IT Network Engineer

Job Description for IT Network Engineer:

Purpose:

• Provide guidance and direction to vendor managed services. Ensure effective architecture, execution, and operation of network and telecommunications to support and secure business systems and processes.

• Engineering is at the heart of the IPL business. As a leader in Technology Engineering, IPL looks to you to confront obstacles others avoid and solve problems through both creative and engineered solutions

• Ensure all network security assets both internal and external (cloud systems) fall under their respective compliance regulations and can pass regular IT audits.

• Together, we take ownership for what we do – which includes delivering efficient and reliable IT services across IPL’s global network of 190 sites, 500+ servers, 3 data centres, 5,000 employees, & key Cloud providers

• Enable, Monitor, and Manage connectivity services and related security operations for on-premise and Cloud services, maintaining these within the parameters of business-aligned reliability, integrity, and risk tolerances

• Champion an engineering mindset that drives continuous improvements through automation, self-service, CI/CD, and “fix for good” approach

• Key Relationships

• External Vendors (Global): 3rd party vendors and service providers for provision of IT services and hardware. Managed service agreements.

• Internal Business Partners (Global): IPL & Dyno Nobel end users, site managers, senior management, broader IT team including 1st and 2nd level support teams, project teams and IT Team Leads.

• IT teams supporting IT operations and infrastructure

• Behavioural Competencies

• Takes a broad perspective

Strong and relentless customer focus. Driven by a curiosity to find out more about customers, industry, internal business situations, challenges and opportunities.

• Drives improvement

Challenges how we do things. Identifies and takes ownership of opportunities to raise performance standards.

• Displays professional standards

• Well organised. Strong attention to detail.

• Understands and controls one’s emotions, strengths, limitations & personal motivations

• Develops others

Focuses on developing and influencing others in order to build capability to meet the imperatives of the organisation

• Inspires and engages

Excellent verbal and non-verbal communication skills. Communicates a compelling vision. Strong strategic planning capability. Ability to generate insights from complex situations & multiple data sources.

• Works across boundaries

Builds effective relationships within their own team and across the wider organisation.

• Holds people accountable

Actively manages the performance of others.

• Influences others

Persuades, convinces, or influences others. An ability to work and achieve results across a matrix organization. Ability to present complex technical information in a clear and concise manner to a variety of audiences.

Technical Competencies and Background

 Education: Bachelor’s degree in related field or equivalent experience. Following certs are a plus:

o Cisco, Microsoft, AWS, Azure, VMware, ITIL, or cyber certs

 Experience / Technical:

o Minimum of 5 years’ experience supporting WAN, LAN, Wireless, Telecom, Voice and Video collaboration environments.

o Minimum of 5 years system administration experience consisting of defining, implementing and managing enterprise systems equipment including switches, routers, PABX, VoIP, firewalls, application optimization, load balancers, IPS/IDS, data centers and VPN for internal and external connectivity (B2B and Cloud).

o Working technical knowledge of current network and security hardware, software, protocols and Internet standards, including: EIGRP, MPLS, DMVPN, 3DES, QoS, AES, Logging, Monitoring, detection and remediation of malware

o Experience designing, implementing, and managing a secure, enterprise connectivity strategy that supports hybrid Cloud services

o Advanced understanding of maintaining business continuity and high availability for IT services

Experience performing complex technical analysis and performance tuning of hardware, software, networks, security, and logging within data centers, remote sites, and Cloud providers

Core Accountabilities

 Vendor Management:

o Provide end-to-end expert guidance on how to manage Edge Device Connectivity, voice systems, and collaboration tools, across IT infrastructure influencing priorities and decisions across the organization

o Coordination of global network and telecommunication management.

o Communicate the strategic vision and agenda for network, and voice for both perimeter and internal to IT Leadership ensuring alignment and support

o Manage Providers including budget, PO’s creation and payments, reporting and SLA management

 Strategy & Architecture:

o Understand IT vision and translate this to voice, remote sites, and secure connectivity both internal and external.

o Design, configure, backup, install, troubleshoot, maintain software, operating systems, new products and hardware for network and voice solutions.

o Adhere to and provide inputs on global standards, policies, & procedures for all services falling within role remit

o Initiate, lead, and execute on IT activities related to security, remote sites, and secure connectivity both internal and external

o Provide end-to-end expert leadership on how to effectively design, secure, integrate, grow, and maintain cost-effective network and voice solutions.

o Technical analysis and performance tuning of hardware, software, networks, voice, and logging

o Use ITIL Service Request, Incident, Risk, Problem, and Change Management principles to optimize and reduce risks within IT network, voice, video, and collaboration in how it relates to network and voice

o Resolve 2nd & 3rd Level incidents escalated from IT Operations team in timely manner aligning to published IT SLA response times.

o Design and configure system management tools to provide monitoring and management of security policies

o Ensure data center, pop, remote site, and Cloud infrastructure standards align to site patterns that are communicated and adopted globally

 Technical Operations:

o Responsible for Data Center, POP, and Remote site network and voice services including but not limited to:

 Operational management of network and carrier infrastructure providers

 SIP management for internal and external customers: Cisco Call Manager, PABX, and SaaS voice solutions.

 Call Manager, scripting, voicemail, auto attendant, video, call routing, recording and call center.

 Backup, restoration strategy/planning.

 Change management and Incident management, inclusive of remediations.

 System monitoring, alerting, and configuration management via Solarwinds, Scrutinizer, and vendor provided portals (Netcuras, Sprint, Telstra, Optus, AT&T, etc).

 Systems and network architecture focusing on high availability, reliability and optimal performance

 External Integration with B2B and Cloud solution providers (Azure, AWS, Cisco, NTT, etc.)

 Life-Cycle hardware management: Leasing, Procurement, and Support contracts

 New service commissioning

 Provide security expertise during audits and owning rededication solutions

o Provide Support for Network, and Voice focus areas:

 Network Security Compliance and Risk

 Maintain configuration compliance via site template standards

 Identity management systems (Cisco, ISE, Active Directory)

 Voice systems (Call Manager, VoIP, SaaS solutions)

 Systems monitoring and alerting management including system health checks and audits

o Assist with and manage complex IT projects

Planning, configuration, and deployment of infrastructure under the direction of project managers

 Decision Making Authority: This position will be responsible for evaluating and participating with vendor-selection processes and for decisions required in order to deliver on project commitments, and for decisions related to design and strategy. Directing the workloads of IT operational security and infrastructure service providers as well as other third parties. Responsible for providing input to design and strategy, particularly that which relates to network, voice, video, security. On-the-job operational decisions to prioritize team activities while ensuring business continuity and effective delivery of enterprise compute services. Declaration of major incidents including directing incident management. Reviewing and providing input on the procedures, parameters and SLAs of services and processes that support team infrastructure.

 Major Challenges: Changing priorities, deadlines and highly variable workload. Influence of the broader IT team and global business to lift the priority of technology services, improve collaboration, manage demands and set expectations across a diverse and geographically spread workforce. Education of employees across the global business on IT services and changes. Managing and communicating on major incidents that may occur at any time.

Work Environment and Physical Requirements (Required in USA)

Work primarily in an office environment, and on occasion in a manufacturing or distribution environment as required. Long periods of computer and office machine use. Requires sitting, stooping and kneeling for filing, use of hands and fingers, ability to talk and hear. The employee is occasionally required to walk short distances. The employee may need to occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds / 22.5 kg. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, and ability to adjust focus. Ability to wear and care for applicable personal protective equipment (such as, safety glasses and shoes, respirator, hard hat and ear protection, safety harness) as required by site specific requirements.