Network Infrastructure Engineer

Title: Network Infrastructure Engineer Location: Clinton, MS (onsite only) Duration: 12 months Position type: contract Primary Skills: Cisco ACI, Cisco Nexus platforms, VRF, Bridge Domains, EPG/ESG, L3Out, contracts, fabric policies, Software-Defined Access (SDA), Cisco Catalyst platforms, Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE), TACACS+, NAC, endpoint profiling, Palo Alto next-generation firewalls, L2/L3 routing and switching (VLANs, OSPF, BGP, STP, multicast), TCP/IP, QoS, network security, ThousandEyes, Cyber Vision, DNA Spaces, documentation and architecture diagrams Position Overview A state agency's Office of Information Technology (OIT) is seeking a highly skilled and experienced Network Infrastructure Engineer to support and advance the State's enterprise networking environment. This position plays a critical role in designing, deploying, and operating new LDC (Liquor Distribution Center) fabrics, networks, identity-driven access systems, and observability platforms. The engineer will also support the design, implementation, security, and ongoing support of the enterprise data center and campus network infrastructure, including administration of Palo Alto firewalls supporting statewide systems. The engineer will work closely with the infrastructure team to ensure the State's network services remain reliable, scalable, secure, and aligned with enterprise modernization goals. This is a hands-on engineering position that requires strong technical expertise, effective communication, and the ability to support mission-critical systems across data centers and statewide operations.\ Key Responsibilities Cisco ACI & Data Center Networking Design, implement, and maintain Cisco Nexus platforms running ACI mode, including VRFs, Bridge Domains, EPGs/ESGs, L3Out, contracts, and fabric policies. Integrate ACI with virtualization and container platforms including Red Hat OpenShift VMM and Isovalent/Cilium. Configure and optimize RoCEv2 within the ACI fabric for high-performance, low-latency workloads. Conduct advanced troubleshooting of ACI fabric health, faults, endpoint learning, contracts, and multi-tenant segmentation. Develop and maintain fabric documentation, standards, and operational procedures. Cisco Catalyst & Software-Defined Access Deploy and support Cisco Catalyst platforms within campus environments. Design and maintain Software-Defined Access (SDA) architectures, including SDA Wired Fabric and Fabric-Enabled Wireless. Manage fabric underlay and overlay, policy mapping, authentication integrations, and assurance operations. Collaborate with wireless engineers to optimize coverage, performance, and policy enforcement across SDA. Identity-Driven Networking & Security Technologies Configure and administer Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) for TACACS+ device administration, authentication and authorization policy sets, and endpoint profiling. Integrate Cyber Vision intelligence into profiling, segmentation, and access control workflows. Support Zero Trust efforts through identity-centric segmentation and policy integration across ACI and SDA fabrics. Visibility, Analytics & Observability Deploy and manage ThousandEyes for end-to-end visibility, routing path analysis, and performance monitoring. Implement and support Cisco Cyber Vision for OT/IoT asset visibility, device classification, and behavior analysis. Manage DNA Spaces for location analytics, telemetry ingestion, device behavior, and wireless intelligence. Provide meaningful insights to leadership using data from these observability platforms. Core Network Engineering Troubleshoot complex L2/L3 network issues across multiple environments including VLANs, OSPF, BGP, STP, and multicast. Design and implement Palo Alto Networks security solutions across enterprise environments. Create and maintain documentation including architecture diagrams, standards, runbooks, and asset inventories. Assist in modernization planning, platform upgrades, procurement processes, and statewide technology initiatives. Perform other duties as assigned. Required Skills / Experience Minimum of 15 years of experience working with Cisco networking. Hands-on experience with Cisco ACI in production environments. Deep knowledge of ACI constructs (VRF, BD, EPG, ESG, L3Out, contracts). Experience integrating ACI with OpenShift VMM and Cilium/Isovalent. Proficiency with Cisco Catalyst platforms and SDA fabric technologies. Experience administering Cisco ISE including TACACS+ and policy-set based NAC. Strong understanding of ThousandEyes, Cyber Vision, and DNA Spaces or comparable tools. Solid command of core TCP/IP, routing, switching, QoS, and network security fundamentals. Ability to develop clear diagrams, documentation, and architectural artifacts. Strong analytical and communication skills with the ability to work in fast-paced, mission-critical environments. Note: Candidates without the required skills/experience reflected on their resume will NOT be presented to the manager for consideration. Preferred Skills Cisco certifications such as CCNP Data Center, CCNP Enterprise, CCIE, or equivalent experience. Hands-on experience with container networking and virtualization integrations. Familiarity with NIST frameworks and state-level cybersecurity requirements. Experience with network automation tools (Python, Ansible, REST APIs). Prior work in state government or large enterprise network environments. PCCSA Palo Alto Networks Certified Cybersecurity Associate (foundational security, NGFW basics, threats, App-ID, and policy). PCNSA Palo Alto Networks Certified Network Security Administrator (NGFW configuration, security profiles, NAT, App-ID, URL filtering, WildFire). PCNSE Palo Alto Networks Certified Network Security Engineer. ThousandEyes, Cyber Vision, or related platform training. Cisco Specialist certifications ACI, SDA, or ISE. CCNA.