Network Operations Engineer I

Job Description:

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Network Operations Engineer I is a crucial member of the Network Operations team, responsible for ensuring the stability, performance, and security of the company's network infrastructure across over 500 retail stores, headquarters, and distribution centers. This role will support monitoring and network operations support efforts, playing a key part in improving customer experience, increasing productivity in stores, and supporting aggressive business expansion. The ideal candidate will be proactive, detail-oriented, and possess a strong foundational understanding of network technologies and operational best practices, contributing to a product/service operating model.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES/FUNCTIONS:

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions/primary responsibilities.

40% - Network Monitoring and Alert Response:

• Proactively monitor network performance, availability, and health across all locations (stores, HQ, DCs) using established monitoring tools.
• Respond to and triage network alerts and incidents in a timely manner, escalating to senior engineers or other IT teams as necessary.
• Perform initial troubleshooting to diagnose network issues (e.g., connectivity, performance degradation).

30% - Operational Support and Maintenance:

• Provide Level 1 and Level 2 operational and technical support for network-related issues, including LAN/WAN, Wi-Fi, and VPN connectivity.
• Assist in the deployment, configuration, and maintenance of network devices (routers, switches, firewalls, access points).
• Document network configurations, procedures, and troubleshooting steps.
• Participate in scheduled maintenance activities and off-hours support as required to minimize business disruption.
• Collaborate with third-party vendors for issue resolution, service provisioning, and technology roadmapping, ensuring adherence to SLAs and effective integration of vendor solutions.
• Perform additional operational duties pertaining to iSeries and check printing.

20% - Customer Experience and Productivity Focus:

• Identify and contribute to solutions that enhance network reliability and speed, directly impacting store productivity and the overall customer experience.
• Collaborate with other IT teams, including Omnichannel Retail and ITOM Operations, to ensure high level of system and application availability.
• Contribute to problem management by identifying root causes of recurring network issues.

10% - Business Expansion and Strategic Support:

• Support network integration for new store openings, acquisitions, and expansions.
• Assist in testing and validating new network technologies and solutions to support future business needs.
• Contribute to the team's vision and strategy, emphasizing innovation and continuous improvement in network operations.

MINIMUM EDUCATION & SKILLS REQUIRED

Educational/Experience Requirements:

• Associate's degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.
• 1+ years of experience in network operations, technical support, or a similar IT role, preferably in a multi-site retail environment.
• CompTIA Network+ certification

Required Technical Skills/Knowledge:

• Foundational understanding of networking concepts (TCP/IP, DNS, DHCP).
• Familiarity with network protocols (e.g., OSPF, BGP, VLANs, QoS).
• Experience with network monitoring tools (e.g., SolarWinds, PRTG, Nagios).
• Basic knowledge of common network hardware (Cisco, Meraki, Aruba, etc.).
• Ability to perform basic command-line interface (CLI) operations on network devices.
• Proficiency in Google Workspace (Google Docs, Google Sheets, Gmail).

General Knowledge and Abilities:

• Strong problem-solving and analytical skills with an attention to detail.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to convey technical information clearly to non-technical stakeholders.
• Ability to work effectively both independently and as part of a team in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to prioritize tasks and manage time effectively.
• Proactive attitude with a strong desire to learn and adapt to new technologies.helping others, considering others’ ideas and opinions, sharing information, giving proper credit, and fulfilling team responsibilities

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.

For full time positions after eligibility criteria are met, benefits include:

• Quarterly Bonus
• Medical, dental, vision, and life insurance
• Company-funded retirement plan
• Paid time off
• Short- and long-term disability
• Employee discount
• Tuition Assistance

Benefits are subject to change at any time and governed by plan documents and Company policy. Higher minimum wage applies in applicable locations.

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.