Job Title: Network Engineer
Location: Richmond, Virginia
Starting Compensation Range: $82,000 - $115,000 per year
What You Will Do: Network Infrastructure and Design
- Cisco Network Administration: Design, configure, deploy, and maintain Cisco routers, switches, and wireless infrastructure across corporate office and all branch locations
- Network Design and Standards: Develop and enforce network design standards, IP addressing (IPAM), VLAN structure, and routing protocols (BGP, OSPF, EIGRP) to support a scalable, multi-site environment
WAN and SD-WAN Management
- SD-WAN Administration: Administer and optimize corporate SD-WAN fabric, including tunnel design, path selection/policy-based routing, application-aware routing, and QoS across all sites
- WAN Circuit and Carrier Management: Manage WAN connectivity (MPLS, broadband, LTE/5G failover, and dedicated internet circuits), including circuit provisioning, carrier coordination, and performance troubleshooting
Firewall and Security Administration
- SonicWall Firewall Management: Configure, harden, and support SonicWall firewalls at perimeter and branch level, including rule sets, high availability, content filtering, and intrusion prevention policies
- VPN and Remote Access: Design and maintain site-to-site and remote access VPN tunnels to support secure connectivity for branch locations and remote users
- Security Compliance Support: Support network segmentation, access control, and logging practices required to maintain Carter's security compliance posture and other regulatory obligations
Systems Support and Continuous Improvement
- Monitoring and Maintenance: Monitor network performance and availability using enterprise monitoring tools; proactively identify and resolve bottlenecks, outages, and degradation before they impact business
- Troubleshooting and Issue Resolution: Diagnose and resolve technical issues spanning LAN, WAN, and firewall layers. Investigate network failures, identify root causes, and implement corrective actions
- Documentation: Maintain accurate network documentation, including topology diagrams, IP address management, configuration standards, and change records
- Emerging Technologies: Stay current with industry trends and emerging network and security technologies to propose upgrades or replacements that keep infrastructure current, resilient, and cost-effective
- Issue Reporting and Escalation: Log and escalate technical issues with the appropriate IT system or carrier vendor
- Change Management: Plan and execute network changes using formal change management processes, including risk assessment, testing, and rollback planning
- Participate in an on-call rotation and responds to network incidents, escalations, and outages, including after-hours support as needed
Team Support and Mentoring
- Technical Mentoring: Mentor junior IT and network staff on networking fundamentals and troubleshooting methodology
- Project Leadership: Lead network-related projects end-to-end, including new site builds, office moves, and equipment refresh initiatives, partnering with branch leadership and end users
- Work in coordination with the team to achieve Continuous Improvement goals and objectives
- Perform other related duties as assigned
What We're Looking For: - Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience
- Minimum five years of professional network engineering experience, including lead-level responsibility for SD-WAN design/deployment, multi-site WAN architecture, and firewall policy strategy; experience mentoring junior engineers and leading network projects end-to-end
- Cisco certification(s) such as CCNA, CCNP (Enterprise or Security), or CCIE preferred but not required
- SonicWall certification (SNSA or SNSP) preferred but not required
- Experience operating in a compliance-regulated environment (CMMC, NIST 800-171, CIS Controls, or similar frameworks) preferred
- Prior experience in a distributed, multi-branch or dealer/retail environment preferred
- Previous experience supervising, leading, or providing work direction to a technical team is preferred for the Senior Network Engineer level
- Strong, hands-on experience with Cisco networking equipment (routers, switches, wireless controllers/access points) in a multi-site enterprise environment
- Demonstrated experience designing, deploying, or administering an SD-WAN solution
- Solid understanding of WAN technologies, routing protocols (BGP, OSPF, EIGRP), VLANs, STP, and QoS
- Direct experience configuring and managing SonicWall firewalls (rules, VPNs, high availability, content/security services)
- Working knowledge of network security fundamentals: segmentation, access control lists, VPN architecture, and intrusion detection/prevention
- Experience with network monitoring and diagnostic tools
- Strong understanding of Cyber Security Principles and how they are implemented
- Strong troubleshooting skills across the OSI stack, with the ability to isolate issues spanning LAN, WAN, and firewall layers
- Highly analytical, have a passion for details, and be capable of translating analytical insights into action
- Effectively resolve issues in a timely manner using sound judgement, critical thinking, problem solving, decision making, and influencing skills
- Strong organization skills with the ability to effectively prioritize (with changing priorities), multi-task, address issues quickly and professionally, and meet deadlines
- Excellent written and oral communication skills
- Valid driver's license
- Excellent driving record
- Willingness to travel to branch locations across Virginia and Maryland
What Success Looks Like In This Role: - Successful network infrastructure and design
- Effective management of WAN and SD-WAN
- Efficient administration of firewall and security support
- Developing and maintaining positive working relationships
- Clearly and concisely communicating technical information to non-technical users
- Working effectively, both independently and in team settings
- Self-directed with strong work ethic
- Functioning well in a high volume of work in a fast-paced environment
- Training and providing functional guidance to other IT staff and end users on networking topics
- Promoting a positive customer experience
- Upholding the Core Values of Integrity, Commitment, Excellence, and Teamwork by embracing The Carter Way
Physical Requirements: - Regularly required to sit and talk or hear
- Frequently required to stand; walk and use hands to finger, handle, or feel
- Occasionally required to reach with hands and arms and to work in data closets, server rooms, and branch network cabinets
- Periodically moving/pushing/transporting up to 40 pounds of networking equipment
- Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision and ability to adjust focus
Competitive Compensation and Benefits: - Health, dental and vision insurance
- Paid time off
- 401(k), $0.75 to $1.25 match up to 6%
- Life and disability insurance
- In-house training instructors/programs
- Tuition reimbursement
- Employee referral bonus program
- Tool allowances and tool loans
- Discounts on cellular phone service, computers, and vehicles
- Opportunities for overtime
- Shift differential (if applicable)
Actual base pay may vary based on experience, skills, qualifications, education, geographic location, and other relevant business considerations. In addition to base pay, the compensation package may include participation in performance-based incentive programs (e.g., discretionary or non-discretionary plans), as well as overtime eligibility depending on the role.
