Network Engineer

Position Title: Network Engineer

Posting Number: S301P

Department: Information Technology Services

Position Type: Staff

Job Description: Job Summary
Hillsdale College has an opportunity for a seasoned Network Engineer with experience in large, distributed campus environments.
As a Network Engineer, you will be responsible for designing, provisioning, monitoring, and troubleshooting the network LAN / WAN / VLAN infrastructure used across Hillsdale College's campuses. As a vital member of the Network and System Administration team, you should have a strong knowledge of network infrastructure in a large enterprise environment. You should be an expert in the design, optimization, and troubleshooting of TCP /IP networks and equipment, including switching, routing, next-gen firewall management, performance analysis, QoS, and physical infrastructure (copper, fiber). You should possess a solid understanding of modern network security design, Zero Trust architecture, and hybrid cloud networking. You will also support VoIP solutions, edge-delivered cloud services, and cloud-managed routing within our distributed campus network environment.

Essential Job Duties

1. Implement, monitor, and manage next-gen firewalls, routers, switches, and wireless access points across the campus network infrastructure.
2. Actively contribute to the configuration, deployment, and ongoing optimization of the Juniper Mist cloud-managed campus switching environment.
3. Support the transition of legacy campus edge security to modern Fortinet or Juniper next-gen firewalls.
4. Transition legacy remote access models toward identity-centric Zero Trust solutions (Cloudflare WARP , Microsoft GSA ).
5. Collaborate with the systems and data teams to configure secure, high-performance network topology between on-premises systems and Microsoft Azure / Microsoft Fabric cloud environments.
6. Design, configure, and maintain complex switching environments and VLAN segmentation schemas to isolate campus workloads and protect student/administrative data.
7. Manage external/internal DNS namespaces and implement edge-level redirects and traffic routing rules.
8. Engage in proactive network monitoring and advanced troubleshooting to resolve complex connectivity issues.
9. Recommend, schedule, and perform software/hardware upgrades, patches, reconfigurations, and capacity planning.
10. Participate in after-hours maintenance windows and emergency response rotations as required for campus operations.

Required Qualifications: Education and Experience
Minimum Requirements

• Experience: At least 4 years of experience as a Network Engineer in an enterprise or educational environment, with a proven track record of managing high-availability infrastructure.
• Education: Associate degree or higher in BIS , MIS , Computer Science, or equivalent professional experience.

Desired Training and Experience

• Relevant vendor certifications are highly desirable, including JNCIS - ENT / JNCIP - ENT (Juniper), Fortinet NSE / FCP , CCNA , CompTIA Network+, or Microsoft Certified: Azure Network Engineer.
• Prior experience in an educational, campus, or multi-site enterprise environment is preferred.

Other Skills: Other Skills

• Enterprise Switching & Cloud Management: In-depth experience deploying and managing enterprise switching environments. Hands-on experience with Juniper network switches and the Juniper Mist management platform (including AI-driven optimization and analytics) is highly preferred as the College migrates to this architecture.
• Next-Gen Firewalls ( NGFW ): Experience designing, configuring, and managing enterprise firewalls, including rule validation, application-level filtering, DMZ isolation, and threat protection. Familiarity with Fortinet (FortiOS) or Juniper ( SRX ) platforms is a major plus as we transition from legacy frameworks.
• Modern Access Control & ZTNA : Understanding of Zero Trust Network Access ( ZTNA ) and Security Service Edge ( SSE ) frameworks. Experience implementing modern alternatives to traditional client VPNs, specifically Cloudflare WARP and Microsoft Global Secure Access ( GSA / Entra Private Access).
• Edge & DNS Management: Advanced familiarity with utilizing cloud-based edge networks (e.g., Cloudflare) for secure external DNS management, traffic routing, edge redirects, and Web Application Firewall ( WAF ) rule implementation.
• Hybrid Cloud Networking (Azure): Solid understanding of foundational Microsoft Azure cloud networking concepts-including Virtual Networks, Network Security Groups, VPN Gateways, and ExpressRoute. Familiarity with optimizing network pathways to securely host and connect data architectures like Microsoft Fabric is highly desirable.
• General Network Design: Micro-segmentation, VLAN design, routing protocols ( OSPF , BGP ), and cloud-hybrid networking architecture.
• Physical Infrastructure: Experience with Fiber Optics for inter-building campus connectivity (Single Mode, Multi-Mode, terminations, and testing standards).
• Analysis & Monitoring Tools: Experience with network analysis, logging, and observability tools (e.g., Wireshark, NetFlow, Splunk, Zabbix, or Mist Marvis).
• Protocols & Core Services: Solid grasp of key network protocols including SNMP , HTTP / HTTPS , DNS , SSH , TCP /IP, and UDP .
• Storage & Virtualization: Storage Area Network ( SAN ) configuration and management experience; foundational comfort with Hyper-V and hybrid Windows/Linux server environments.
• Voice over IP: Experience configuring, optimizing, and troubleshooting network pathways and Quality of Service (QoS) for IP Telephone Systems (VoIP).
• Compliance: Experience with regulatory frameworks (such as HIPAA or FERPA ) in an educational/network environment is a plus.

Code of Commitment

Be a good representative of Hillsdale College, promoting its mission, original Articles of Association, and Staff Code of Commitment. The teaching of Christian faith shall remain a conspicuous aim of the College.

Physical Demands: Physical Requirements: Must be able to work on-site in Hillsdale, MI; able to lift or move up to 25 lbs, climb ladders, and install equipment in confined spaces (under desks, ceilings, etc.).

Open Date: 07/27/2026

Open Until Filled: Yes

Supplemental Questions:

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk ( ).

Documents Needed To Apply (Required Documents & Optional Documents): Required Documents

1. Resume
2. Cover Letter

Optional Documents

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