Network Design Engineer

WaTech: Leading the way in technology!
Washington Technology Solutions (WaTech) is at the forefront nationally in integrating innovative technologies that revolutionize how state services are delivered to the people of Washington. WaTech establishes the strategic technological framework for various state domains and programs, overseeing the primary technology services throughout the state.

About the position
This role is located within WaTech’s Network Services Division (NSD). NSD delivers data networking, internet, cloud connectivity, telephony, and network security (firewall) services statewide to state agencies, federal entities, all counties, various cities, municipalities, school districts, boards, commissions, Tribes, and nonprofits.

As a Network Design Engineer, you will be relied on to research and determine the viable options on how state agencies can connect to WaTech’s ecosystem to access centralized (shared) IT services, public cloud resources, and the internet. In this role you will formulate network connectivity solutions for small agencies, commissions, and boards

Duties

Some of what to expect with this role:

• Explore the various ways (i.e., design options) that state agencies can connect to WaTech based on customer requirements, technical limitations, and approved decisions.
• Determine which option is the best way forward for the customer and proceeding to implement within the manager’s area of operations (i.e., service scope) without having to escalate to senior technical staff.
• Document the design solution reflecting how other networks shall connect to WaTech’s Wide Area Network (WAN) into a graphical representation illustrating the various systems, endpoints, and traffic flows involved.
• Conduct fact-finding consults with agencies to gather business requirements and the desired outcome(s) associated with a customer request.
• Reconcile and memorialize viable connectivity plans into a graphical diagram to support decision-making consideration(s).
• Determine whether an IT asset resides on-premises or within a virtual system.
• Discover how users and virtual machines interface (i.e., exchange information) with system applications.
• Identify the different hardware (switches, routers, servers, storage devices, etc.) contained within an agency’s Local Area Network (LAN).
• Graphically illustrate how each system component within an agency’s LAN is connected.

Here’s what we’re looking for:

• Bachelor of Science degree in the IT field, or an equivalent of eight years of IT experience.
• Five years of experience in administering (configuring), engineering, and designing IT systems using both physical and virtual infrastructure (VNET, VPC, VM on a server), architecture, and technology. Experience may have been gained concurrently.
• Three years of consultative, administrative, or supervisory experience with virtual solutions. Experience may have been gained concurrently.
• Team oriented with excellent interpersonal and communication skills.

Preference may be granted to applicants with the following:

• Master’s degree in Information Technology, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or an equivalent technical degree from an accredited college or university.
• A valid CISSP, CISM, or associate-level Cisco certification(s).
• Certification(s) — credential verification required:
  • Azure Fundamentals
  • AWS Technical Essentials
  • Azure Developer/Administrator
  • AWS Developer/Practitioner
  • CompTIA Cloud+, Security+, Network+
  • Cisco Certified applicants
• Broad experience in working with Virtual Networks within Microsoft Azure, Virtual Private Circuits within Amazon Web Services, and Virtual Machines within VMware.
• Programming and scripting experience using Cisco IoS (NX-OS, IOSXR), Python, PowerShell, and Linux.

We value diversity and different perspectives:
WaTech is committed to providing equal access and opportunities to all qualified applicants and employees. We seek to attract and retain a diverse staff and welcome your experiences, perspectives, and unique identity.

What WaTech Offers:
As an employee of WaTech, you’ll have access to an outstanding employee benefits package that includes medical and dental plan options for you and your family, paid leave and holidays, retirement plan options and more.

While WaTech is headquartered in Olympia, Washington, which is near some of the country’s most scenic national parks, we are able to offer many of our positions telework and flexible schedule options to help support a healthy work life balance.

To learn more about WaTech, and what our employees enjoy about working here, please visit our website. 

How to apply:
Applications for this recruitment will be accepted electronically. Please select the large “apply button” at the top of this announcement. You may need to create a profile and account in Washington state’s automated application system. We invite you to include your name and pronouns in your material to ensure we address you correctly throughout the application process.

To be considered for this position you will need to:

• Submit your online application.
• Answer allrequired Supplemental Questions.
• Attach a Letter of Interest that addresses how your experience qualifies you for this role.
• Attach a Resume that clearly documents the work history, training, and education that makes you a viable and competitive candidate for this position.
• Include three professional references and their contact information.

Applicants wishing to claim Veterans Preference should attach a copy of their DD-214 (Member 4 copy), NGB 22, or signed verification of service letter from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs to their application. (Please redact any personally identifiable data such as social security number prior to submittal.)

Note:Applications without the requested attachments identified above or containing supplemental question responses with comments such as “see resume” may lead to your application being disqualified from consideration.

Conditions of employment:
This position requires a background check. Information from the background check will not necessarily preclude employment but will be considered in determining the applicant’s suitability and competence to perform in the position and is a continued condition of employment.

Recruitment process:
First round of application assessments will be conducted seven days after the initial job posting date. The hiring authority reserves the right to offer the position at any time after the initial seven-day job posting date during the recruitment process. It is to the applicant’s advantage to apply as early as possible. This recruitment may be used to fill multiple positions. 

Contact us: For inquiries about this position, please contact Rebekah Wilkes at (360) 407-8646 or email to [email protected]

Persons requiring accommodation in the application process or for an alternative format may contact Human Resources at (360) 407-8242 or [email protected]. Persons of disability or those who are deaf or hard of hearing can call the Washington Relay Service by dialing 7-1-1 or 1-800-833-6388. WaTech complies with the employment eligibility verification requirements of the federal Form I-9. The selected candidate must be able to provide proof of identity and eligibility to work in the United States consistent with the requirements of that form on the first day of employment.