Need Network DataCenter Engineer (W2/1099)

Filled
February 23, 2026
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Job Description

Company: 360 IT Professionals Inc.
Client: Utility Sector (Background check required via Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) – NERC CIP compliance)
Employment Type: Contract (W2 / 1099)
Experience Level: Senior (8+ Years)

Role Overview

We are seeking a Network Data Center Engineer with deep expertise in Cisco data center networking and security infrastructure. The ideal consultant will bring strong hands-on experience in planning, designing, implementing, and supporting enterprise network environments, with a focus on Cisco Nexus switching and Cisco firewall platforms (ASA / Firepower).

This role requires a highly technical professional capable of delivering mission-critical network solutions, collaborating with stakeholders, and ensuring high performance, availability, and security across enterprise data center environments.

Key Responsibilities

Architecture & Implementation

  • Lead complex data center network and firewall upgrade projects.
  • Define architecture, engineering requirements, and integration strategies.
  • Design and implement enterprise networking solutions for business-critical applications.

Operations & Performance

  • Analyze, configure, monitor, and audit network performance and security controls.
  • Validate configurations through log analysis, event thresholds, and alerting systems.
  • Ensure compliance with enterprise standards and security frameworks.

Documentation & Collaboration

  • Produce detailed technical documentation for operational teams.
  • Work directly with internal and external stakeholders to manage expectations.
  • Provide technical leadership and mentorship during project execution.

Required Technical Skills

Networking & Security

  • 8+ years enterprise networking experience (medium to large environments).
  • Cisco routers and switches (IOS, NX-OS).
  • Cisco firewalls (ASA, Firepower, FTD, IPS, application visibility).
  • Core protocols:
    • BGP, OSPF
    • VXLAN, MPLS (L2/L3 VPN)
    • STP, Multicast, High Availability
    • Data Center Interconnect (DCI), Multi-tenancy

Additional Technologies

  • Cisco VPN technologies (DMVPN, FlexVPN, PKI) – preferred.
  • AAA solutions (Cisco ISE / ACS).
  • Monitoring tools (SolarWinds Orion, Cisco Prime).
  • VMware ESXi implementation experience.
  • Automation / scripting (Python, PowerShell, JavaScript) – strongly preferred.

Experience Requirements

  • 8+ years implementation and support in enterprise data center environments.
  • 5+ years direct client interaction experience.
  • Strong leadership, communication, and presentation skills.
  • Ability to pass NERC CIP background checks.

Preferred Qualifications

  • Cisco CCNP or CCIE certification.
  • Cisco UCS server experience (B-Series / C-Series).
  • VMware virtualization expertise.
  • 4G/LTE WAN deployment experience.
  • Technical consulting background.

Candidate Screening Questions

  1. Describe a Cisco Nexus network project you have worked on in the past 3 years. What were your responsibilities and outcomes?
  2. Describe a network troubleshooting scenario where you used tools or software to identify the issue. Explain the problem and resolution in detail.

Ideal Candidate Profile

You will succeed in this role if you:

  • Have deep Cisco data center expertise.
  • Are comfortable leading complex technical initiatives.
  • Can translate business requirements into scalable network designs.
  • Thrive in high-availability, mission-critical environments.