Location: Palo Alto, CA (up to 30% travel)
Setup: Hybrid (3 days/week onsite)
Duration: 6-month contract
Schedule: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM PST
Pay Rate: $92.00 - $96.00/hr
Position Summary
Our client, a leading automotive manufacturer based in Palo Alto, CA, is seeking an On-Premises Network Engineering & IT Support Lead to join their team on a 6-month contract basis. This role owns day-to-day network infrastructure, security, and vendor connectivity across the client's facilities, with a secondary focus on supporting hybrid cloud networking in AWS.
Key Responsibilities
- Design, install, configure, and maintain LAN/WAN infrastructure, including Cisco Nexus 9K switches, routers, access points, and FortiGate firewalls
- Manage network security end-to-end, including Cisco Wireless, Cisco ISE, and DNA Center setup and troubleshooting
- Partner with external vendors to set up, test, and maintain secure VPN tunnels to company facilities
- Act as senior escalation point for complex hardware, software, and routing issues
- Prioritize incoming support tickets based on business impact and urgency
- Build strong working relationships across remote IT teams and internal business units
- Proactively identify network optimizations and improvements during quieter periods
- Support hybrid routing between on-prem facilities and AWS via Transit Gateway
- Deploy and maintain AWS PrivateLink and Private VPC Endpoints for secure, off-internet traffic routing
- Support cross-environment DNS resolution using Amazon Route 53
- Use AWS monitoring tools (VPC Flow Logs, CloudWatch Metrics, Transit Gateway Network Manager) to troubleshoot latency and connectivity issues
Education & Experience
- Bachelor's degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.
- Demonstrated hands-on experience designing, installing, and maintaining enterprise LAN/WAN infrastructure.
- Experience managing vendor VPN connectivity and cross-site network security.
- Exposure to hybrid on-premises/AWS networking environments preferred.
Knowledge & Skills
- Strong working knowledge of Cisco Nexus 9K switches, routers, access points, and FortiGate firewalls.
- Hands-on experience with Cisco Wireless systems, including Cisco ISE and DNA Center.
- Proven ability to troubleshoot and diagnose complex hardware, software, and routing issues.
- Strong prioritization skills, with the ability to triage tickets based on business impact and urgency.
- Excellent cross-functional communication and relationship-building skills.
- Working knowledge of AWS Transit Gateway, PrivateLink, Private VPC Endpoints, and Route 53.
- Familiarity with AWS network observability tools, including VPC Flow Logs, CloudWatch Metrics, and Transit Gateway Network Manager.
- Self-starter mindset with a proactive approach to network optimization and continuous improvement.
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