Job Description
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About the Role
The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board is seeking an experienced and technically deep network engineer to serve as the Principal Network Engineer. Reporting to the Director of IT Operations, this position is a senior technical authority within the Information Technology Services team responsible for enterprise network architecture, security, and operations, with agencywide scope and impact.
The Principal Network Engineer is responsible for defining enterprise network architecture, advancing network security and operational maturity, and addressing the most complex, novel, or missioncritical network challenges. This position plans and advances network strategies, designs resilient and scalable enterprise network architectures, establishes agencywide standards and best practices, and provides expert technical consultation across the organization and with external partners.
Responsibilities include serving as the highestlevel technical escalation point for enterpriseimpact network incidents, defining enterprise network security architecture and compliance frameworks, and maintaining enterprise documentation and technical guidance. While this role retains handson involvement, work is focused on the most complex troubleshooting, architectural initiatives, and highrisk changes rather than routine operational tasks.
Collaborates with IT Operations, Product Engineering, Data Engineering, security, and business stakeholders to ensure network architecture and standards support agency systems, initiatives, and missioncritical operations.
This position works under minimal supervision, with extensive latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment, and influences enterprise network direction, standards, and longterm practices through expertise, consultation, and leadership rather than formal people management.
General Description:
Performs highly advanced (seniorlevel) network systems work with agencywide scope and impact for the Information Technology Services (ITS) Division of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB). This position serves as a senior technical authority responsible for defining enterprise network architecture, advancing network security and operational maturity, and addressing the most complex, novel, or missioncritical network challenges.
Work involves planning and advancing network strategies, designing resilient and scalable enterprise network architectures, establishing agencywide standards and best practices, and providing expert technical consultation across the organization and with external partners as appropriate. While this role retains handson involvement, work is focused on the most complex troubleshooting, architectural initiatives, and highrisk changes rather than routine operational tasks.
Responsibilities include serving as the highestlevel technical escalation point for enterpriseimpact network incidents, defining enterprise network security architecture and compliance frameworks, and maintaining enterprise documentation and technical guidance. Collaborates with IT Operations, Product Engineering, Data Engineering, security, and business stakeholders to ensure network architecture and standards support agency systems, initiatives, and missioncritical operations.
Works under minimal supervision, with extensive latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment. Influences enterprise network direction, standards, and longterm practices through expertise, consultation, and leadership rather than formal people management. Performs other duties as assigned.
General Duties and Responsibilities:
Advanced Network Operations & Technical Support ¿ Performs handson network work for the most complex, novel, or missioncritical operational issues and changes.
Enterprise Incident Response & Network Assurance ¿ Serves as the highestlevel technical escalation point for enterpriseimpact network incidents and systemic issues, leading advanced troubleshooting and resolution efforts.
Enterprise Network Performance & Capacity Strategy ¿ Defines and advances enterprise approaches to network performance management, capacity planning, and operational maturity.
Enterprise Network Security & Governance ¿ Defines and advances enterprise network security architecture, standards, and compliance frameworks across the organization.
Enterprise Network Architecture & Strategy ¿ Defines enterprise network architecture and longterm strategy to ensure scalability, resiliency, and alignment with agency priorities.
Technical Authority, Documentation & Consultation ¿ Serves as a senior technical authority by maintaining enterprise documentation and providing expert consultation across departments and external partners without formal supervisory responsibility.
Performs other duties as assigned.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
The successful candidate will possess the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to serve as the senior technical authority for enterprise network architecture, security, and operations.
Knowledge
Knowledge of enterprise network architecture and design, including routing, switching, wireless, WAN, and network segmentation across onpremises, private cloud, and public cloud environments.
Knowledge of network security architecture and technologies, including firewalls, intrusion prevention, VPN, and zerotrust network principles, such as Palo Alto Networks or comparable platforms.
Knowledge of cloudmanaged networking and wireless platforms, such as Cisco Meraki or comparable solutions.
Knowledge of network monitoring, performance management, and capacity planning tools and practices.
Knowledge of network resiliency, disaster recovery, and business continuity practices for enterprise network environments.
Knowledge of IT governance, security, and compliance practices related to network operations.
Skills
Skill in designing and implementing resilient, scalable enterprise network architectures.
Skill in troubleshooting and resolving complex, novel, or missioncritical network incidents.
Skill in configuring, securing, and maintaining network security and cloudmanaged networking platforms, such as Palo Alto and Cisco Meraki.
Skill in analyzing network performance and capacity data to guide optimization and planning decisions.
Skill in developing network standards, documentation, and operational procedures.
Skill in providing expert technical consultation and guidance to other engineers and departments without formal supervisory authority.
Skill in communicating complex technical information clearly to both technical and nontechnical audiences.
Abilities
Ability to serve as the highestlevel technical escalation point for enterpriseimpact network incidents.
Ability to define and advance enterprise network architecture and longterm technical strategy.
Ability to define and evolve enterprise network security standards and governance frameworks.
Ability to exercise sound independent judgment on complex, highrisk network changes with minimal supervision.
Ability to balance handson technical work with strategic planning and consultation responsibilities.
Ability to build effective working relationships with IT teams, vendors, and external partners.
Ability to foster a culture of technical excellence, documentation discipline, and continuous improvement.
Required InOffice Days:
This position is authorized for a hybrid telework schedule. Employees are required to work in the office two (2) days per week, with the remaining three (3) days eligible for telework. Specific inoffice days may be determined by the department to meet business needs.
Military Crosswalk: https://hr.sao.texas.gov/Compensation/MilitaryCrosswalk/MOSC_ProgramManagement.pdf
Required Minimum Education and Experience:
Bachelor's degree from an accredited fouryear college or university with major coursework in computer science, information systems, network engineering, or a related field.
Eight (8) years of progressively responsible experience in network engineering, network administration, or a related information technology field, including experience with enterprise network architecture, security, and troubleshooting.
Additional related work experience may substitute for the required education on a yearforyear basis.
Preferred Experience and Education:
Extensive experience in enterprise network engineering, including architecture, security, and operations, in complex organizational environments.
Experience with enterprise network security platforms, such as Palo Alto Networks, and cloudmanaged networking platforms, such as Cisco Meraki.
Demonstrated experience leading network modernization efforts, including migrating and integrating onpremises, private cloud, and public cloud network environments.
Experience establishing network architecture standards and technology strategies that emphasize scalability, security, and automation.
Experience with operational risk management, disaster recovery, business continuity planning, and enterpriselevel security incident response.
Demonstrated ability to serve as a senior technical mentor and resource for other engineers without formal supervisory responsibility.
Professional certifications related to network engineering or network security, such as CCNP, CCIE, PCNSE, or comparable credentials.
Experience in public sector or government technology environments.
Physical Requirements and/or Working Conditions:
Work is performed in a standard office environment and requires:
Regular, reliable, and punctual attendance at work.
Frequent use of personal computers, copiers, printers, telephones, and other standard office equipment.
Frequent sitting, with occasional standing, walking, and movement throughout the office.
Frequent interaction with agency leadership, staff, vendors, and external stakeholders.
Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet established deadlines in a fastpaced environment.
Workforce:
Must be able to:
Demonstrate a strong commitment to customer service and the agency's mission.
Provide strategic leadership that promotes collaboration, accountability, innovation, and continuous improvement.
Build and maintain effective working relationships with agency leadership, staff, vendors, and external stakeholders.
Show flexibility and adaptability to changing priorities, assignments, and organizational needs, including working extended hours when necessary.
Adhere to the agency's internal management policies, procedures, and applicable federal and state requirements.
Contribute to the agency's strategic goals, organizational performance measures, and mission.
Application Requirements:
A State of Texas application is required to apply. For more information on how to apply for this position, go to the Coordinating Board's employment opportunities website at https://www.highered.texas.gov/careers/.
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