Network Operations Engineer II

POSITION SUMMARY: 

The Network Operations Engineer II is a highly experienced and technically proficient member of the Network Operations team, supporting the stability, performance, and security of the company's network infrastructure across over 500 retail stores, headquarters, and distribution centers. This role will take lead in advancing monitoring, troubleshooting, and continuous improvement of IDS operations. The Engineer II will play a significant part in pushing for improved customer experience, increasing productivity in stores, and directly supporting aggressive business expansion through system rollouts and optimization efforts. The ideal candidate will be an expert problem-solver, proactive, and possess a deep understanding of network framework, operational best practices, and contribute significantly to a product/service operating model. 

This role is within the Information and Digital Services organization at Les Schwab headquarters in Bend, OR.

Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis. This position is not eligible for visa sponsorship.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES:

35% - Advanced Network Operations and Incident Management: 

• Lead the analysis of complex network performance data and health metrics to identify trends and potential issues.

• Act as a primary escalation point for junior Analysts and Operations Engineers, providing in-depth troubleshooting and root cause analysis for incidents before escalating to advanced engineering teams.

• Implement and optimize network monitoring and alerting systems to enhance proactive problem detection.

• Refine or establish standard operating procedures (SOPs) for network incident response and resolution.

• Collaborate with third-party vendors for issue resolution, service provisioning, and technology road mapping, ensuring adherence to SLAs and effective integration of vendor solutions.

• Perform additional operational duties pertaining to iSeries and check printing when needed.

30% - Network Engineering and Optimization:

• Support the Network Engineer team with design testing and implementation of new network solutions and upgrades for stores, HQ, and DCs.

• Proactively identify opportunities for optimization, automation, and efficiency improvements.

• Configure and maintain complex network devices, including routers, switches, firewalls, load balancers, and wireless controllers.

20% - Strategic Contribution and Project Leadership:

• Collaborate closely with the Supervisor of ITOM and other IT teams to align support strategies with business goals, ensuring seamless integration for retail operations, POS, and e-commerce solutions.

• Act as a representative of the ITOM Operations team in projects from conception to completion.

• Provide technical guidance and mentorship to Network Operations team members.

• Research and stay current on new network technologies and solutions to support business expansion and innovation

15% - Strategic Contribution and Project Leadership:

• Create and maintain comprehensive network documentation, including infrastructure diagrams, configurations, and operational playbooks.

• Adhere to security best practices and compliance requirements.

• Facilitate the resolution of network infrastructure vulnerabilities identified during assessments and audits.

• Participate in post-incident reviews to identify lessons learned and implement preventative measures.

Educational/Experience Requirements: 

• Bachelor's degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.

• 3+ years of progressive experience in network operations or network engineering, with a strong emphasis on multi-site enterprise environments, preferably in retail.

• Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) 

Required Technical Skills/Knowledge: 

• High level understanding of networking concepts (TCP/IP, routing protocols like OSPF/BGP, switching, VLANs, QoS, VPNs).

• Proven experience with enterprise-grade network hardware (e.g., Cisco, Meraki, Aruba, FortiGate, Palo Alto, Juniper).

• Strong experience with network monitoring, logging, and performance analysis tools.

• Familiarity with network security principles and technologies (firewalls, IDS/IPS, NAC).

• Experience with cloud networking concepts (e.g., Azure, AWS, GCP) is a plus.

• Proficiency in network automation/scripting (e.g., Python, Ansible) is highly desirable.

General Knowledge and Abilities:  

• Exceptional problem-solving and analytical skills with a strong ability to diagnose and resolve complex technical issues.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, capable of articulating complex technical concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences.

• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision and manage multiple priorities effectively.

• Strong organizational and project management skills.

• Demonstrated ability to lead initiatives and collaborate effectively within cross-functional teams.

• Commitment to continuous learning and staying current with industry trends and emerging technologies.

Physical Requirements: Primarily desk position; regularly required to sit, occasionally required to stand and walk. Requires frequent and repetitive use of hands and fingers to operate computer, mouse, keyboard, and office related equipment and the ability to reach with hands and arms. This position requires lifting no more than 10 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close visual acuity and the ability to adjust focus. Requires the ability to communicate verbally and exchange information by phone and in person.

Work Environment: Office, non-manual work; the worker is not substantially exposed to adverse environmental conditions. The worker must be available when urgent issues arise that require their coordination or escalation, and will be required to participate in an on-call rotation. Urgent-availability needs are rare but the worker is expected to comply when they occur. This may include performing work outside of regular hours and/or supporting teams performing off-hours work by checking in remotely and/or in person as necessary.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions/primary responsibilities. This job description is not all inclusive and is subject to change. Additional duties and tasks may be assigned, as necessary. Employment remains “AT WILL” at all times.