Wireless Network Engineer

Key Responsibilities:

• Wireless Network Engineering & Design:
• Perform advanced systems engineering, design, analysis, and experimentation of wireless networks, ensuring systems meet performance, security, and operational standards.
• Lead the design, configuration, and deployment of wireless network infrastructure, including access points, controllers, routers, and other wireless components.
• Provide recommendations for the optimization, expansion, and upgrade of wireless networks, ensuring reliability and scalability.
• Design and implement wireless network solutions tailored to meet organizational needs, with a focus on security, efficiency, and performance.
• Wireless Network Support and Troubleshooting:
• Provide tier three support for complex wireless network issues, diagnosing and resolving network problems that cannot be addressed at lower support levels.
• Analyze and troubleshoot wireless network connectivity, performance, interference, and security issues, applying technical expertise to ensure minimal downtime.
• Work closely with network and security teams to ensure the wireless network infrastructure integrates seamlessly with other network systems and services.
• Network Optimization:
• Monitor the performance of wireless networks and identify opportunities for optimization and improvements.
• Conduct regular wireless site surveys, including signal strength testing, channel analysis, and capacity planning, to ensure optimal coverage and network performance.
• Implement advanced solutions to optimize network traffic, bandwidth management, and overall wireless network performance.
• Recommendations and Upgrades:
• Evaluate current wireless network systems and recommend necessary improvements, additions, or upgrades to meet organizational needs and evolving technology standards.
• Prepare detailed reports and presentations for management, outlining findings, recommendations, and justifications for network enhancements.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to align wireless network strategies with business objectives and compliance requirements.
• Wireless Network Security:
• Ensure that wireless network systems adhere to DHS’s cybersecurity policies and best practices.
• Implement and maintain security measures to protect wireless networks from unauthorized access, data breaches, and other cyber threats.
• Regularly assess wireless network security and address vulnerabilities using industry-standard encryption, authentication, and access control protocols.
• Documentation and Reporting:
• Maintain accurate documentation for wireless network configurations, system upgrades, troubleshooting procedures, and performance metrics.
• Provide detailed technical reports and network diagrams to support troubleshooting, system design, and optimization efforts.
• Ensure compliance with DHS standards and regulations by maintaining detailed logs of network activities and changes.
• Collaboration and Coordination:
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including IT infrastructure, security, and operations teams, to ensure the wireless network meets all organizational requirements and security standards.
• Provide guidance and mentoring to junior network engineers and other technical personnel.
• Serve as the subject matter expert for wireless network issues, assisting in the design and implementation of network-related projects.

Qualifications:

• Education:
• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Network Engineering, Information Technology, or a related field. A Master’s degree is preferred.
• Experience:
• 8+ years of experience in wireless network engineering, design, optimization, and support.
• Proven experience providing tier three support for complex wireless network systems, including troubleshooting, analysis, and resolution of network issues.
• In-depth knowledge of wireless technologies, including Wi-Fi (802.11), wireless controllers, access points, and related network infrastructure.
• Experience with wireless network planning and deployment tools, such as Ekahau, AirMagnet, or similar software.
• Strong understanding of wireless network security, including encryption standards (WPA, WPA2, WPA3), VPNs, and authentication methods.
• Skills & Competencies:
• Expertise in wireless network design, deployment, and performance tuning.
• Strong troubleshooting skills, including experience with network monitoring tools and protocols (e.g., SNMP, Wireshark).
• Knowledge of networking protocols such as TCP/IP, DNS, DHCP, VLANs, and VPNs.
• Familiarity with cloud-based wireless solutions and integration.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and priorities while maintaining a focus on security and performance.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to present technical information to non-technical stakeholders.
• Certifications (Preferred):
• Certified Wireless Network Expert (CWNE) or Certified Wireless Network Administrator (CWNA).
• Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP) or other relevant networking certifications.
• Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) or similar cybersecurity certification (preferred).

Security Clearance: