IT Network Engineer

Job Summary

The IT Network Engineer reports to the IT Network Operations Director and assists with the administration of the entire network and server infrastructure at all company data centers and co-location facilities. Core areas of job responsibilities include: VMware, storage administration, domain administration, network infrastructure, system security, email system administration and support portal duties.

The successful candidate will embody and work to reinforce MAA’s Core Values. Those values include:

• Appreciating the uniqueness of each individual
• Communicating openly and with integrity
• Embracing opportunities
• Doing the right thing at the right time for the right reasons

Duties and Responsibilities

VMware

• Configures and maintains VMware server environment; documents environmental details accurately.
• Provides VMware administration, support, and troubleshooting, including provisioning, reporting, monitoring and performing maintenance of virtual machines enterprise-wide.
• Optimizes the environment to ensure maximum system performance and reliability.
• Assists in configuring applications for use in the VMware environment.

Storage Administration

• Configures and maintains Fibre Channel and iSCSI storage arrays (Tegile, Nimble, EMC); documents environmental details accurately.
• Configures LUNs in various storage arrays; maps LUNs to guest hosts.
• Assists in presenting storage to VMware physical hosts or other physical hosts via either Fibre Channel or iSCSI.

Domain Administration

• Assists with updating the Windows Server Operating System, including server upgrades, migrations, builds and other changes, and administration duties.
• Assists in maintaining Windows security for multiple domains with updates as necessary to group policies and permissions, in addition to updating configuration settings for DNS, DHCP, SMTP and IIS.
• Supports and maintains the Windows Active Directory, troubleshoots complex issues, and assists with any challenges that arise with maintaining the network trusts between domains.
• Coordinates and collaborates with other IT areas to ensure availability and scalability of company servers to meet business requirements.
• Administers backup and disaster recovery solutions for systems.
• Responds to server and service emergencies and participates in on-call rotations when necessary.

Network Infrastructure

• Installs, configures and maintains equipment for the entire network, including Windows Servers, Exchange, Cisco routers/switches, Virtual servers, F5 load balancers and Citrix.
• Installs and troubleshoots networking hardware; recommends apartment property network configurations and manages critical network systems.
• Assists in the development of methods, analyses, and validation for troubleshooting and maintenance of complex challenges affecting network performance.
• Administers F5 load balancers (BIG-IP appliance) and provides initial support for F5 Big IP load balancer challenges.
• Provides system support and maintenance of VoIP on Cisco switched networks (IM, web collaboration tools, and others); partners with ISP to perform updates to DNS.

System Security

• Serves as a subject matter expert for network security, including but not limited to, user access, spyware and antivirus protection.
• Administers and maintains the Secure File Transfer Protocol (SFTP) server and web content filtering.
• Maintains a log of daily domain and firewall activity (in compliance with SOX); develops, updates and audits network documentation.
• Prepares a detailed monthly Active Directory user review to ensure appropriate access.
• Generates a weekly comprehensive IT security report that identifies failed logon attempts to domain controllers, potential attempts to firewall attacks, and identifies critical Windows server updates.

Email Administration

• Supports the day-to-day operations of the Microsoft Exchange environment to include proper system functioning.
• Supports subset applications as part of administration process, including support for Outlook Messenger and Enterprise Faxing while monitoring the flow and delivery of messaging traffic.
• Assists in the monitoring of day-to-day operations of cloud-based email security; supports the administration and updates of patches to the Exchange environment.
• Serves as the subject matter expert for the creation of Exchange mailboxes, distribution groups, and mail-enabled contacts.
• Troubleshoots mail delivery-related challenges as they arise across the platforms.

Support Portal

• Delegates resolution of help tickets derived from support desk.
• Supports design efforts of all network infrastructure implementation and migrations.
• Acts as point of contact between support portal teams for server and network issues.
• Assists in providing the highest level of technical support for the entire network infrastructure.
• Performs other related duties as assigned to meet the needs of the business.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Management Information Systems, or a similar field of study and at least two (2) years of experience working with network infrastructures, or an equivalent combination of education and experience required

Preferred Qualifications

• Certification in Microsoft Server operating systems preferred
• Certifications in network routing & switching certification (CCNA, CCNP) preferred
• Certification in network security (CISSP) preferred

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Knowledge of Microsoft Server operating systems
• Knowledge of storage disk pools and expanding storage in various guest operating systems
• Knowledge of network security, network routing, and switching
• Knowledge of scripting languages (PowerShell, Python, VBScript)
• Knowledge of telecommunications systems (key systems, Cisco VoIP, SIP)
• Knowledge of multi-vendor licensing platforms (Microsoft, VMware, Cisco, F5, Citrix)
• Skill in creating detailed-driven documentation (e.g., server environments, storage arrays, security reports)
• Skill and ability to clearly and concisely communicate verbally and in writing, including with non-technical audiences
• Skills in managing multiple short-term & long-term projects simultaneously
• Skill in self-directing job tasks, projects, and managing time accordingly
• Skill in training other associates in a positive, knowledge-sharing manner
• Ability to participate in on-call rotations when necessary

Physical and Environmental Requirements

• The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle or feel; and reach with hands and arms.
• This position requires the ability to occasionally lift office products and supplies, up to 20 pounds.
• This job operates in a professional office environment. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets and fax machines.

Disclaimer

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.