Senior Network Engineer

Position Summary:

The purpose of the Network Systems Engineer, Sr. position is to design, implement, and maintain Ventura Foods’ complex network infrastructure, ensuring high availability, security, and optimal performance across multiple locations. This role requires advanced expertise in network architecture, security protocols, and access controls to support the organization’s business operations effectively. The Sr. Engineer will collaborate closely with cross-functional IT teams, providing guidance on network resilience strategies, troubleshooting critical issues, and executing strategic projects, including IT/OT integration, SD-WAN, and Zero Trust initiatives. Through proactive network monitoring, performance tuning, and security enforcement, this role supports Ventura Foods' commitment to robust, secure, and scalable network solutions that drive business continuity and growth.

Major Duties and Responsibilities:

• Network Design & Implementation: Develop and deploy LAN, WAN, SD-WAN, and SASE solutions to ensure connectivity across Ventura Foods locations. Implement Zero Trust Architecture and Cisco ISE for secure access and continuous verification.
• Maintenance & Optimization: Monitor, maintain, and optimize network systems using SolarWinds and Infoblox. Review and upgrade Cisco Catalyst, Nexus switches, and Palo Alto firewalls to align with best practices.
• Troubleshooting & Support: Act as an escalation point for complex network issues, ensuring quick diagnostics and resolutions to minimize downtime. Collaborate with teams for efficient problem-solving.
• Documentation & Reporting: Maintain detailed network documentation, including configurations, SOPs, and DR plans. Generate reports on network performance, security posture, and project updates for stakeholders.
• Project Management & Collaboration: Lead projects like IT/OT integration, SD-WAN deployment, and cloud connectivity. Collaborate with IT teams (Security, Compliance, DevOps) to ensure project alignment with strategic goals.
• Technology Evaluation & Improvement: Research and recommend new networking technologies to enhance performance and security. Implement process optimizations for increased resilience.
• Security & Compliance: Manage security measures on network devices, ensuring policy and regulation compliance. Conduct regular vulnerability assessments and risk analyses.
• Disaster Recovery & Business Continuity: Develop and execute DR strategies to enable rapid restoration during disruptions. Conduct failover simulations and scenario planning to validate business continuity.
• Vendor & Stakeholder Management: Coordinate with network hardware and services vendors. Act as a key contact for stakeholders, providing insights to meet operational needs.

Education and Experience:

• 7+ years prior experience as listed in Primary Technical Skills
• Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science or related field

Knowledge and Skills:

Personal Skills

• Strategic Vision: Strong ability to plan and execute network resilience strategies, including Zero Trust and adaptive security.
• Collaboration: Effective communicator with strong teamwork skills to ensure smooth project execution.

Professional Skills

• BC/DR Expertise: Experienced in developing and testing BC/DR plans with regular failover simulations.
• ITSM Standards & Documentation: Proficient in ITIL practices for incident, problem, and change management. Strong documentation skills for SOPs, DR plans, and compliance.
• Resilience Planning: Conducts regular DR and continuity tests using automated tools to support robust recovery

Technical Skills

• Network Security: Proficient in Cisco ISE, Zero Trust Architecture, and Palo Alto firewalls.
• Cloud & Hybrid Networking: Experienced in SD-WAN (e.g., VeloCloud) and secure cloud connectivity with Azure and AWS.
• Monitoring & Management: Skilled in Infoblox (DNS, DHCP, IPAM) and SolarWinds Orion for proactive network monitoring.
• Wireless Networking: Hands-on experience with Ruckus SmartZone for Wi-Fi management.
• Routing & Switching: Expertise in Cisco Catalyst and Nexus switches, and Layer 3 routing protocols like OSPF and BGP.

Key Vendor Solutions

• Palo Alto Networks: Configuring firewalls for threat prevention and using GlobalProtect VPN. Proficient in Cortex XDR for threat detection.
• SD-WAN & SASE: Deployed SD-WAN for optimized connectivity and familiar with SASE for unified security.
• Infoblox DDI: Expert in managing DNS, DHCP, and IP configurations, including DNS security.
• ServiceNow ITSM: Proficiency in incident and change management.
• SolarWinds Orion: Expertise in alerts and reporting for proactive monitoring.