Network Design Engineer

Title: Network Design Engineer

Client: State of New Jersey

Interview Type: Both Web Cam and In Person Interview

The Network Engineering Specialist is a senior technical position responsible for the architecture, engineering, implementation, modernization, and operational support of NJ TRANSIT's enterprise network infrastructure.

The position supports a large, geographically distributed transportation environment consisting of corporate facilities, rail and bus locations, data centers, operational facilities, stations, and other critical infrastructure. The engineer will provide hands-on technical expertise across enterprise routing and switching, WAN and SD-WAN, data center networking, wireless, Internet and carrier connectivity, network security integration, cloud connectivity, and network monitoring.

The position will work closely with Network Architecture, Network Engineering, Operations, Telecommunications, Infrastructure, application teams, project management, telecommunications carriers, and technology vendors to deliver reliable, secure, resilient, and highly available network services.

Key Responsibilities Enterprise Network Engineering

• Design, engineer, implement, configure, troubleshoot, and optimize enterprise LAN and WAN infrastructure.
• Design and support complex Layer 2 and Layer 3 environments using technologies including BGP, OSPF, EIGRP, VLANs, VRFs, HSRP, STP, QoS, multicast, and route redistribution.
• Develop network standards, reference architectures, engineering specifications, and configuration standards.
• Perform capacity planning, performance analysis, lifecycle management, and infrastructure modernization.
• Engineer WAN connectivity utilizing Internet, broadband, Ethernet, MPLS, EPL/EVPL, wavelength services, and dark fiber.
• Troubleshoot complex WAN performance issues including latency, packet loss, jitter, routing, carrier transport, and application performance.
• Support Cisco data center technologies, including Nexus switching and Cisco ACI.
• Support data center consolidation, relocation, migration, and infrastructure modernization initiatives.
• Engineer high-speed 10G, 40G, 100G, and 400G connectivity where required.
• Support optical networking, DWDM, dark fiber, carrier wavelength services, and data center interconnect solutions.
• Design and support network segmentation using VLANs, VRFs, ACLs, firewalls, VPNs, IPSec, and related technologies.
• Participate in the implementation of Zero Trust, SASE, and other modern network security architectures.
• Support technologies including Azure ExpressRoute, AWS Direct Connect, VPN, and cloud-based network services.
• Troubleshoot routing, connectivity, performance, and security issues between on-premises and cloud environments.
• Support connectivity requirements for operational and infrastructure systems such as CCTV, voice, building systems, monitoring platforms, and other IP-connected technologies.
• Utilize tools such as SolarWinds, ServiceNow, ThousandEyes, packet analysis tools, and other network-management platforms.
• Support accurate network inventory and CMDB information.
• Develop automation using technologies such as Python, Ansible, APIs, and Terraform where appropriate.
• Develop High-Level Designs (HLDs), Low-Level Designs (LLDs), Methods of Procedure (MOPs), implementation plans, test plans, rollback procedures, network diagrams, and operational documentation.
• Conduct technical design reviews and identify dependencies, risks, capacity limitations, and implementation concerns.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Engineering, Telecommunications, or a related discipline, or equivalent professional experience.
• 10+ years of progressively responsible enterprise network engineering experience in large and complex environments.
• Expert-level knowledge of enterprise routing and switching.
• Advanced experience with Cisco routers, Catalyst switches, Nexus platforms, and enterprise network technologies.
• Advanced knowledge of BGP, OSPF, EIGRP, TCP/IP, VLANs, VRFs, STP, QoS, multicast, VPNs, and route redistribution.
• Strong experience with enterprise WAN and SD-WAN architecture and implementation.
• Experience with carrier telecommunications services and WAN circuit technologies.
• Experience designing highly available and geographically diverse network infrastructure.

Preferred Qualifications

• CCNP, CCIE, or equivalent advanced networking certification or experience.
• Experience with Cisco SD-WAN, Cisco ACI, Cisco Catalyst, and Cisco Nexus platforms.
• Experience with optical networking technologies, including DWDM, dark fiber, and high-speed data center interconnects.
• Experience with Azure ExpressRoute and AWS Direct Connect.
• Experience with network automation using Python, Ansible, APIs, and/or Terraform.
• Experience with ServiceNow CMDB, SolarWinds, ThousandEyes, or similar network-management and observability platforms.

Required / Desired Skills Skill Required / Desired Amount of Experience 10+ years of progressively responsible enterprise network engineering experience in large and complex environments. Required 7 Years Expert-level knowledge of enterprise routing and switching. Required 7 Years Advanced experience with Cisco routers, Catalyst switches, Nexus platforms, and enterprise network technologies. Required 7 Years Advanced knowledge of BGP, OSPF, EIGRP, TCP/IP, VLANs, VRFs, STP, QoS, multicast, VPNs, and route redistribution. Required 7 Years Strong experience with enterprise WAN and SD-WAN architecture and implementation. Required 7 Years Experience with carrier telecommunications services and WAN circuit technologies. Required 7 Years Experience designing highly available and geographically diverse network infrastructure. Required 7 Years