Network Engineer – Advanced Level – Clinton Township, NJ (Onsite / Hybrid)

Network Engineer – Advanced Level – Clinton Township, NJ (Onsite / Hybrid)

Posted: June 20, 2025 Job Type: Contract Industry: Computer and Mathematical

We are seeking a highly skilled Network Engineer at an Advanced level, possessing strong networking expertise and exceptional customer-facing skills, to support and significantly enhance our client’s critical lab infrastructure. This is a 12+ month contract opportunity.

Location & Compensation:

• Location: Clinton Township, NJ (This role is primarily onsite, with potential for some hybrid flexibility, requiring frequent in-person collaboration.)
• Pay Range: $40 – $45 per hour

Job Summary:

This role is pivotal in ensuring the smooth and secure operation of a vital lab environment. You will be a key collaborator with lab technicians, researchers, and engineering staff, deeply understanding their unique requirements to design and implement robust network and system solutions. Your responsibilities will span active incident and change management, proactive network administration, continuous process modernization, and rigorous security control enforcement. You will directly contribute to maintaining a reliable and efficient infrastructure that underpins critical research and development activities.

Responsibilities:

As an Advanced Network Engineer, your contributions will encompass a wide array of technical and collaborative tasks:

• Business Interface & Partnership: Forge strong, collaborative partnerships with lab technicians, researchers, and engineering staff (including Informatics teams) to gain a deep understanding of their evolving requirements and proactively create tailored network and system solutions that enable their work.
• Incident & Change Management Leadership: Work effectively off a prioritized backlog of tasks, promptly responding to break/fix issues and enhancement requests. You will be available both on-site and remotely as needed to manage critical incidents. You will meticulously plan, implement, and coordinate infrastructure changes, upgrades, and scheduled outages, ensuring minimal disruption.
• Comprehensive Network Administration:
  • Oversee the seamless addition of network devices, computers, and servers to the network and domain.
  • Configure network ports using tools like SolarWinds and manage Port Opening Requests (PORs).
  • Engage frequently and collaboratively with the Network Security, Hosting & Platform Policy teams, and other Site IT Services teams to ensure integrated solutions.
  • Perform configuration and troubleshooting of network switches and routers.
  • Diagnose and resolve complex ACL (Access Control List) and firewall rule connection issues.
  • Submit accurate procurement requests for networking equipment as part of annual planning and budgeting.
• Process Automation & Modernization:
  • Lead initiatives to automate and modernize various operational processes, including inventory maintenance.
  • Proactively identify and drive the retirement of legacy hardware and operating systems, promoting adoption of modern solutions.
  • Facilitate seamless integrations with Layer 4 solutions and various cloud environments, enhancing connectivity and service delivery.
• Account & Access Management (Active Directory Focus):
  • Administer and maintain system accounts primarily through Active Directory, ensuring accuracy and security.
  • Manage the creation and deletion of user accounts.
  • Grant appropriate Security Group access based on defined policies.
  • Manage and track the approval process for access requests.
  • Assist with password resets and software installations.
  • Maintain and update essential support documentation.
• Security & Controls Enforcement:
  • Actively participate in the annual review of approximately 10 critical security controls (e.g., firewall configurations, shared IDs, inactive IDs, SolarWinds access, inactive ports), ensuring continuous compliance.
  • Vigilantly operate with privileged IDs, adhering to strict security protocols, and continuously work to tighten security policies across the infrastructure.
• Server Maintenance & Administration: Be available for scheduled quarterly server outages after business hours and occasional weekend outages. Possess a working knowledge of Windows Server 2003-2019+. Perform file server administration (e.g., build servers) and domain administration. Troubleshoot group policies.
• Data Backup & Recovery: As a system administrator, manage data backup processes (e.g., using Veeam), ensuring data recoverability.
• Patch Management & System Security: Support security patch management (potentially using tools like Ivanti or SCCM). Administer and troubleshoot FTP servers (e.g., using WinSCP and MoveIT).
• Virtualization & Hardware Troubleshooting: Troubleshoot issues with both physical and virtual (VMware) server environments across various hardware configurations and operating systems.
• Antivirus Administration: Administer antivirus solutions (e.g., SEP & SentinelOne).

Technical Expertise & Desired Skills:

The ideal candidate will possess a robust technical skillset:

• Core Networking: Deep understanding and hands-on expertise in Cisco switches and other core network devices.
• Security & Network Management Tools: Proficiency with Splunk Firewall Event Viewer, Algosec Firewall Analyzer, and FireFlow.
• File Transfer Tools: Experience with WinSCP and MoveIT.
• Scripting & Automation: Strong proficiency in PowerShell and SQL for automation, data querying, and system administration tasks.
• Endpoint Security: Experience with SentinelOne for endpoint protection.
• Operating Systems: Solid understanding and experience with Legacy Windows operating systems up to Windows Server 2019+.
• Identity & Access: Expertise in Active Directory administration, including account creation/deletion, security group management, and access request approvals.
• Server Maintenance: Proven server maintenance experience, including troubleshooting group policies.
• Data Backup: Working knowledge of data backup as a system administrator (e.g., Veeam).
• Security Patch Management: Experience with security patch management (e.g., Ivanti, SCCM).
• Windows Server: Strong working knowledge of Windows Server versions.
• Virtualization: Experience troubleshooting physical and virtual (VMware) server issues.
• Antivirus: Experience with antivirus administration (e.g., SEP & SentinelOne).
• Network Security: Strong understanding of network security principles and firewall rules.
• Cloud Integrations: Familiarity with cloud integrations.
• Availability: Flexibility for occasional after-hours and weekend work to support critical operations.

Qualifications:

• We are looking for candidates who are eligible to work with any employer without sponsorship.
• Online interview process will be conducted.

If this challenging and rewarding contract role interests you, please click “Apply” button. We look forward to speaking with you!