Description:
Job Description
As leader of the Network Support Engineering team, you are responsible for and leading a team of network support engineers who maintain, optimize, and troubleshoot Harbor Freight Tool's network infrastructure. This role requires a combination of technical expertise, leadership skills, and a commitment to ensuring the organization's network operates efficiently, effectively, smoothly, and securely. The Network Support Engineer Manager is accountable for network availability, performance, security, and the professional development of their team. The candidate is a skilled IT professional with sound knowledge in physical layer, data centers, on-prem and cloud-based VoIP telephony services, LAN/WAN, WLAN, SD-WAN, public and private cloud environments
Duties and Responsibilities
- Network Planning: Collaborate with other teams and stakeholders to understand business requirements and develop network strategies to support those requirements. This includes capacity planning, network expansion, and technology upgrades.
- Project Management: Lead network support engineering projects, including defining project scope, setting objectives, allocating resources, and managing timelines. Monitor project progress, identify, and mitigate risks, and ensure successful project completion.
- Team Management: Build and lead a team of network support engineers. Provide guidance, mentorship, and support to team members. Define roles and responsibilities, set performance goals, conduct regular performance reviews, and promote professional development.
- Network Implementation: Oversee the implementation of network infrastructure, including routers, switches, and other networking components. Coordinate with cross-functional teams, vendors, and service providers to ensure smooth deployment.
- Performance Monitoring: Implement and maintain network monitoring tools and processes to continuously assess network performance and identify areas for improvement.
- Security and Compliance: Ensure network operations and security practices comply with industry standards, regulations, and organizational policies.
- Vendor Management: Evaluate and recommend network equipment vendors and service providers. Negotiate contracts, manage vendor relationships, and continuously monitor service-level agreements (SLAs) to ensure quality and cost-effectiveness. Ensure vendor KPIs metrics are achieved and maintained.
- Budgeting and Resource Planning: Collaborate with leadership to develop and manage the network budget. Identify resource requirements, assess technology investments, and make recommendations for infrastructure improvements.
- Documentation: Maintain accurate network documentation, configurations, develop and maintain Standard Operating Procedures and processes.
- Continuous Improvement: Stay current with emerging networking technologies, industry trends, and best practices. Identify opportunities for process optimization, automation, and efficiency gains within the network engineering function.
- Staff supervision and development - Yes
- Decision making- Drafts policy and resolves problems
- Travel – Less than 5%
- Location— Remote
- Flex Designation – Remote Anywhere
Requirements
Education (Required)
- A bachelor's degree in computer science, information technology, a related field, or relevant work experience.
- Relevant certifications, such as, CCNA, CCNP, JNCIS-ENT, JNCIP-ENT, or equivalent certifications are highly desirable.
- Skills (Required)
- Proficiency in network protocols, such as but not limited to, routing, switching, firewall management, network security, and experience with network monitoring tools.
- Strong knowledge of network hardware, including routers, switches, load balancers, access points, and other network devices.
- Experience with network monitoring and management tools and protocols (e.g., SolarWinds, Wireshark, SNMP, NetFlow).
- Strong leadership and team management skills, including the ability to motivate, mentor, and develop team members.
- Strong project management skills, including the ability to prioritize tasks, allocate resources, and manage project timelines effectively.
- Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, to effectively convey technical information to non-technical stakeholders.
- Strong problem-solving skills to diagnose and resolve complex network issues.
- Experience in managing relationships and negotiating contracts with network equipment and service provider vendors.
- A commitment to staying updated with the latest networking technologies, industry trends, best practices through self-study, training programs, and professional development activities.
Experience (Required)
- 3-5 years of experience in managing engineering and/or support teams, managing networks for various location types, offices, distribution centers, data centers and branches with a track record of progressively increasing responsibility. Proven track record of successfully leading and delivering network engineering projects
About Harbor Freight Tools
We’re a 45 year-old, $8 billion national tool retailer with the energy, enthusiasm, and growth potential of a start-up. We have over 1,500 stores in 48 states across the country and are opening several new locations every week. We offer our customers more than 7,000 tools and accessories, from hand tools and generators to air and power tools, from shop equipment to automotive tools. We provide our customers with the right tool for the right job at the right price, always delivering quality and value.
The anticipated salary range for this position is $127,800 - 191,600 depending on location, knowledge, skills, education and experience. This position is also eligible for an annual discretionary bonus. In addition, we offer comprehensive and competitive benefits to Associates (and their families) such as medical, dental, vision, life insurance, short-term and long-term disability. Eligible Associates are able to enroll in our company’s 401k plan. Associates will accrue paid time off up to 236 hours per year (inclusive of PTO, floating holidays, and paid holidays). Paid sick time up to 80 hours per year unless otherwise required by law.