Network Administrator (Level I - Senior) - Georgia System Operations Corporation

Position Highlights:

• Challenging and exciting ground-floor opportunity to provide Network Operations support for the power grid and rural broadband expansion.
  • Be part of building the internet in Georgia - support core Internet links to entire cities!
  • Not the standard corporate IT environment - we don't support end users.
• Explore and develop tools for automating large scale changes, backup, OS updates (>8000 devices).
• Career possibilities for Network Architecture, Network Engineering, Cyber Security, and Industrial Control Systems
• Gain experience with carrier optical equipment (100GB+) and advanced protocols (OSPF, BGP, MPLS, Leaf/Spline)
• Excellent benefits, including:
  • Nationally competitive pay and incentive
  • Benefits packages including Medical, Dental, Vision, Disability, and Life insurance
  • Outstanding 401k plan featuring a maximum company contribution of 15.5%
  • On-site Fitness Center and Café
  • Associate training and development including options for tuition reimbursement
• Experience working in a high security environment.

This is a unique opportunity to support and protect the largest machine on the planet: the electrical power grid. GSOC centrally operates a state-wide fiber optic network as well as highly secure datacenters with a focus on Georgia power grid operations. This infrastructure is being extended into CLEC and IXC telecom provider services to support rural broadband as local EMC's bring high-speed internet solutions to their customers. GSOC is offering a ground floor opportunity to work directly on 100G+ transport systems as they are designed and installed.

This position offers experience with a variety of carrier grade equipment (such as ROADM), datacenter equipment, and hardened field equipment not found in traditional enterprise environments. These devices include administration of complex implementations of MPLS, BGP, OSPF, and leaf/spline datacenter fabrics as well as the tools used for monitoring, alerting, and management.

Unlike many other IT opportunities this position does not require travel - remote hands are provided by professional field technicians across the state. GSOC takes both physical and cyber security very seriously so candidates must be willing to work on-site in a high security environment.

GSOC offers the opportunity for career experience in related areas such as IT Architecture, Cyber Security, and Industrial Control Systems, with programs that include tuition reimbursement for college and paid training for certifications such as CCNP, and CCIE. GSOC is dedicated to the development of its employees and maintains a strong growth-based corporate culture; this is not only a great job with many possibilities but is also an investment in your future.

This position includes nationally calibrated competitive pay, opportunities for growth, mentorship, and great retirement benefits. In 2017, GSOC was recognized as one of the best places to work by Georgia Trend magazine.

Job Duties:

• Network Administrator I
  • Assist with technical implementation tasks of network projects supporting SCADA, Internet, and electric grid system operations across the enterprise, datacenters, and field (>1200 locations across Georgia).
  • Configure, test, and install equipment and services including routers, switches, firewalls.
  • Work with 3rd party carriers, vendors, and EMC Members to successfully deploy new services.
  • Complete assigned maintenance tasks using prescribed procedures, scripts, and automation tools for routine changes and upgrades to hardware and configuration. Use a change management process for documenting, scheduling, and communicating all activity.
  • Assist with routine administration of tools and systems used to monitor and manage the network, including tasks assigned through the change management process.
  • Complete assigned tasks related to the technical delivery of CLEC and IXC projects across the state of Georgia.
  • Configure, test, and install fiber optic equipment and telecommunications transport services including OTN/DWDM fabrics, ISP services, and related network components (>4000 miles of fiber.)
  • Availability during overnight hours is essential.
• Network Administrator II
  • Work with Operations, Engineering, and field teams to deliver CLEC and IXC projects across the state of Georgia. Configure, test, and install fiber optic equipment and telecommunications transport services including OTN/DWDM fabrics, ISP services, and related network components (>4000 miles of fiber).
  • Create, review, and maintain operational documentation, procedures, templates, knowledge articles, and diagrams to support the OTCC. Provide training to both department and OTCC staff.
  • Participate in continuous improvement activities including corporate training, lessons learned sessions, incident analysis, audits, and outage reporting. Use established procedures to identify chronic problems and recommend improvements for network availability, performance, security, trouble response and repair.
• Network Administrator III
  • Provide technical management and coordination of network projects across the fiber network and datacenters (>1200 locations).
  • Configure, install, and test network equipment and services.
  • Support escalated network issues from the Security and Network Operations Center.
  • Source and develop tools for automating large scale changes, backup, OS updates, (>8000 devices).
  • Identify improvement for monitoring and alerting systems.
  • Lead analyses of network performance and recommend solutions to identified deficiencies including availability, utilization, latency, alert response, and repair.
  • Participate in the creation and review of operational documentation such as procedures, templates, knowledge articles, and configuration standards.
  • Provide technical expertise during events such as staff training, incident review, and analysis of hardware and transport failure.
  • Support communications to customers and staff on issues and maintenance; generate outage reports with a focus on continuous improvement.

• Sr. Network Administrator (In addition to the above duties)
  • Provide technical leadership for the management, operation, and performance of the overall network.
  • Coordinate Network Operations with peer teams on Power Delivery, Network Engineering, and Broadband project initiatives.
  • Recommend and engineer solutions to improve performance, stability, failover, and management.
  • Define standards for tools, configuration, and documentation of network procedures.
  • Assist department Program and Training Analysts to identify improvements to staff processes.

Required Qualifications:

Education:

Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Engineering Technology, Computer Science, Business Administration, or related field.

Experience:

• Network Administrator I
  • This is an entry level position. Experience preferred in Network Engineering or Operations (equivalent experience may be considered in Telecommunications, Information Technology, Industrial Control Systems, or related Business Administration).
  • Experience with product families such as Cisco, Juniper, etc. a plus.
  • Experience with network administration and management tools is a plus.
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Network Administrator II
  • 2 years' experience preferred in Network Engineering or Operations (equivalent experience may be considered in Telecommunications, Information Technology, Industrial Control Systems, or related Business Administration).
  • Professional routing, switching, firewall experience with Cisco, Juniper. Arista, Palo Alto, and industrial equipment are a plus.
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Network Administrator III
  • 4 years' experience preferred in Network Engineering or Operations (equivalent experience may be considered in Telecommunications, Information Technology, Industrial Control Systems, or related Business Administration).
  • Professional experience with Cisco routing, switching, firewall. Juniper, Arista, Palo Alto, and industrial equipment are a plus.
  • Professional experience in the following: BGP, EIGRP, DMVPN.
  • Desired experience with MPLS-TE, EVC, eVPN.
  • Able to demonstrate technical responsibility in projects, troubleshooting.
  • Administrative experience with tools for configuration, deployment, audit. Scripting experience is a plus.
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills.

• Sr. Network Administrator
  • 6 years' experience preferred in Network Engineering or Operations (equivalent experience may be considered in Telecommunications, Information Technology, Industrial Control Systems, or Business Administration).
  • Professional routing, switching, firewall experience with Cisco, Juniper. Arista, Palo Alto, and industrial equipment are a plus.
  • Professional experience desired in MPLS-TE, EVC, eVPN, BGP, EIGRP, DMVPN. Cloud provider connectivity is a plus.
  • Implementation experience of tools for configuration, deployment, audit. Scripting skills are desired.
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Equivalent Experience:

• Network Administrator I
  • Associates Degree in Engineering, Engineering Technology, Computer Science, Business Administration, or related field with at least 2 years of experience as stated above.
  • 4 years or more of experience as stated above.
• Network Administrator II
  • Associates Degree in Engineering, Engineering Technology, Computer Science, Business Administration, or related field with at least 4 years of experience as stated above.
  • 6 years or more of experience as stated above.
• Network Administrator III
  • Associates Degree in Engineering, Engineering Technology, Computer Science, Business Administration, or related field with at least 6 years of experience as stated above.
  • 8 years of experience as stated above.

• Senior Network Administrator
  • Associates Degree in Engineering, Engineering Technology, Computer Science, Business Administration, or related field with at least 8 years of experience as stated above.
  • 10 years of experience as stated above.

Licenses, Certifications, and/or Registrations: Must obtain and maintain Bulk Electric System Cyber Authorized Status as defined in GSOC's CIP Cyber Security Policy 301 and NERC Reliability Standard CIP 004 - Personnel Risk Assessment (training provided by GSOC). Technical certifications such as CCNA, CCDP, or similar equivalent is preferred.

Georgia System Operations Corporation is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer, including veterans and disabled. We are a drug-free workplace. All applicants are subject to substance abuse testing.

Georgia System Operations Corporation is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer, including veterans and disabled. We are a drug-free workplace. All applicants are subject to substance abuse testing.