Senior Network Engineer

Talascend is currently seeking a Senior Network Engineer for a contract opportunity located in Washington, DC. OVERVIEW: The Network Engineer will be responsible for the design, configuration, monitoring, and troubleshooting of our enterprise network infrastructure. This includes utilizing tools such as Nagios for network monitoring, Cisco Prime for network management, Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) for access control, and Splunk for network logging and analysis. The ideal candidate will have a deep understanding of network technologies and security protocols, along with hands-on experience with the aforementioned tools to ensure our network environment is efficient, secure, and continuously available. This work is located onsite in the DC area. PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES: Lead the design, configuration, and maintenance of complex network environments, ensuring optimal performance, scalability, and security. Configure and manage Cisco routers, switches, and firewalls, ensuring they meet organizational needs and adhere to best practices. Implement network protocols such as OSPF, BGP, VLANs, QoS, and IPSec to support complex enterprise network architectures. Leverage Nagios to monitor the health, performance, and availability of network devices and services. Develop and implement proactive monitoring strategies using Nagios to detect network issues, alerting on performance degradation or downtime. Respond to network incidents, troubleshoot network issues, and provide timely resolution to minimize downtime and impact on the business. Manage network configuration, inventory, and performance using Cisco Prime Infrastructure. Optimize and automate network provisioning, configurations, and monitoring to enhance operational efficiency. Manage and configure Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) to enforce network access control policies for both wired and wireless environments. Integrate Cisco ISE with other network security tools to provide centralized authentication, authorization, and accounting (AAA). Troubleshoot and optimize Cisco ISE configurations to ensure smooth and secure access for end-users and devices. Develop custom Splunk dashboards and alerts for network-related incidents, performance issues, and security events. Maintain up-to-date documentation of network configurations, processes, troubleshooting procedures, and incident resolutions. Identify areas of the network infrastructure that require optimization and implement solutions to improve performance and scalability. Automate routine network management tasks (e.g., configuration backups, performance monitoring) to increase efficiency and reduce manual intervention. POSITION REQUIREMENTS: Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Network Engineering, or a related field. Relevant certifications and work experience may be considered. 5+ years of hands-on experience in network engineering with a focus on large, enterprise environments. Strong experience with Nagios for network monitoring, alerting, and performance analysis. Expertise in Cisco Prime for network management, configuration, and automation. In-depth knowledge of Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) for access control, network security, and user/device authentication. Proficiency with Splunk for network log management, analysis, and creating custom dashboards and reports. Advanced knowledge of networking protocols (e.g., OSPF, BGP, MPLS, VLANs, QoS, IPSec). Hands-on experience with Cisco network devices, including routers, switches, and firewalls. Knowledge of network security best practices, including ACLs, VPNs, and IDS/IPS. Proficiency in scripting languages (e.g., Python, Bash) for network automation tasks. Strong analytical and troubleshooting skills with the ability to diagnose and resolve complex network issues. Excellent written and verbal communication skills to effectively collaborate with team members, management, and external stakeholders. Ability to work collaboratively in a team environment, providing guidance and mentorship to junior network engineers. DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS: Experience with cloud networking and integration of on-premise networks with AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud environments. Familiarity with SD-WAN solutions and network automation tools (e.g., Ansible, Terraform). Knowledge of ITIL or other IT service management frameworks. Certifications: Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP) or higher; Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE) is a plus. Additional certifications in network security or network monitoring (e.g., CompTIA Network+, Splunk Certified Admin) are desirable. We thank all applicants for their interest. However, only those qualified individuals who closely meet the qualifications of the position will be contacted. The details of the position are only a summary, other duties may be assigned as necessary. Background Check and Drug Screen may be required.

Created: 2026-03-10