University of South Carolina
Senior Network Engineer
Python
Ansible
CI/CD
Edtech.com's Summary
University of South Carolina is hiring a Senior Network Engineer. The Senior Network Engineer designs, implements, and manages secure and high-performance wireless and wired network infrastructure across the university, providing advanced expertise in network automation, monitoring, and Tier 3 support to ensure optimal performance and security for academic, research, and administrative operations.
Highlights
- Design, deploy, and manage enterprise wireless, LAN, and WAN networks including routers, switches, firewalls, and RF systems.
- Develop and maintain network automation and orchestration workflows using Python, Ansible, APIs, and Infrastructure-as-Code.
- Monitor network performance through metrics, telemetry, dashboards, and KPIs to optimize reliability and security.
- Provide Tier 3 support for complex network, security, and automation issues including root cause analysis and remediation.
- Required knowledge of networking technologies including routing, switching, firewalling, 802.1X, RADIUS, NAC, ClearPass, and security architectures.
- Experience with Aruba, Cisco, Juniper, Fortinet, LibreNMS, Grafana, Netbox, Ekahau, AirMagnet, and related tools.
- Bachelor’s degree in a related field with at least 4 years of related experience; preferred 5+ years in higher education or large campus environments.
- Professional certifications like Cisco CCNP/CCNA, Aruba ACMP/ACSP, Juniper JNCIS/JNCIP, CWNA/CWNP, or Fortinet NSE4/NSE5 are preferred.
- Full-time position with standard hours 8:30am to 5:00pm and flexible scheduling; salary range $107,351 to $136,872.
- Supports the University of South Carolina’s academic, research, and administrative network infrastructure and collaborates with campus IT and security teams.
Senior Network Engineer Full Description
Senior Network Engineer Bookmark this Posting Print Preview | Apply for this Job
Please see Special Instructions for more details.
Click here to learn more about why you should work at USC.
Positions are advertised for a minimum of five (5) business days on our job website. After five (5) business days, positions can be closed at the discretion of the department at any time. This employment site is updated on a regular basis. The length of the recruitment and screening process may vary from position to position, depending upon a variety of factors. Should review of your qualifications result in a decision to pursue your candidacy, you will be contacted by phone or email.
We are only accepting applications submitted by June 26, 2026.
The University of South Carolina offers a valuable benefits package including but not limited to:
- Health and Life Insurance
- Retirement Programs
- Paid Tuition
- Dependent Scholarships
- Annual Leave
- Sick Leave
- 13 Paid Holidays (including an extended December holiday)
- Paid Parental Leave
- Professional Development Opportunities
Click here to learn more about why you should work at USC.
Posting Details
Supplemental Questions
Posting Summary
| Logo | |
|---|---|
| Posting Number | STA00300PO26 |
| Job Family | Information Technology |
| Job Function | Enterprise Network Engineering |
| USC Market Title | Enterprise Network Engineer |
| Link to USC Market Title | https://uscjobs.sc.edu/titles/205475 |
| Job Level | P4 - Professional |
| Business Title (Internal Title) | Senior Network Engineer |
| Campus | Columbia |
| Work County | Richland |
| College/Division | Division of Information Technology |
| Department | IT Network Services |
| State Pay Range | T08 |
| USC Market Range | MRM - $107,351 $136,872 $166,394 |
| Anticipated Hiring Range | $107,351- $136,872 |
| Location of Vacancy | |
| Part/Full Time | Full Time |
| Hours per Week | 37.5 |
| Work Schedule |
|
| Basis | 12 months |
| Job Search Category | Information Technology |
About USC
| About University of South Carolina | From the Upstate to the Lowcountry, the University of South Carolina system is transforming the lives of South Carolinians through the impact of our eight institutions and 20 locations throughout the state. More than 50,000 students are enrolled at one of eight institutions, including the research campus in Columbia and comprehensive four-year universities in Aiken, Upstate and Beaufort. In addition, our Palmetto College campuses in Salkehatchie, Union, Lancaster and Sumter enable students to earn associate or bachelor’s degrees through a combination of in-person, online or blended learning. All of our system institutions place strong emphasis on service — helping to build healthier, more educated communities in South Carolina and beyond. |
|---|---|
| Veterans' Preference Statement | The University of South Carolina is committed to equal opportunity and proudly values the skills and experience military veterans bring to our workforce. Across South Carolina, we are making veterans a priority for employment and recognize their vital contributions to our state and our communities. |
Benefits for FTE Positions
The University of South Carolina (USC), through the State of SC and Public Employee Benefit Authority (PEBA), offers employees a valuable benefits package, including health and life insurance, generous paid leave and retirement programs. To learn more about USC benefits, access the "Working at USC" section on the Applicant Portal at https://uscjobs.sc.edu. Research Grant or Time-limited positions may be eligible for all, some, or no benefits, based on the grant or project funding.
Position Description
| Advertised Job Summary |
Senior Network Engineer Spend your days enjoying one of the most beautiful university campuses in America at the University of South Carolina, located in the vibrant capital city of one of the nation’s fastest-growing states. Join us in advancing the Division of Information Technology as we build and support a modern, secure, and high-performing network environment that powers teaching, research, and student success. As a Gamecock, you will work alongside a collaborative, talented, and forward-thinking team, applying your expertise to deliver reliable, innovative connectivity solutions that enhance the digital experience across our campus community. The Senior Network Engineer is responsible for designing, implementing, and supporting enterprise wireless and wired network infrastructure across the university. This role serves as a technical expert in wireless networking, ensuring high availability, performance, and security while supporting academic, research, and administrative operations. The position also plays a key role in automation, monitoring, and continuous improvement of network services in a dynamic campus environment. Key Responsibilities:
What We’re Looking For:
Why Join Us?
Perks of the University of South Carolina:
|
|---|---|
| Job Related Minimum Required Education and Experience |
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| Required Certification, Licensure/Other Credentials | |
| Preferred Qualifications |
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| Knowledge/Skills/Abilities |
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Job Duties
| Job Duty | Network Design & Management: Responsible for the design, implementation, and management of secure, high-performance communication networks across wireless, LAN, and WAN environments. This includes architecting and deploying infrastructure such as Wi-Fi, cellular, and microwave systems; routers, switches, and firewalls; and automation platforms for configuration management, monitoring, and incident response. Conduct detailed site surveys, spectrum analyses, and network assessments to ensure optimal coverage, capacity, and resilience. Configure and troubleshoot network and security devices, implement advanced routing, switching, and segmentation strategies, and apply automation tools (e.g., Python, Ansible, or similar frameworks) to streamline provisioning and maintenance tasks. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to integrate secure wireless and wired technologies into broader enterprise architectures, ensuring alignment with organizational objectives and regulatory compliance. Continuously monitor and analyze network performance and security posture, applying proactive improvements to enhance reliability, scalability, and protection against evolving threats. Maintain comprehensive documentation of network designs, configurations, automation workflows, and performance metrics to support operational excellence and ongoing optimization. |
|---|---|
| Essential Function | Yes |
| Percentage of Time | 40 |
| Job Duty |
Orchestration, Automation, and Network Engineering Responsible for designing, developing, and implementing automated solutions that streamline the deployment, configuration, monitoring, and optimization of secure wireless, LAN, and WAN networks. This includes creating and maintaining orchestration workflows, scripts, and Infrastructure-as-Code (IaC) frameworks to minimize manual intervention, enhance reliability, and ensure consistent performance across diverse network environments. Integrate automation platforms with network management and security systems, leveraging APIs and tools such as Ansible, Python, RESTful services, and CI/CD pipelines to enable dynamic provisioning, real-time configuration management, and automated compliance enforcement. Implement automation for network security functions—such as firewall policy updates, access control validation, and vulnerability scanning—to ensure continuous alignment with cybersecurity and regulatory standards. Continuously monitor and analyze automated processes and network telemetry to ensure operational accuracy, scalability, and performance optimization. Collaborate with cross-functional engineering and security teams to integrate orchestration and automation capabilities into the university’s broader IT and research infrastructure, supporting innovation, resilience, and rapid service delivery. |
|---|---|
| Essential Function | Yes |
| Percentage of Time | 25 |
| Job Duty | Metrics, Monitoring, and Performance Optimization Responsible for developing and managing comprehensive metrics frameworks to measure, analyze, and optimize the performance, reliability, and security of wireless, LAN, and WAN networks. This includes defining and tracking Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) such as signal strength, throughput, latency, packet loss, availability, and security event metrics to ensure the network meets established Service Level Agreements (SLAs) and organizational objectives. Collect and aggregate performance and security data from network monitoring, automation, and orchestration systems to provide actionable insights. Design and maintain real-time dashboards and reports that visualize network health, trends, and anomaly detection using tools such as SNMP, NetFlow, Syslog, API integrations, and telemetry analytics platforms. Perform advanced data analysis to identify performance bottlenecks, capacity constraints, configuration drift, and potential vulnerabilities. Use these insights to drive proactive maintenance, optimize configurations, and support automation-driven corrective actions. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to establish performance and security benchmarks, validate network enhancements, and ensure that both wired and wireless infrastructures continuously meet evolving standards for scalability, compliance, and operational excellence. |
|---|---|
| Essential Function | Yes |
| Percentage of Time | 15 |
| Job Duty | Tier 3 Network, Security, and Automation Support Provides Tier 3 engineering support for complex and escalated issues across wireless, LAN, WAN, and security infrastructures. Responsible for diagnosing and resolving advanced problems related to network performance, configuration, interoperability, automation workflows, and cybersecurity across technologies such as Wi-Fi, cellular, microwave, and wired Ethernet systems. Perform in-depth Root Cause Analysis (RCA) and develop corrective and preventive actions for critical incidents affecting connectivity, performance, or security posture. Collaborate with vendors, automation teams, and internal engineering groups to troubleshoot, patch, and optimize systems, ensuring minimal downtime and full compliance with operational and security standards. Leverage monitoring and orchestration tools to proactively detect and resolve anomalies through automated remediation workflows when possible. Maintain and refine troubleshooting procedures, create detailed post-incident documentation, and contribute to continuous improvement by identifying systemic issues and recommending design or process enhancements. Provide advanced technical guidance, knowledge transfer, and mentorship to Tier 1 and Tier 2 support teams, strengthening overall operational maturity and promoting consistent adherence to best practices in network security, reliability, and automation. |
|---|---|
| Essential Function | Yes |
| Percentage of Time | 10 |
| Job Duty |
Professional Development: Obtain and maintain job training and certifications as required by job responsibilities. Self-train and keep pace with rapidly changing technology as needed. Participate in communities of practice. |
|---|---|
| Essential Function | Yes |
| Percentage of Time | 5 |
| Job Duty | Perform additional duties as required. |
|---|---|
| Essential Function | No |
| Percentage of Time | 5 |
Position Attributes
Employees in Safety-Sensitive or Security-Sensitive positions will be subject to pre-employment and post-employment drug testing in accordance with University policy HR 1.95 Drug and Alcohol Testing.
| Safety Sensitive or Security Sensitive | No |
|---|---|
| Hazardous weather category | Non-Essential |
Posting Detail Information
| Number of Vacancies | 1 |
|---|---|
| Desired Start Date | |
| Job Open Date | 05/18/2026 |
| Job Close Date | 06/26/2026 |
| Open Until Filled | No |
| Special Instructions to Applicant | Positions are advertised for a minimum of five (5) business days on our job website. After five (5) business days, positions can be closed at the discretion of the department at any time. This employment site is updated on a regular basis. The length of the recruitment and screening process may vary from position to position, depending upon a variety of factors. Should review of your qualifications result in a decision to pursue your candidacy, you will be contacted by phone or email. We are only accepting applications submitted by June 26, 2026. The University of South Carolina offers a valuable benefits package including but not limited to:
Click here to learn more about why you should work at USC. |
| Quicklink for Posting | https://uscjobs.sc.edu/postings/205660 |
| EEO Statement | The University of South Carolina does not discriminate in educational or employment opportunities or decisions for qualified persons on the basis of age, ancestry, citizenship status, color, disability, ethnicity, familial status, gender (including transgender), gender identity or expression, genetic information, HIV/AIDs status, military status, national origin, pregnancy (false pregnancy, termination of pregnancy, childbirth, recovery therefrom or related medical conditions, breastfeeding), race, religion (including religious dress and grooming practices), sex, sexual orientation, veteran status, or any other bases under federal, state, local law, or regulations. |
Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).
- *
Do you have at least a bachelor's degree in a job-related field and 4 or more years of job-related experience, which may be substituted by an equivalent combination of certification, training, education and/or experience?
- Yes
- No
- *
Are you able to work onsite and participate in a rotating on-call schedule to provide after-hours and weekend coverage as needed?
- Yes
- No
- *
Can you handle the mental demands of this job, such as problem-solving, multitasking, clear communication, working under pressure, handling confidential information, and quickly learning new technologies?
- Yes
- No
- *
Are you able to meet the physical requirements of the job, including lifting up to 50 pounds and performing tasks like walking, sitting, standing, and using a computer?
- Yes
- No
- *
Do you have at least 5 years of experience supporting large-scale wired and wireless network infrastructure (such as in a university or large campus), including experience with Aruba, Juniper, Cisco access layers, wireless systems, RF design tools, network security (802.1X, RADIUS, NAC, ClearPass), automation (Python, Ansible, APIs), monitoring tools (LibreNMS, Grafana, NetBox), and managing multi-site deployments?
- Yes
- No
Required Documents
- Cover Letter
- Resume
Optional Documents
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