Job Description

Network Architect/Engineer

***This job is eligible for relocation assistance to aid with the costs associated with moving to the Colorado Springs area.

We are looking for an outstanding individual to join our team as a Network Architect/Engineer. In this job, you will tackle the exciting & challenging technical opportunities and work closely with a team of Network System Engineers who share responsibility for a diverse and interesting mix of network environments including; two data centers, a Metropolitan Area IP Network, LANs distributed across the City of Colorado Springs and beyond, wireless networks, and Operational Technology Networks supporting the Utilities’ Electric, Gas, Water and Wastewater operations.

Key Areas of Focus:

Networking Fundamentals

• Deep Routing and Switching (R&S) fundamentals, to include Border Gateway Protocol (BGP), Open Shortest Path First (OSPF), Spanning Tree, Multi-Protocol Label Switching (MPLS), Layer 3 Virtual Private Network (L3VPN)
• Cloud networking and Software-Defined Wide Area Network (SD-WAN) a plus
• Differentiated Services Quality of Service (DiffServ) design, deployment, and optimization
• Datacenter networking (e.g., Application-Centric Infrastructure (ACI)) and micro-segmentation
• Network security fundamentals, to include Authentication, Authorization, and Accounting (AAA) concepts and common platforms
• Multi-vendor network firewall experience
• Domain Name System (DSN) fundamentals
• Network monitoring and telemetry design, deployment, and optimization
• Complex network troubleshooting
• Network automation experience a plus

Network Design

• Designing and building networks by taking into consideration various factors like performance requirements, infrastructure requirements, and security
• Examining and evaluating the network performance
• Researching new industry-leading network technologies and managing the IT Network Roadmap
• Planning and designing in advance and should often participate in the implementation of network designs
• Understanding the digital communication must-haves and creating the best solutions to meet business needs
• Designing network needs for compute platforms, configuring components, and resolving any issues prior to implementation

Network Modeling

• Estimating the growth of the network
• Focusing on the effects the new equipment may have on the network performance
• Providing recommendations to make an accurate upgrade to the network

Who you are…Ideally, you will hold a bachelor’s degree in computer science or possess equivalent experience and maintain active, relevant networking certifications. You are a Senior Network Engineer or Junior Network Architect with a sustained passion for growth and exploration. You bring strong communication skills to the workplace and are well-versed with technical and inter-departmental problem-solving. Extensive knowledge and experience within computer network operations, security, and wireless systems. Apart from these regular skills, you should be able to perform the following tasks:

• Collaborate with the Network Operations and Cybersecurity teams to quickly resolve network issues
• Maintaining proper records of the networks they design to include resolving network issues, network drawings, text descriptions, and equipment configuration.
• Demonstrable experience with networking components such as routers, switches, VPNs, Firewalls, Load Balancers, and compute platforms
• Be well-versed with all aspects of leadership, such as team building, staff training, and scheduling

The military job codes/duty codes most closely related to this role are: 25A, 25G, 26A, 26B 37A1, 37A2, 37A3, 37A4 6420, 6423, 6425, 6427, IT 9634, 9934, 9975, 9985

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS/WORKING CONDITIONS:

• Exerts up to 10 lbs. of force occasionally and/or small amount of force frequently to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects, including the human body. Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time but may involve walking or standing for brief periods of time. Jobs are sedentary if walking and standing are required only occasionally, and all other sedentary criteria are met.
• Positions in this class typically require talking, hearing, seeing and repetitive motions within an office working environment.

What does this opportunity offer? You will be working with a diverse group of people and have the opportunity to be a leader among your peer architects, as you lead the Architecture Review Board, collaborate with functional managers, supervisors, and individual contributors. This is an exceptional opportunity to join an organization as it moves up the technology maturity model, and is embracing the need for architecture standards, modeling and all that surround

Our Commitment to Our Employees…
Our people are the heart and soul of Colorado Springs Utilities. They keep the lights on, gas flowing, water coming in, and wastewater leaving. We don't just say people are important – we prove it! That’s why we are honored to invest in protecting the health and financial security of our employees and their families through our rich benefits program.

Time Off to Recharge

• Vacation – Start with 13 days annually, increasing to 24 days with tenure
• Personal Leave –3 days per year
• Paid Holidays –12 paid holidays per year
• Sick Leave – 12 days per year for personal or family health needs
• Vacation Buy – Option to purchase up to 40 additional hours annually

Health & Wellness – Benefits elected are effective the first of the following month

• Medical Plans: Three comprehensive options, including a $0 premium High-Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) with Health Savings Account (HSA) eligibility
• Zero Health: Access to hundreds of medical services at no cost
• Dental & Vision: Two dental plans and one vision plan
• Family Building-Benefits: Support for fertility, preservation, adoption, and surrogacy
• Wellness Program: A voluntary program that rewards you for prioritizing self-care! If you're enrolled in a our medical plan, you and your spouse can earn up to $600 in HRA or HSA contributions by completing healthy activities
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA): Pre-tax contributions for healthcare and dependent care expenses
• Health Savings Account (HSA): Available with HDHP

Financial & Retirement Security

• Pension Plan: Colorado PERA provides retirement benefits and peace of mind
• Supplemental Retirement Plans: PERAPlus 401(k), MissionSquare Roth IRA, and 457 plans
• Disability Coverage: Short-Term and Long-Term Disability insurance available
• Life Insurance: Employer-paid coverage with optional supplemental plans
• Long-Term Care Insurance: Available for purchase to support extended care needs

Additional Support

• Employee Assistance Program (EAP): Confidential support for mental health, stress, legal, financial, and work-life balance
• Tuition Reimbursement: Up to $5,250 annually to support continued education
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness: As a qualifying employer, your student loan payments may be eligible for loan forgiveness