Senior Network Engineer – Tier 3 Support / Network Architect

Houston, United States

• Salary 65-75hr contract 120k when hired directly
• City Houston
• State/Province TX
• Country United States

Job Description

Location: Hybrid (Primarily Remote with On-Site Support as Needed – Central Houston, TX)

Employment Type: Full-Time

Position Overview

We are seeking a highly skilledSenior Network Engineer to serve as aTier 3 escalation point andnetwork architecture leader within our infrastructure team. This is a hands‑on technical role that combines advanced network engineering expertise with strategic design, architecture, and mentorship responsibilities.

The ideal candidate is aCisco expert with extensive experience inCisco FirePower, Cisco Catalyst, Cisco Meraki, SD-WAN, unified communications, and enterprise‑level routing and switching . You will play a key role insupporting, designing, and optimizing our network infrastructure while mentoring junior staff and collaborating with cross‑functional teams to ensure performance, reliability, and scalability.

About the Team

You will be joining a close‑knit infrastructure group consisting of:

• 1 Network Project Manager
• 1 Junior Server Administrator
• 1 Senior Server Administrator
• 1 Server Specialist

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as thehighest level of network escalation (Tier 3) , providing on-site and remote technical support.
• Architect, design, implement, and maintain complexLAN/WAN, wireless, firewall, and voice infrastructures.
• Configure and manage enterprise-levelCisco FirePower, Catalyst, Meraki , andSD-WAN/MPLS connectivity solutions.
• Support and configureunified communications includingCUBE routers, voice gateways, and SIP .
• Integratecloud networking solutions, includingAzure ExpressRoute connectivity.
  
• Implement and manage advanced routing and switching protocols (OSPF, BGP, EIGRP, STP ) and redundancy technologies (HSRP, VRRP, GLBP ).
• Configure, monitor, and securewireless networks (802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax) using tools likeEkahau for spectrum analysis.
  
• Manage and optimize firewall rules, VPNs (SSL and Site‑to‑Site ), and IDS/IPS systems.
  
• Conductpacket analysis using Wireshark and NetFlow analyzer tools to diagnose and resolve network performance issues.
  
• Performcapacity planning and scalability assessments to ensure network growth readiness.
  
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to integrate network solutions into enterprise systems.
  
• Lead network-related projects, ensuring timelines and deliverables are met.
  
• Maintain detailednetwork documentation and troubleshooting guides.
  
• Research and recommend new technologies to improve performance, security, and efficiency.
  
• Mentor junior and mid-level network engineers.
  
• Engage incustomer‑facing technical discussions to align solutions with business objectives.
  
• Participate in on‑call rotations, including nights and weekends, for critical issues and maintenance windows.
  

Minimum Qualifications

• Associate degree in an IT-related field or equivalent work experience.
• CCNP certification (mandatory);CCIE strongly preferred .
• 8+ years of experience in network engineering.
• Advanced experience withCisco FirePower, Cisco Catalyst, Cisco Meraki .
• Experience withSD-WAN and MPLS solutions.
• Proficiency withunified communications (CUBE routers, voice gateways, SIP).
• Cloud networking experience, specificallyAzure ExpressRoute .
• Expertise in advanced switching and routing protocols (OSPF, BGP, EIGRP, STP ).
• Experience withwireless standards (802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax) andEkahau tools.
• Strong firewall configuration and management skills.
• Expertise with VPNs (SSL and Site‑to‑Site ).
• Knowledge ofIDS/IPS, DNS, DHCP, ICMP, SNMP , and other core network protocols.
• Experience with packet analysis and NetFlow tools (Wireshark, ManageEngine NetFlow Analyzer ).
• Strong analytical, troubleshooting, and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent documentation and communication skills.
• Project management experience and ability to coordinate across teams.
• Adaptability, continuous learning mindset, and customer service focus.
• Willingness to work off‑hours for maintenance or emergencies.

Hybrid role: Primarily remote, with required on‑site work in Central Houston for critical support, installations, and projects.

Flexibility for after‑hours and weekend work when necessary.

Why Join Us?

This is acritical leadership role in our network operations. You’ll have the autonomy to design and optimize enterprise networking, work directly on cutting‑edge Cisco technologies, and mentor the next generation of IT professionals. If you’re a seasoned engineer ready to take ownership of complex projects and influence infrastructure strategy, we want to hear from you.

“Impulse Strategic Solutions provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, protected veteran, disabled status, or genetic information. In addition to federal law requirements, Impulse Strategic Solutions complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has employees.”

“Impulse Strategic Solutions is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans in our job application procedures. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, you may contact us .”

Impulse Strategic Solutions provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, protected veteran, disabled status, or genetic information. In addition to federal law requirements, Impulse Strategic Solutions complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has employees.