Approval of remote and hybrid work is not guaranteed regardless of work location. For additional information on remote work at Penn State, see Notice to Out of State Applicants
POSITION SPECIFICS
Penn State IT isseekinga highly motivated Wireless Automation Engineerto join the ENCS Wireless team. This position will play a critical role in designing, automating, and operating Penn State’s next-generation wireless platform built on Juniper Mist.
Penn State is currently undergoing a multi-year transformation from Aruba wireless infrastructure to a Juniper Mist cloud-managed wireless platform across campuses and facilities statewide. This position will help accelerate and operationalizethat transitionthrough automation, telemetry, observability, and modern network engineering practices.
The successful candidate will focus on developing scalable automation, telemetry-driven operations, and modern network engineering practices to improve the reliability, consistency, and operational maturity of one of higher education’s largest enterprise wireless environments.
This role combines enterprise wireless engineering with software development, automation, analytics, and observability. The engineer will help drive Penn State’s transition toward proactive, data-driven wireless operations through automation, API integrations, configuration-as-code, and intelligent monitoring workflows.
This position works in close partnership with the Wireless Technical Lead and Wireless Manager.While the Technical Lead provides architectural and technical leadership for the wireless platform, this role focuses on automation engineering, operational tooling, telemetry integration, and platform reliability.
While the primary focus of this position is wireless automation engineering and operational modernization, the successful candidate is also expected tomaintaina strong understanding of enterprise wireless networking fundamentals andparticipateas a member of the wireless engineering team, including participation in the team’s on-call rotation.
Penn Stateoperatesone of the largest higher education networking environments in the country, supporting academic, research, healthcare, residential, and athletic environments across the Commonwealth.
LOCATION
This position follows a hybrid work model and may require periodic on-site participation for wireless deployments, troubleshooting, testing, meetings, and operational support activities across Penn State locations.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Wireless Automation & Engineering
Design, develop, andmaintainautomation workflows for wireless provisioning, configuration management, and large-scale deployments
Develop reusable automation frameworks and configuration templates for Juniper Mist wireless environments
Implement configuration-as-code and version-controlled deployment methodologies
Automate operational tasks including validation, auditing, diagnostics, and recovery workflows
Telemetry, Observability & Analytics
Develop telemetry pipelines and operational dashboardsleveragingMist APIs, RADIUS data, and wireless performance metrics
Integrate SLE metrics, authentication telemetry, and network health data into enterprise monitoring and alerting platforms
Build analytics and reporting solutions to improve visibility into user experience, onboarding success, and wireless reliability
identifyoperational trends and develop proactive remediation strategies using telemetry and automation
Platform Reliability & Operations
Improve wireless service resilience, operational consistency, and change reliability through automation and standardizatio
Support enterprise wireless architecture, deployment standards, and lifecycle strategies
Participate in troubleshooting complex wireless and authentication issues across large-scale enterprise environments
Contribute to operational readiness, incident response, and service improvement initiatives
Participate in the wireless engineering team’s on-call rotation and support operational escalations asrequired
Collaboration & Documentation
Collaborate with networking, security, endpoint management, and campus IT teams to improve wireless service delivery
Develop technical documentation, operational runbooks, and internal self-service tools
Mentor team members on automation practices and operational modernization
Participate in cross-functional initiatives supporting Penn State IT modernization efforts
QUALIFICATIONS
Qualified candidates will demonstrate experience across several of the following areas:
Experience supporting enterprise wireless networking environments
Strong understanding of wireless networking fundamentals, RF concepts, and authentication technologies including EAP-TLS and RADIUS
Experience developing automation using Python and REST APIs
Experience working with JSON, scripting, and infrastructure automation concepts
Familiarity with monitoring, telemetry, or observability platforms
Strong analytical, troubleshooting, and problem-solving skills
Excellent communication and collaboration skills in a large, distributed environment
MINIMUM EDUCATION, WORK EXPERIENCE & REQUIRED CERTIFICATIONS
Bachelor's Degree
6+ years of relevant experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience accepted
Required Certifications:
None
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
Experience with Juniper Mist wireless platforms and Marvis
Experience with infrastructure automation tools such as Ansible or Terraform
Familiarity with CI/CD workflows, Git, and DevOps practices
Experience integrating APIs and telemetry into operational workflows
Experience with Power BI, Splunk, Grafana, or similar analytics and visualization platforms
Familiarity with cloud-managed networking platforms
Familiarity with event-driven automation, webhooks, and real-time data processing
Industry certifications such as CWNA, CWNP, JNCIS, or equivalent
DESIRED COMPETENCIES
Automation-first engineering mindset
Strong attention to operational consistency and reliability
Passion for continuous improvement and operational modernization
Ability to balance engineering, operational support, and strategic initiatives
Strong documentation and process discipline
Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced enterprise environment
Customer-focused approach to service delivery and user experience
BACKGROUND CHECKS/CLEARANCES
Employment with the University will require successful completion of background check(s) in accordance with University policies. This position requires that you operate a motor vehicle as a part of your job duties. A valid driver’s license and successful completion of a motor vehicle records check will be required in addition to standard background checks.Penn State does not sponsor or take over sponsorship of a staff employment Visa. Applicants must be authorized to work in the U.S.
SALARY & BENEFITS
The salary range for this position, including all possible grades, is $76,700.00 - $115,100.00.
Salary Structure - Information on Penn State's salary structure
Penn State provides a competitive benefits package for full-time employees designed to support both personal and professional well-being. In addition to comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage, employees enjoy robust retirement plans and substantial paid time off which includes holidays, vacation and sick time. One of the standout benefits is the generous 75% tuition discount, available to employees as well as eligible spouses and children. For more detailed information, please visit our Benefits Page
CAMPUS SECURITY CRIME STATISTICS
Pursuant to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act and the Pennsylvania Act of 1988, Penn State publishes a combined Annual Security and Annual Fire Safety Report (ASR). The ASR includes crime statistics and institutional policies concerning campus security, such as those concerning alcohol and drug use, crime prevention, the reporting of crimes, sexual assault, and other matters. The ASR is available for review here
EEO IS THE LAW
Penn State is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status. If you are unable to use our online application process due to an impairment or disability, please contact 814-865-1473.
Penn State is committed to and accountable for advancing equity, respect, and belonging. We embrace individual uniqueness, as well as a culture of belonging that supports equity initiatives, leverages the educational and institutional benefits of inclusion in society, and provides opportunities for engagement intended to help all members of the community thrive. We value belonging as a core strength and an essential element of the university’s teaching, research, and service mission.
