Robert Half's client in Tempe, AZ, is seeking an onsite Network Engineering Manager. As the Manager of Network Engineering within the IT department, you will leverage your leadership and technical expertise to oversee the design, implementation, and maintenance of a high-performing, complex hybrid infrastructure. In this critical role, you will provide strategic direction, lead a team of network engineers, and serve as the primary decision-maker for network infrastructure initiatives.

The Manager of Network Engineering will collaborate with senior IT leadership and business stakeholders to align technology solutions with organizational goals. You will be responsible for developing team talent, ensuring operational excellence, and driving the successful execution of projects that meet or exceed performance expectations.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES (and other duties as assigned)

Leadership & Management

1. Provide strong leadership and direction to the network engineering team, fostering a collaborative and high-performance culture.
2. Define team roles and responsibilities, ensuring the right individuals are positioned for success while identifying and addressing gaps in skills or performance.
3. Delegate tasks effectively, hold team members accountable, and recognize high performers to build a motivated and capable workforce.
4. Mentor and train network engineers, cultivating their professional growth and ensuring they have the tools and knowledge to excel.
5. Serve as the primary point of contact for senior IT leadership regarding network engineering strategies, challenges, and progress.
6. Manage vendor relationships, including consultants, managed service providers, telco vendors, and sales teams, to ensure alignment with business needs and cost efficiency.

Strategic Planning & Execution

1. Develop and implement network engineering strategies that align with organizational goals and IT infrastructure needs.
2. Act as the technical lead for network engineering projects, ensuring successful design, deployment, and operation of solutions.
3. Review and approve all network design proposals, providing constructive feedback to ensure optimal performance and security.
4. Oversee the design and implementation of network infrastructure security, including firewalls, IPS, load balancers, policies, access control lists, and zero trust architectures.
5. Monitor network performance metrics and reports, ensuring systems operate at peak efficiency and identifying areas for improvement.
6. Lead the evaluation and integration of emerging technologies to enhance the organization’s network capabilities and resilience.

Operational Excellence

1. Manage 24/7/365 network operations, ensuring consistent and reliable service delivery for IT customers.
2. Provide day-to-day support to customers by ensuring timely resolution of IT service tickets within SLA parameters.
3. Maintain connectivity and operations for data centers across multiple locations, including the lower 48 states and Alaska.
4. Ensure compliance with relevant industry standards and organizational policies.
5. Identify, manage, and track network engineering projects, ensuring timely and successful completion.

REQUIRED SKILLS & QUALIFICATIONS

Leadership Skills

1. Proven ability to lead, mentor, and manage a team of technical professionals.
2. Strong strategic and critical thinking skills to align team efforts with organizational goals.
3. Exceptional communication skills, with the ability to translate technical issues into actionable insights for senior leadership and stakeholders.
4. Excellent time management and prioritization skills to handle competing demands effectively.
5. Experience managing vendor relationships to drive value and service quality.

Technical Skills

1. Strong expertise in network design, architecture, and troubleshooting across diverse infrastructures (e.g., SD-WAN, firewalls, data center switching).
2. In-depth knowledge of protocols such as BGP, OSPF, QoS, static routing, Layer 3 routing, Spine/Leaf, and VxLAN.
3. Hands-on experience with network technologies, including switches, routers, firewalls, cloud infrastructure, and wireless solutions.
4. Familiarity with network devices; Meraki, Palo Alto, Versa.
5. In-depth knowledge of Azure.
6. Knowledge of IT networks, servers, storage, and security technologies, with experience in colocation data center management.
7. Ability to critically evaluate and continuously improve systems and processes.
8. Comprehensive understanding of industry standards and best practices in network engineering

Technology Doesn't Change the World, People Do.^®