CONFIRE Joint Powers Authority (CA) is hiring: Senior Network Engineer in Rialto

Certifications: Relevant certifications such as CCNA, CCNP, CompTIA, or other industry-recognized credentials are strongly preferred at time of hire. Ongoing certification maintenance may be required to support the evolving technical landscape.

Work Availability: Must be available to work a flexible schedule, including evenings, weekends, and holidays as needed, to support critical infrastructure and respond to network incidents. Must be available to report to CONFIRE facilities in Rialto or Hesperia as required.

On-Call and Emergency Response: Participation in an on-call rotation is required. The role may necessitate returning to work outside of regular hours to respond to network outages or mission-critical issues.

Travel: Travel between CONFIRE sites and member agency locations may be required. A valid California driver license and proof of automobile liability insurance must be presented at time of hire and maintained throughout employment.

Under general direction, engineers and supports the enterprise-level Wide Area Network (WAN) and Local Area Network (LAN) infrastructure for CONFIRE and its member agencies. Performs related duties as assigned to ensure the availability, security, and performance of mission-critical systems supporting public safety communications, including 911 dispatch operations.

Examples of Duties

Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

1. Leads multiple projects simultaneously that result in the implementation of enterprise network information technologies.

2. Performs enterprise networking utilizing industry best practices and methodologies.

3. Participates in conceptual design phase of application development hosting to clarify department needs, security and define technical problems of the hosting solution.

4. Participates in the implementation and maintenance, as directed, of new systems including data center hosted and cloud technologies.

5. Develops and coordinates operational plans for network support activities, ensuring CONFIRE MIS resources are effectively aligned to meet the needs of CONFIRE and its member agencies.

6. Collaborates with multiple agencies and their subject matter experts in the gathering of technical requirements for system implementations; documents vendor requirements, security risks, and understands system interoperability and potential impact to the WAN/LAN.

7. Architects scalable infrastructure solutions to support CONFIRE systems, including CAD and 911 dispatch, with consideration for risk, cybersecurity, and compliance with policies and regulations (e.g., HIPAA, HITECH, CCPA). Ensures alignment with enterprise standards and evaluates impacts to WAN performance.

8. Performs connectivity to multiple data centers network and clouds using industry standards for transport encryption and security.

9. Collaborates with technical personnel across CONFIRE and its member agencies to support the secure transport, exchange, and integrity of data between systems. Participates in the change management process to ensure that upcoming changes to enterprise infrastructure are properly communicated, planned, and tested across the CONFIRE environment.

10. Provides vacation and temporary relief as required

• Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology, Information Systems, Computer Science, or a related field.
• Relevant certifications such as CCNA, CCNP, ITIL Foundations, CompTIA A+, or other industry-recognized credentials are preferred.

• Minimum 5+ years of progressive experience in network administration and security, with expertise in high-availability, enterprise-scale environments including cloud architectures, business systems, server technologies, and communication systems.
• Enterprise LAN/WAN, telephone, voice, video, and data communication networks.

• Proficiency in networking protocols and technologies: TCP/IP, VPN, DNS, DHCP, IPsec, Dynamic Routing (OSPF, BGP, EIGRP) MPLS, SDWAN.
• Strong knowledge of firewall technologies, especially Sophos.
• Experience with Meraki, Cisco, and Sophos hardware/equipment.
• Practical experience with network monitoring, diagnostics, analytics tools, and reporting with emphasis on SolarWind and NinjaOne.
• Familiarity with backup solutions like Cohesity and Veeam.
• Experience with endpoint security platforms such as Sophos.
• Working knowledge of IT governance and security standards.
• Scripting or automation skills using tools like Python or PowerShell are advantageous.
• Experience with intrusion detection, remediation, and general cybersecurity.

Technical Skills

• Experience with Nutanix is desired but not required.

• Hands-on experience with Windows Server and SQL Server is desired but not required.

• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
• Effective verbal and written communication skills in English.
• Ability to work in a team setting and clearly communicate with stakeholders at all levels, including technical teams and executive leadership.
• Comfortable managing multiple projects and shifting priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Proven ability to streamline processes and support rapidly evolving business needs.
• Must be willing to cross-train and document processes and configurations.
• Must be a self-starter and willing to work under general provided guidelines.