Network Administrator

About the Role
We are seeking a motivated and technically skilled Network Administrator to join our Infrastructure Services team. This position plays an important role in maintaining, supporting, and improving the network infrastructure that connects our geographically distributed operations.
The ideal candidate has a solid networking foundation, strong troubleshooting skills, and a desire to grow while working with enterprise firewalls, switching, wireless networking, VPN connectivity, cloud services, monitoring platforms, and carrier networks. This role collaborates with network engineers, infrastructure teams, service desk staff, field technicians, vendors, and internet service providers to help ensure reliable and secure network operations.
Key Responsibilities
Network Operations and Support
Monitor and maintain network infrastructure, including switches, wireless access points, firewalls, VPNs, and internet circuits.
Troubleshoot network performance issues, outages, connectivity problems, and wireless incidents.
Respond to network-related incidents and service requests with clear communication and timely follow-through.
Partner with the Service Desk to improve first-contact resolution through documentation, training, and knowledge transfer.
Infrastructure Deployment
Configure, deploy, and support network equipment across multiple locations.
Assist with implementation of switches, wireless access points, firewalls, and WAN connectivity solutions.
Support new site openings, equipment replacements, infrastructure upgrades, and lifecycle initiatives.
Maintain accurate hardware inventory, configuration records, and asset documentation.
Circuit and Vendor Management
Coordinate with internet service providers, telecommunications carriers, and technology vendors.
Open, manage, and escalate carrier support cases during outages and service interruptions.
Assist with circuit provisioning, migrations, installations, and service changes.
Track vendor commitments and help drive issues through resolution.
Network Monitoring and Reliability
Monitor network health, availability, and performance through enterprise monitoring platforms.
Investigate recurring issues and identify opportunities to improve reliability and user experience.
Participate in incident response, troubleshooting, and root cause analysis.
Contribute to monitoring standards, alert tuning, and operational best practices.
Security and Maintenance
Support firewall administration, network segmentation, and secure connectivity initiatives.
Assist with site-to-site and remote-access VPN configuration and maintenance.
Participate in patching, vulnerability remediation, firmware upgrades, and network equipment lifecycle management.
Follow change-management, security, and documentation practices.
Documentation and Continuous Improvement
Create and maintain network diagrams, standards, runbooks, procedures, and knowledge articles.
Contribute to process improvements and infrastructure modernization projects.
Collaborate effectively across technical and nontechnical teams.
Continuously develop skills in networking, security, cloud connectivity, monitoring, and automation.
Qualifications and Skills
Required Qualifications
Two or more years of experience in IT infrastructure, network support, systems administration, or a related technical role.
Working knowledge of TCP/IP, DNS, DHCP, VLANs, routing, switching, VPN technologies, firewalls, and wireless networking.
Experience troubleshooting connectivity across LAN, WAN, VPN, and wireless environments.
Familiarity with switches, routers, firewalls, wireless controllers, and access points.
Strong analytical, diagnostic, and problem-solving skills.
Clear written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to explain technical issues to different audiences.
Ability to organize work, manage competing priorities, document changes, and follow issues through completion.
Customer-focused mindset with a commitment to teamwork, accountability, and continuous learning.
Preferred Qualifications
Experience with Palo Alto Networks firewalls or related next-generation firewall platforms.
Experience with Ruckus Wireless and Ruckus ICX switching.
Exposure to Cisco switching, Aruba wireless, and SD-WAN technologies.
Familiarity with Microsoft Azure networking concepts, including virtual networks, VPN gateways, and cloud connectivity.
Experience with network monitoring platforms such as SolarWinds, LogicMonitor, Auvik, or PRTG.
Experience coordinating with internet service providers and telecommunications carriers.
Experience supporting healthcare, senior living, or other geographically distributed multi-site environments.
Basic scripting or automation experience using PowerShell, Python, APIs, or similar tools.
Certifications
One or more of the following certifications is preferred. Candidates who are actively pursuing relevant certifications are encouraged to apply:
CompTIA Network+
Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA)
Palo Alto Networks Certified Network Security Administrator (PCNSA) or a current equivalent certification
Microsoft Certified: Azure Fundamentals (AZ-900) or Azure networking-related certification
What Success Looks Like
During the first year, a successful Network Administrator will:
Independently manage common network incidents and service requests.
Support network infrastructure across multiple operational locations.
Contribute to site deployments, technology refreshes, and modernization projects.
Build trusted working relationships with operational leaders, vendors, field technicians, and technical teams.
Improve the quality of network documentation, monitoring, and operational procedures.
Demonstrate measurable growth toward more advanced network engineering responsibilities.
Why Join Pennant?
Hands-on experience with enterprise networking technologies and real-world operational challenges.
Exposure to modern firewall, switching, wireless, monitoring, and cloud platforms.
Participation in infrastructure modernization and growth initiatives.
A collaborative environment with mentorship and professional development opportunities.
A career path that can progress toward Network Engineer, Senior Network Engineer, or Infrastructure Architect responsibilities.