San Diego Unified School District

Network Engineer

Education, Government & Non-Profit
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or equivalent experience (5+ years).
  • Proven experience with LAN/WAN/WLAN design and maintenance in multi-site environments.
  • Strong understanding of TCP/IP, VLANs, DHCP/DNS, routing protocols (OSPF/BGP), QoS, and authentication.
  • Experience with Azure networking and hybrid infrastructure management.
  • Knowledge of K-12 data privacy requirements and compliance: FERPA, COPPA, CIPA.
  • Customer service oriented with ability to work collaboratively in a school environment.

Responsibilities

  • Collaborate with Technology leadership to assess network capacity and cloud readiness.
  • Develop and maintain documentation for network configurations and policies.
  • Design, deploy and manage LAN, WAN, WLAN, and cloud architectures across district sites.
  • Support the evaluation of network impact from K-12 instructional initiatives and technology programs.
  • Monitor on-premises and cloud networks using modern management tools.
  • Manage and maintain Azure AD and identity integrations, ensuring cybersecurity compliance.
  • Provide mentorship and technical guidance to junior team members.

Benefits

  • Comprehensive benefits plan.
  • Opportunity to impact a mission-driven organization in education.
Full Job Description
Requirements / Qualifications

For more information on Requirements/Qualifications, please contact the employer.

Comments and Other Information

For more information on Comments and Other Information, please contact the employer.

Comments and Other Information

OPPORTUNITY:

The Network Engineer plays a critical role in building and maintaining a secure, reliable, and scalable technology infrastructure that supports teaching, learning, and school operations across the district.
This role ensures the stability and integrity of district-wide data, voice, video, wireless, and cloud network services.
The Network Engineer is responsible for designing, deploying, and maintaining LAN/WAN architectures; optimizing wired and wireless performance in high-density learning environments; supporting cloud-first initiatives; and ensuring strong cybersecurity safeguards aligned with K-12 data privacy requirements and supporting CIS Controls.
This position supports the full lifecycle of network operations-from planning and implementation to monitoring, incident response, and continuous improvement-ensuring that students, teachers, and staff have dependable access to the systems essential for learning and district operations.

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

Strategy & Planning:

Collaborate with Technology leadership to assess network capacity, future needs, and cloud readiness across all school sites.
Maintain thorough documentation for network diagrams, configurations, standards, and procedures.
Develop and maintain policies for network use, cloud services, identity management, and disaster recovery/business continuity.
Contribute to long-term roadmap for data center modernization, cloud adoption, and Azure- hosted services.
Evaluate network impacts of K-12 instructional technology initiatives (1:1 programs, online testing, e-learning platforms, etc.).
Assess cybersecurity risks and support district-wide strategies that meet K-12 compliance frameworks (FERPA, COPPA, CIPA).

Acquisition & Deployment

Design, deploy and manage LAN, WAN, WLAN, and cloud-connected architectures across all existing and new district sites, including routing, switching, firewalls, load balancers, servers and security appliances.
Architect, deploy, and maintain Azure cloud networking (VNets, ExpressRoute/VPN gateways, Azure Firewall, NSGs, ASGs, Azure Monitor, etc.).
Lead network infrastructure upgrades, hardware refresh cycles, and transitions toward cloud-first ecosystems.
Research and evaluate emerging network technologies, cloud capabilities, and industry best practices relevant to K-12 environments.
Work with vendors, E-Rate partners, and service providers to procure cost-effective solutions aligned with district goals.

Operational Management

Configure, optimize, and maintain district networks, ensuring uptime and performance that meet instructional and administrative needs.
Responsible for managing VMware virtual infrastructure Monitor on-premises and cloud networks using modern network management and security tools (Azure Monitor, Meraki Dashboard, SolarWinds, etc.).
Support the connectivity and integration of servers, endpoints, classroom technologies, web filters, VoIP systems, security systems (i.e. camera systems, access controls, vape sensors),
and IoT/AV equipment.
Manage and maintain Azure AD, identity integrations, and hybrid infrastructure.
Ensure adherence to cybersecurity best practices, including identity governance, MFA, conditional access, least privilege, and zero-trust principles.
Perform system backups, disaster recovery testing, audit logging, and compliance reporting.
Maintain inventory of network components, licensing, warranties, and cloud resource usage.
Provide mentorship and technical guidance to junior team members and school site technicians.
Respond to incidents and outages with urgency, clarity, and strong
communication.

Other

Participation in an on-call rotation.
Ability to inspect and service network equipment, including cabling and closets.
Ability to lift moderate equipment (computers, servers, switches, APs, UPS units, etc.).
Frequent travel to school sites.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Required

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or equivalent experience (5+ years).
Proven experience with LAN/WAN/WLAN design and maintenance in multi-site environments.
Strong understanding of TCP/IP, VLANs, DHCP/DNS, routing protocols (OSPF/BGP), QoS, authentication (RADITACACS/AAA), and load balancing.
Experience managing enterprise Wi-Fi in high-density environments (classrooms, auditoriums, testing labs).
Experience with Azure networking, identity, and hybrid infrastructure (Azure AD, Azure Firewall, VPN gateways, virtual networks, NSGs, conditional access).
Working knowledge of security best practices, firewalls, IDS/IPS, endpoint security, SSL certificates, authentication systems, and system hardening.
Experience supporting Active Directory, Windows Server, and Microsoft 365.
Understanding of K-12 data privacy requirements and compliance: FERPA, COPPA, CIPA.
Experience with cloud migration, network automations, IEEE 802.1X, and Zero Trust security.
Experience with VoIP systems (e.g., Call Manager) and SIP trunking.
Experience with cabling infrastructure, network testing tools, and structured wiring standards.
Ability to communicate technical concepts clearly to non-technical staff and school leadership.
Strong customer service skills and ability to work collaboratively in a school-centered environment.

Preferred
Certifications: Cisco CCNA/CCNP, Microsoft Azure (AZ-104, AZ-700), Security+ or equivalent.

COMPENSATION:
Starting pay for this position is $90,000 - $100,000 annually. We also offer a comprehensive benefits plan as well as the opportunity to impact a growing, mission-driven organization that is committed to the success of Los Angeles students.

The information contained herein is not intended to be an all-inclusive list of the duties and responsibilities of the job, nor is it intended to be an all-inclusive list of the skills and abilities required to perform the job.

This employer strives for a balanced, productive workforce, which is diverse in terms of age, gender, and cultural identity. We do not base hiring or promotional decisions on factors other than performance and professional growth potential

About San Diego Unified School District

The San Diego Unified School District (SDUSD) is the second-largest school district in California, United States. The district serves approximately 121,000 students in pre-kindergarten through grade 12 and covers almost 200 square miles (520 km2) in the city of San Diego and all or part of the nearby communities of Bonita, Clairemont, Custer, East Elliott, Egger Highlands, Encanto, Golden Hill, Hillcrest, Kearny Mesa, La Jolla, La Playa, Linda Vista, Loma Portal, Midtown, Mission Beach, Mission Hills, North City, North Park, Ocean Beach, Pacific Beach, Paradise Hills, Point Loma, San Carlos, South Park, Sunset Cliffs, University City, and Webster. The district is governed by an elected five-member Board of Education.
Learn more about San Diego Unified School District
Size
14,000 employees
Industry

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