Senior Network Engineer at Baker Botts in Houston, Texas

Job Description:

Baker Botts, a full-service, leading international law firm recognized for our understanding of the industries we serve, is seeking to fill the Senior Network Engineer position within the Cloud & Infrastructure Services group in the IT Department.

The Senior Network Engineer will be responsible for the support of the Baker Botts global communications network. Responsibilities include architecture, design, installation, maintenance and support for a variety of networking technologies, including but not limited to LAN, WAN, WLAN, MAN, VoIP, firewalls, TCP/IP, converged fabrics (FCoE, iSCSI), WAN optimization, IP video & telephony infrastructure, and load balancers. This position will operate and manage, in conjunction with other teams, all network components to ensure high levels of availability and security of Firm systems. The Senior Network Engineer will be responsible for integrating complex Firm business applications in Azure public cloud, hybrid infrastructure, and other third-party public and private clouds. In this capacity, the Senior Network Engineer will implement, maintain and support the Firm’s on-premises and cloud-hosted networked systems and services. The Senior Network Engineer also participates in the implementation of policies and procedures and to ensure consistency with Firm goals and industry best practices.

This is a position of technical leadership. The ideal candidate must have the ability to demonstrate a breadth of knowledge across multiple areas of information technology with a high level of competency in data communications. The position will be a key team member on strategic or enterprise-wide technology projects and issues.

This is a full-time, remote, exempt position, based out of a Texas office location (Austin, Dallas, Houston).


Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Define and implement IT architecture standards, policies, and best practices
• Apply technical knowledge and customer insights to create a modernization roadmap
• Architect solutions to meet business and IT needs, ensuring technical viability of new projects and successful deployments, while orchestrating key resources and infusing key infrastructure technologies as appropriate
• Ensure the availability, performance, security, and scalability of network infrastructure and services
• Act as subject matter expert with respect to local infrastructure and cloud services when engaging with other stakeholders deploying their applications
• Provide support for network systems and infrastructure
• Document all change requests into the Firm’s change management system and present pending change proposals at the IT organization’s recurring technical and change advisory panel meetings for discussion and approval
• Create and maintain comprehensive documentation for all implemented networks and systems
• Assist with and lead network disaster recovery initiatives
• Serve as escalation point for resolving complex network problems requiring extended skills and extended research
• Work closely with other IT team members to resolve identified issues
• Work with vendor support organizations for troubleshooting and root cause analysis
• Plan and execute IT projects and initiatives in alignment with the business goals and priorities
• Monitor and follow up with customers after resolution of complex technical issues to ensure integrity of solutions
• Interact with customers and team members employing a high degree of tact, diplomacy, and professionalism
• Maintain a professional and courteous demeanor while working under busy conditions
• Communicate with team members, management, and customers in a clear, concise, and timely manner
• Participate in testing and quality checks as required
• Participate in after-hours support as needed (Baker Botts has offices around the globe)
• Handle network infrastructure lifecycle management and recommend process improvements
• Work with other stakeholders, such as Information Security, Enterprise Business and Practice Systems, Risk and Information Governance, vendors, and customers to understand the requirements and deliver solutions
• Facilitate communication and reporting to leadership and other teams on the status, issues, and outcomes of IT architecture activities
• Plan and facilitate project meetings and project activities to align the project team to goals and track progress
• Work within established configuration and change management policies to ensure awareness, approval and success of changes made to the network infrastructure
• Identify and act on opportunities for self-improvement, both professionally and technically, including attending training in a variety of formats to enhance technical and workplace skills
• Work with team members to present and cross-train on technical subjects
• Maintain technical skills and knowledge of market trends and competitive insights; collaborate and share with the technical community

Other duties and responsibilities

• Provide leadership with project briefings and root cause analyses of system service disruptions
• Keep up with emerging technologies
• Other projects and duties as assigned by Manager, Director or Chief

Core Competencies

• Strong communication skills, both oral and written
• Strong work ethic and ability to maintain strict confidentiality
• Ability to work well with internal and external clients
• Strong organizational skills, attention to detail
• Customer-service focused

Knowledge and Skills

• 8+ years of technical experience demonstrating success in architecture, design, implementation, and troubleshooting of consultative/complex technical deployment projects and/or support of complex network infrastructure required
  
• Extensive experience in network systems administration required
  
• Advanced experience with VoIP systems and modern collaboration platforms (Microsoft Teams, Zoom, WebEx) required
  
• Advanced experience with a variety of protocols, including but not limited to TCP/IP, HSRP/VRRP, EIGRP, OSPF, BGP, SNMP, MPLS, Multicast, QoS, WCCP, LACP, PAgP, VPC, VLAN, VLAN trunking, IPSec, FCoE, iSCSI required
  
• Advanced experience with SD-WAN configuration required
  
• Advanced experience with packet analysis required
  
• Advanced experience with virtual / cloud-based networking configuration preferred
  
• Advanced experience supporting Cloud Tenant Connectivity including but not limited to ACLs, VNet gateways, and security and network isolation within Azure preferred
  
• Advanced experience maintaining and configuring Cisco routers, switches, wireless LAN controllers and access points, firewalls required
  
• Advanced experience with Fortinet network infrastructure preferred
  
• Advanced experience with Microsoft Azure network configurations preferred
  
• A desire to drive decisions and reach business goals collaboratively, resolving conflicts and ensuring follow-through with exceptional verbal and written communication skills required
  
• Ability to orchestrate, lead, and influence project teams, ensuring successful implementation of customer projects required
  
• Presentation skills with a high degree of comfort to tailor and communicate content appropriately to both large and small audiences (Senior Executives, IT management, IT staff, end-users) required
  
• Enterprise-scale technical experience with cloud and hybrid infrastructures, architecture designs, migrations, and technology management required
  
• Demonstrated end-to-end understanding of large-scale application portfolios in enterprise-wide environments including migration of on-premises workloads to the cloud required
  
• Expert-level ability to support and troubleshoot applications developed for major enterprise systems, including those prevalent in the legal/professional services industries (e.g. iManage, Aderant, Intapp, etc.) preferred
  
• Ability to maintain a positive attitude and demeanor and strong customer service skills under busy conditions and short deadlines required
  
• Exceptional technical and analytical skills required
  
• Ability to adapt well to change, and to grasp new ideas quickly and a self-driven initiative to learn new technologies required
  
• Strong attention to detail required
  
• 
  Cisco or Fortinet certifications required
  
• Project Management Professional (PMP) certification preferred
  
• Self-driven initiative to conduct external research to resolve difficult technical issues required
  
• Ability to track and ensure success of multiple simultaneous projects required
  
• Commitment to achieving the firm’s Service Level Agreement(s) required
  
• Work as part of a cohesive team; must show respect, cooperation, and willingness to assist at all times required
  
• Thoroughly understand and adhere to departmental policies, procedures, reporting, and support processes required
  
• Exercise good judgment and takes initiative to anticipate customer needs required
  
• Effectively manage time and multiple tasks within specific time frames required
  
• Quickly adjust to changing priorities and departmental processes required
  
• Provide oral and written instructions accurately to reports required
  
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervisions required
  
• Possess excellent written and verbal communication skills, specifically, the ability to be articulate and concise when speaking and working with customers, team members, and executives required
  

Extent of Contact (within and outside the Firm)
High level of contact with:

• IT Architecture Manager
• Director, Cloud & Infrastructure Services
• Other members of the IT/KS team
• Firm vendors, consultants, and industry peers

Moderate level of contact with:

• Firm attorneys and other Firm employees

Occasional level of contact with:

• Firm executive-level leadership
• Firm clients

Physical Demands

• Must be able to work at a computer and telephone for extensive periods of time.
• Must be able to routinely lift and carry files and other items up to 20 pounds; and
• Must be able to function in a standard office environment.

Working Condition and Environment

• Position requires 24x7 escalation support
• Position is full-time and requires a five-day work week and standard hours as outlined in the Firm policy manual (additional hours, including weekend and evening hours may be required to perform the essential functions of the job)
• This position is fully remote however, you may be required to come to the office periodically for team meetings or when there is a business or client need (this will require that you live within a commuting distance of a Baker Botts US office location and that you will allow you to commute into the office on relatively short notice)
• When working remotely, you must have secure and reliable internet service and a safe, private workspace from which to work
• Unusual work hours will be required at times, depending upon circumstances
• Must be available to work throughout the calendar year including weekends and holidays depending on the business need
• Travel to other locations may be required as needed

Baker Botts is committed to cultivating a culture where our attorneys and staff thrive professionally and personally. We are proud to offer a comprehensive benefits program designed to support and enhance the overall wellbeing of our employees and their families.

Baker Botts L.L.P. is an equal opportunity employer and considers all qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, gender, sex, age, religion, creed, national origin, citizenship, marital status, sexual orientation, disability, medical condition, military and veteran status, gender identity or expression, genetic information or any other basis protected by federal, state or local law. Apply Now