PARTNER CONSULTANT - Advanced Networking Domain

Job Description  L2 Network Engineer

Job Title

L2 Network Engineer

Experience

3-4 Years

Job Summary

We are looking for a skilled L2 Network Engineer with 34 years of experience in enterprise network operations, troubleshooting, and infrastructure support. The candidate should have a strong understanding of industry-standard networking technologies, protocols, and best practices, with hands-on experience in managing LAN, WAN, WLAN, routing, switching, and network security devices.

The candidate will be responsible for handling Level 1 and 2 network incidents, performing root cause analysis, implementing network changes, monitoring network performance, and ensuring high availability and reliability of the organization's network infrastructure in accordance with established operational and security standards.

Key Responsibilities

Network Operations and Troubleshooting

Provide L1 and 2 support for enterprise LAN, WAN, WLAN, and internet connectivity issues.

Troubleshoot network incidents involving connectivity, latency, packet loss, routing, switching, and wireless performance.

Perform root cause analysis and implement corrective and preventive actions.

Support network incident, problem, and change management in accordance with ITIL best practices.

Monitor network availability, performance, and capacity, ensuring adherence to defined SLAs.

Escalate critical or unresolved issues to L3 teams, OEMs, and service providers as required.

Routing and Switching

Possess a strong understanding of TCP/IP, OSI layers, subnetting, VLANs, and inter-VLAN routing.

Hands-on experience with routing protocols.

Working knowledge of static routing, default routing, route redistribution, and troubleshooting routing issues.

Configure and troubleshoot Layer 2 switching, trunking, EtherChannel/LACP, STP/RSTP, and port security.

Understand ARP, DHCP, DNS, ICMP, NAT, ACLs, and network segmentation.

Support switch port configuration, VLAN assignments, MAC address analysis, and network access issues.

Wireless Networking

Troubleshoot enterprise Wi-Fi connectivity, authentication, roaming, and performance issues.

Understand wireless standards, SSIDs, access points, RF basics, and channel interference.

Support wireless controllers and centralized wireless management platforms.

Troubleshoot 802.1X authentication and RADIUS-related connectivity issues.

Network Security

Hands-on experience with next-generation firewalls such as Fortinet FortiGate, Palo Alto, or equivalent platforms.

Understand firewall policies, NAT, access control, VPN technologies, and security zones.

Troubleshoot site-to-site IPsec VPN and remote-access VPN connectivity.

Understand network segmentation, access control, and secure network configuration practices.

Support firewall rule reviews, security policy implementation, and compliance-related activities.

Network Monitoring and Documentation

Use network monitoring and troubleshooting tools to identify and resolve network issues.

Analyze device logs, interface statistics, packet captures, and network traffic.

Work with tools such as Wireshark, PRTG, SolarWinds, or equivalent monitoring platforms.

Maintain accurate network diagrams, configuration backups, troubleshooting records, and operational documentation.

Prepare incident reports, RCA documents, and change implementation plans.

IT Service Management and Coordination

Manage incidents, service requests, and changes through ITSM tools such as ServiceNow or equivalent platforms.

Ensure timely resolution of incidents within defined SLAs.

Coordinate with ISP providers, data center teams, application teams, security teams, and other infrastructure teams.

Participate in planned maintenance activities, network upgrades, and infrastructure changes.

Follow established operational procedures, escalation matrices, and change management processes.

Required Technical Skills

Strong fundamentals in networking concepts and industry-standard protocols.

Hands-on experience with enterprise routers, switches, firewalls, and wireless networks.

Good understanding of TCP/IP, IPv4 subnetting, VLANs, routing, switching, DNS, DHCP, NAT, and ACLs.

Working knowledge of OSPF, BGP, STP, LACP, and IPsec VPN.

Familiarity with firewall troubleshooting and network security principles.

Knowledge of packet analysis and network troubleshooting methodologies.

Familiarity with network monitoring tools and ITSM platforms.

Understanding of ITIL incident, problem, and change management processes.

Preferred Qualifications

CCNA, Fortinet Certified Fundamentals/Administrator, or equivalent networking certification.

Experience supporting multi-site enterprise network environments.

Exposure to SD-WAN, cloud networking, NAC, and centralized network management platforms.

Basic knowledge of network automation and scripting using Python or Ansible is an advantage.

Educational Qualification

Bachelor's degree or diploma in Computer Science, Information Technology, Electronics, or a related field.

Required Competencies

Strong analytical and troubleshooting skills.

Good verbal and written communication skills.

Ability to prioritize incidents and work under pressure.

Customer-focused approach with ownership and accountability.

Ability to work independently and collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams.

Willingness to work in shifts or participate in planned after-hours maintenance, if required.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

Incident resolution within defined SLAs.

Network availability and service reliability.

Quality and timeliness of incident RCA and documentation.

Reduction in recurring network incidents.

Compliance with change management and operational procedures.

Effective coordination with internal teams and external service providers.