contract - Tampa, FL

Job Title: Network Engineer
Location: Tampa, FL (Onsite)
Duration: 12+ Months
Employment Type: Contract/Full-Time
Interview Process: 1–2 Rounds, Virtual
Experience Required: 7+ Years

Job Summary:
We are seeking an experienced Network Engineer to design, implement, maintain, and support enterprise network infrastructure. The ideal candidate will have strong expertise in routing, switching, firewalls, wireless technologies, and network security. This role is critical in ensuring the stability, integrity, and efficient operation of the organization's network systems.

Key Responsibilities:

• Design, configure, implement, and maintain enterprise LAN, WAN, WLAN, and VPN environments.
  
• Monitor network performance, troubleshoot issues, and ensure high availability across all network systems.
  
• Install, configure, and support network hardware including routers, switches, firewalls, load balancers, and wireless access points.
  
• Manage and optimize routing protocols such as BGP, OSPF, EIGRP, and VLAN configurations.
  
• Implement and maintain network security controls, including firewalls, IDS/IPS, NAC, and VPN solutions.
  
• Perform capacity planning, network upgrades, patch management, and disaster recovery planning.
  
• Create and maintain detailed network diagrams, technical documentation, and standard operating procedures.
  
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams, vendors, and stakeholders to support business and operational requirements.
  
• Participate in on-call support and resolve escalated network incidents in a timely manner.
  

Required Skills:

• Strong hands-on experience with Cisco networking technologies (routers, switches, ASA/Firepower, Meraki).
  
• Expertise in LAN/WAN, TCP/IP, DNS, DHCP, VPN, QoS, and wireless networking.
  
• Experience with network monitoring and management tools such as SolarWinds, Wireshark, or similar.
  
• Solid understanding of network security principles and best practices.
  
• Experience with firewall technologies such as Palo Alto, Fortinet, or Cisco Firepower.
  
• Knowledge of cloud networking concepts in AWS and/or Azure.
  
• Proficiency in network automation using Python, Ansible, or similar tools is a plus.
  

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or related field.
  
• Industry certifications such as CCNA, CCNP, CCIE, or equivalent.
  
• Experience in enterprise or large-scale network environments.
  
• Excellent troubleshooting, analytical, and communication skills.