Network Engineer - Advanced Level (Bilingual)

Network Engineer - Advanced Level (Bilingual: English/Spanish) Pan-American Life Insurance Group (PALIG) Location: Preferred in the Oak Brook / Chicago, IL area | Hybrid Work Opportunities Available (flexible for the right candidate) About the Role: The Network Engineer 3 is responsible for the strategy, design, implementation, operations, and continuous improvement of PALIG’s enterprise network and voice infrastructure. This includes LAN/WAN/SD-WAN, wireless, security, and cloud connectivity. This role requires deep hands-on experience with Cisco and HPE switching, Cisco routers, Silver Peak SD-WAN, Aruba Wireless, firewall technologies (Palo Alto and Cisco), AWS networking, and BGP routing. Additionally, the Network Engineer 3 must possess strong expertise in VoIP and Cisco Voice solutions, with experience supporting Contact Center platforms (AWS, Cisco, or Microsoft). Strong troubleshooting, automation, documentation, and project execution skills are essential. Given PALIG's regional footprint, this role also requires conversational fluency in both English and Spanish to effectively collaborate with teams and stakeholders across Latin America. While the ideal candidate will be based in or near the Oak Brook or Chicago, IL area, we are open to considering highly qualified candidates in other locations. Essential Functions: Architecture, Security Collaboration & Technical Planning Collaborate with the Network Architecture team on architectural initiatives, technology evaluations, modernization efforts, and design reviews to ensure operational feasibility and long-term supportability Review and provide engineering-level feedback on network designs, including configuration complexity, dependencies, operational impact, and support considerations Translate approved architectural designs into deployment plans, configuration approaches, and implementation sequencing Partner with Network Security leadership and engineers to understand security requirements, standards, and control objectives and ensure network designs align with security policies Identify operational or security risks during planning phases, escalate concerns as needed, and recommend mitigation strategies Contribute to the definition of implementation standards for LAN, WAN, SD-WAN, wireless, voice, and Internet edge connectivity Support planning efforts for office expansions, data center migrations, WAN upgrades, and cloud connectivity initiatives Provide operational input related to monitoring, logging, visibility, and automation requirements associated with architectural and security initiatives Engineering Implementation & Secure Technology Enablement Implement and maintain enterprise networking solutions using Cisco routers, Cisco and HPE switches, and Silver Peak/Aruba EdgeConnect SD-WAN technologies Deploy, configure, and support Aruba wireless solutions in alignment with architectural standards and security requirements Configure and troubleshoot routing and Internet connectivity, including BGP, ISP integrations, redundancy, and failover Coordinate network connectivity and policy implementation with Network Security Engineers responsible for firewalls, segmentation, and secure access controls Support firewall and security integrations involving Palo Alto and Cisco firewall platforms Engineer, support, and troubleshoot Cisco Voice solutions, including dial plans, SIP, gateways, QoS, and call flows Provide technical support for Contact Center platforms (AWS, Cisco, or Microsoft) with an emphasis on connectivity, reliability, and voice quality Support AWS networking and hybrid connectivity initiatives in collaboration with Cloud and Security teams Execute structured cabling and physical network deployments, including MDF/IDF buildouts, labeling, testing, and vendor coordination Participate in data center migrations and new office implementations, including network cutovers, validation, and rollback execution Operational Management & Network Reliability Serve as a senior escalation point for complex incidents impacting LAN, WAN, SD-WAN, wireless, Internet edge, and voice services Perform advanced network and voice troubleshooting using packet captures, logs, telemetry, and traffic flow analysis Collaborate with Network Security Engineers during security incidents, investigations, and containment activities Operate, maintain, and continuously improve monitoring and visibility tools, including baselines, alert tuning, dashboards, and reporting Participate in Root Cause Analysis (RCA) activities, providing network and voice expertise and documenting corrective actions Execute change management activities, including peer reviews, implementations, validations, and post-change documentation Leverage automation tools and scripting (e.g., NetBrain) to improve troubleshooting efficiency, configuration accuracy, and operational effectiveness Maintain network configuration integrity and compliance through backups, audits, golden configurations, and drift identification Maintain accurate and up-to-date documentation, including network diagrams, IP schemas, voice call flows, and operational runbooks Independently manage multiple operational and project assignments while prioritizing work based on business impact and risk Education & Experience: Required: Bachelor’s degree in Telecommunications or Computer Science with 5+ years of experience, or an additional 5 years of relevant experience in lieu of degree Proven experience working closely with Network Architecture and Network Security teams Strong hands-on experience supporting LAN/WAN/SD-WAN, wireless, voice, firewall-adjacent networking, and cloud connectivity Conversational fluency in both English and Spanish Preferred: Previous Help Desk experience Knowledge, Skills & Abilities (KSAs): Enterprise networking and routing principles SD-WAN technologies (Silver Peak / Aruba EdgeConnect) Aruba wireless enterpri