Network & Systems Administrator

About Refuge Refuge is a visual effects studio delivering high-end work for episodic television, feature films, commercials, and cinematics. We operate a growing production network supporting artists, production staff, render infrastructure, storage systems, and secure remote workflows. We're looking for someone who enjoys building reliable, well-documented systems rather than constantly fighting fires. Position Overview The Network & Systems Administrator is responsible for maintaining the stability, security, and performance of Refuge's production network. You'll work closely with our IT Manager to maintain a highly available environment supporting artists, render nodes, storage servers, and remote users. This is primarily an operations role. We're looking for someone who enjoys solving infrastructure problems, documenting solutions, and improving reliability over time. Responsibilities Network Administration Manage WatchGuard firewalls Configure VLANs and network segmentation Maintain routing and switching infrastructure Configure managed switches Maintain VPN connectivity Troubleshoot network performance issues Monitor internet utilization Configure DHCP, DNS, and network services Security Implement firewall policies Maintain allowlist/blocklist access Configure network isolation Manage production network security Review security logs Assist with incident response Server Room Infrastructure Configure rack networking Maintain switch configurations Manage IP addressing Support render farm networking Maintain network documentation Assist with equipment installations Remote Access Maintain secure remote access Troubleshoot VPN issues Support remote artists Configure access policies Monitoring Monitor network health Monitor bandwidth utilization Monitor switch health Monitor firewall health Maintain documentation Recommend improvements Desired Experience 3–7 years of network administration Managed firewall experience (WatchGuard preferred) VLAN design and implementation Layer 2 and Layer 3 networking TCP/IP DNS DHCP VPN technologies Managed switches Fiber networking Windows Server Active Directory Microsoft Entra ID Basic Linux administration Network troubleshooting Nice to Have: Synology TrueNAS VMware or Hyper-V 10Gb networking Rack infrastructure Visual effects or post-production experience What Success Looks Like The network is stable. Users experience minimal downtime. Firewall rules remain organized and documented. VLANs are clean and secure. Problems are identified before users notice them. Documentation stays current. New systems are deployed in a repeatable, maintainable way. Personal Qualities We're looking for someone who is: Calm under pressure Curious and enjoys troubleshooting Highly organized Detail-oriented Collaborative Comfortable documenting their work Interested in long-term reliability rather than quick fixes Pay: $70,000.00 - $95,000.00 per year Benefits: 401(k) Dental insurance Health insurance Paid time off Ability to Commute: Portland, OR 97213 (Required) Ability to Relocate: Portland, OR 97213: Relocate before starting work (Required) Work Location: In person