Network/Systems Engineer Grade 25 Salary:$65,457.60 ($31.47 hr) -  $79,560.00 ($38.25 hr)

Supervisor: Will Davis - Director of MIS

Position Summary

The Network / Systems Engineer serves as a senior infrastructure authority for Houston County. This position is responsible for the design, implementation, security, performance, and continuity of the County’s enterprise network and systems environment.

The Network / Systems Engineer acts as a technical advisor to the Director / Assistant Directors of MIS and plays a critical role in infrastructure modernization, cybersecurity governance, and long-term technology planning.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities Enterprise Infrastructure Leadership

• Architect, implement, and maintain County-wide network infrastructure (core, distribution, edge).
• Design and manage server environments (on-premises and cloud-based).
• Oversee virtualization platforms (e.g., VMware/Hyper-V).
• Ensure high availability, redundancy, and disaster recovery readiness.
• Develop and maintain infrastructure documentation and standards.

Network Administration

• Manage switches, routers, firewalls, VPNs, and wireless infrastructure.
• Monitor bandwidth, performance, and network security.
• Lead configuration and lifecycle management of networking equipment.
• Support multi-site connectivity and remote facilities.

Systems Administration

• Administer Windows Server environments and Active Directory.
• Manage identity services, group policies, and access controls.
• Maintain enterprise storage and backup systems.
• Support Azure, Microsoft 365, and hybrid cloud environments.

Cybersecurity & Risk Management

• Implement and maintain cybersecurity best practices and frameworks.
• Lead vulnerability assessments, patch management, and endpoint protection.
• Oversee firewall policies, MFA, encryption, and monitoring tools.
• Coordinate incident response and security investigations.
• Assist with CJIS and other regulatory compliance where applicable.Coordinate with vendors for escalated technical support and upgrades.

Telecommunications & Unified Communications

• Oversee VoIP systems and related infrastructure.
• Ensure resiliency and uptime for phone systems and emergency services connectivity.

Strategic Planning & Leadership

• Assist leadership in developing infrastructure roadmaps and capital planning.
• Provide cost estimates and technical recommendations for budgeting and CIP.
• Lead infrastructure modernization initiatives.

Operational Oversight

• Mentor and provide technical guidance to IT Specialists and analysts.
• Establish infrastructure standards and change management protocols.
• Participate in on-call rotation and after-hours support as required.
• Manage vendor relationships for infrastructure-related services.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, or related field (or equivalent experience).
• 7+ years of progressively responsible experience in network and systems engineering.
• 3+ years in senior-level infrastructure design or leadership role.
• Extensive experience with:
• Enterprise networking (Layer 2/3 switching, routing, VLANs, VPNs)
• Firewall administration
• Windows Server and Active Directory
• Virtualization platforms
• Backup and disaster recovery systems
• Cloud services (Azure preferred)
• Strong knowledge of cybersecurity best practices.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in local government IT operations.
• Experience supporting ERP systems (Tyler Munis preferred).
• Familiarity with CJIS security requirements.
• Industry certifications such as:
• Microsoft (MCSE/Azure)
• CISSP or Security+
• VMware certifications

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Ability to design scalable, secure, and resilient infrastructure environments.
• Strong troubleshooting and root-cause analysis skills.
• Ability to communicate technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders.
• Strategic thinking with strong operational execution.
• Ability to manage multiple high-priority projects simultaneously.
• High level of integrity and discretion with sensitive data.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to lift and install networking equipment up to 50 pounds.
• Ability to work in server rooms and network closets.
• Occasional after-hours and emergency response availability required.

Working Conditions

Work is performed in an office and technical environment with occasional exposure to data centers, equipment rooms, and field facilities across County locations.