Network Engineer (must be located in Rochester, NY!)

Title: Network Engineer

Location: Rochester, NY

Reports to: Director of Engineering

The objective of the role: As a Network Engineer at Innovative, you will play a critical role in delivering high quality and reliable managed IT services to small and medium-sized businesses. You will work closely with clients to design, implement, and maintain reliable, secure, and scalable networks that align with their business needs.

• Network Design & Implementation: Design, configure, and deploy networks tailored to SMB environments, including LANs, WANs, wireless networks, firewalls (physical or virtual), and VPNs. Environments can include branch offices, datacenters, and cloud locations.
• Network Maintenance & Troubleshooting: Proactively monitor, manage, and troubleshoot network infrastructure to ensure optimal performance and uptime. Perform regular upgrades to hardware and software.
• Client Support: Serve as a technical point of contact for clients, providing remote and on-site support for network-related issues.
• System Administration: Manage and troubleshoot supporting infrastructure, including Active Directory, DNS and DHCP Servers. Implement and maintain multi factor authentication systems for clients.
• Security & Compliance: Implement and maintain network security measures, including firewalls, access controls, and intrusion detection systems, ensuring compliance with industry standards and best practices.
• Documentation: Maintain detailed network documentation, including diagrams, configurations, and maintenance records, to ensure seamless handoffs and team collaboration.
• Collaboration: Work closely with peers, vendors, and other stakeholders to support diverse client environments and address their unique IT needs.
• Continuous Improvement: Stay updated on the latest networking technologies and trends to recommend upgrades and solutions that enhance client network performance and security.

• Problem-Solving Skills: Possess the ability to diagnose and resolve technical issues quickly and effectively.
• Customer Service Orientation: Excellent communication skills to build trust and rapport with clients.
• daptability: A flexible mindset to handle diverse IT environments and changing/competing priorities.
• Attention to Detail: A meticulous approach to managing network configurations, security protocols, and documentation.
• Proactivity: A forward-thinking attitude to anticipate potential network issues and address them before they impact clients.
• Team Collaboration: A willingness to work closely with colleagues to share knowledge and tackle challenges as a team.
• Commitment to Learning: A desire to continuously expand your technical skills and adapt to emerging technologies.

• Technical Skills
• Hands-on experience with network devices, including switches, routers, access points, and firewalls (e.g., Cisco, Dell, Fortinet, Meraki, etc.). Command line (CLI) administration experience is preferred.
• Proficiency in configuring and troubleshooting network protocols, such as TCP/IP, DHCP, DNS, VLANs, Spanning Tree, BGP, and QoS.
• Knowledge of network monitoring and diagnostic tools (example: Wireshark)
• Expertise with VPNs and remote access solutions.
• Experience with hybrid network connectivity on cloud platforms such as AWS and Azure.
• Familiarity with VoIP and unified communications is a plus.

• Professional Experience:
• 3-5 years of experience in network engineering or a related IT role, preferably in a managed services or SMB environment.
• Experience supporting multiple client environments with diverse technical setups.

• Certifications:
• Industry certifications, such as CCNA, CompTIA Network+, or equivalent.

• Education:
• A Bachelor’s degree in computer science, information technology, or a related field is preferred but not mandatory if relevant experience is present.