Senior IT Platform Engineer, Network & Connectivity

SUMMARY The Senior Platform Engineer designs, builds, modernizes, and operates a defined enterprise the enterprise network and connectivity platform across plants, warehouses, offices, cloud environments, and remote users. This role owns the network platform end to end, including architecture, automation, resiliency, security integration, standards, and operational performance.The position emphasizes network design, Infrastructure as Code for network configuration, automation, AI-enabled monitoring, and reduction of technical debt to deliver resilient, scalable, and secure connectivity aligned to enterprise strategy and manufacturing uptime requirements.The full salary range for this position is $111,200 - $166,800. However, our current budget for a new hire is $111,200 - $150,000, depending on the candidate's specific experience and skills.ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES may include the following. Other duties may be assigned.PLATFORM OWNERSHIPOwn the network and connectivity platform end to end across plants, warehouses, offices, cloud, and remote environmentsDesign for high availability, fault tolerance, scalability, and rapid recoveryEnsure network reliability supports manufacturing uptime, enterprise operations platform floor connectivity, and business continuityServe as technical authority for architecture, standards, and significant design decisions within the connectivity domainDrive modernization switching, routing, wireless, SD-WAN, firewall, and remote access technologiesReduce technical debt and eliminate configuration drift across network infrastructure  Act as a technical mentor and escalation point within the network domainARCHITECTURE AND ENGINEERINGDesign and implement resilient, secure, and scalable LAN, WAN, wireless, and cloud connectivity architecturesDefine and maintain network standards, reference architectures, segmentation models, and security zonesLead platform upgrades, firewall refreshes, SD-WAN migrations, and modernization initiativesEnsure integration with adjacent platforms such as security, cloud, digital workplace, data center, and applicationsSupport hybrid environments spanning on-premises, cloud networking, and SaaS platforms, and remote access solutionsDesign and maintain secure connectivity between corporate IT and operational technology (OT) environments where applicable  INFRASTRUCTURE AS CODEDefine network configurations using code, templates, or structured configuration management toolsEstablish version-controlled configurations as the system of record for switches, firewalls, and network devicesEnable repeatable, low-risk changes through standardized deployment modelsReduce manual changes and operational inconsistenciesContribute to CI/CD practices for infrastructure or platform changesMaintain version-controlled repositories as the authoritative source of platform configurationAUTOMATION & OPERATIONAL EXCELLENCEAutomate network provisioning, lifecycle tasks, validation, recovery, and compliance checksReduce manual operational toil through scripting and workflow automationPartner with MSPs and NOC to ensure consistent execution of runbooks and operational processesImprove monitoring signal quality through tuning, correlation, and proactive managementDesign self-healing or auto-remediation capabilities where appropriateRESILIENCY & SECURITY FOUNDATIONSEnsure network resilience, redundancy, backup, and disaster recovery alignmentPartner with Security teams to maintain compliance, segmentation, access controls, and monitoring standardsMaintain documented recovery procedures and test them periodicallySupport enterprise risk management initiatives for network and connectivity to platforms to ensure stability and securityAI-ENABLED OPERATIONSLeverage AI-driven monitoring and analytics to detect anomalies and performance risksSupport predictive insights related to bandwidth utilization, capacity trends, and failure predictionContribute to AI-assisted incident investigation and root cause analysis where tooling supports itIdentify opportunities to reduce alert fatigue and improve operational insight using intelligent toolingCOLLABORATION & ENABLEMENTPartner closely with the business and other IT teamsProvide clear architecture diagrams, topology maps, standards documentation, and operational runbooksParticipate in Tier-2 or Tier-3 escalation and on-call rotations within the network domainAct as secondary or tertiary responder for critical enterprise outagesSupport cross-functional initiatives tied to modernization and transformationSUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES This position has no supervisory responsibilities, but acts in a lead capacity to other department staff.QUALIFICATIONS EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE Bachelor’s degree in a related field or equivalent practical experience8+ years of progressive experience in enterprise networking or platform engineering, including at least 5 years in a senior-level role within a defined network or connectivity domainSKILLSSenior-level hands-on experience designing and operating enterprise network and connectivity platforms across multi-site and hybrid environments Strong experience with major enterprise networking vendors such as Cisco, Meraki, Arista, Palo Alto, or equivalent platforms Deep expertise in routing protocols (BGP, OSPF), enterprise network design, redundancy models, and high-availability architectures Experience with next-generation firewalls, VPN technologies, QoS, traffic shaping, and network segmentation strategies, including zero-trust principles Experience designing and supporting cloud networking architectures, including Azure networking, hybrid connectivity, SD-WAN, and SASE models Experience with Infrastructure as Code and network automation practices using tools such as Python, Ansible, Terraform, or similar Experience with network monitoring, logging, telemetry, and AI-driven networking analytics or AIOps platforms Strong understanding of cybersecurity principles, access controls, and compliance considerations within enterprise and manufacturing environments Ability to operate and support production networks with strict uptime and reliability requirements Experience documenting architecture, standards, topology diagrams, and operational procedures  Preferred QualificationsExperience supporting manufacturing or operational technology (OT) environments Experience working with MSPs providing NOC or SOC services Experience leading modernization or transformation initiative LANGUAGE SKILLS Ability to communicate complex technical concepts clearly to both technical and non-technical audiences.Strong written communication skills for architecture documentation, standards, and executive-level summaries.REASONING ABILITY Ability to evaluate complex technical environments, synthesize system data, assess risk, and make sound architectural and operational decisions in dynamic or ambiguous situations. Demonstrates strong analytical thinking, structured problem-solving, and the ability to balance business impact with technical considerations.CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS No certifications are required. Relevant industry certifications aligned to the platform domain such as cloud, networking, security, or automation credentials are preferred and may strengthen candidacy.CONFIDENTIALITYIn the course of performing this role, the Senior IT Platform Engineer may have access to confidential company, employee, operational, and technical information. The employee is expected to safeguard all such information, exercise sound judgment in its handling, and maintain strict confidentiality at all times.TRAVELTravel up to 10% may be required to support corporate headquarters, plants, warehouses, or other business locations.PHYSICAL DEMANDS The physical demands described here represent those required to successfully perform the essential functions of this role. Reasonable accommodations may be made for individuals with disabilities.This position is primarily office-based and requires prolonged periods of sitting, speaking, and hearing. Occasional standing, walking, reaching, bending, or lifting of equipment up to 50 pounds may be required when supporting infrastructure or on-site technology environments. Close vision and color vision may be necessary for working with hardware and cabling.WORK ENVIRONMENT The work environment is primarily an office or corporate setting, with occasional visits to plant, warehouse, or technical facilities. The role may involve exposure to operational or industrial environments when supporting manufacturing technology. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions.Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.