Junior Network Engineer

HCL seeking a motivated and detail-oriented Junior Network Engineer to join our IT team. The Junior Network Engineer will assist in designing, implementing, and maintaining network infrastructure, ensuring reliable and secure connectivity for our organization or clients. This role involves troubleshooting network issues, supporting senior engineers, and contributing to network optimization projects. The ideal candidate is eager to learn, has a foundational understanding of networking concepts, and thrives in a collaborative environment.

Key Responsibilities:

Network Support: Assist in monitoring, maintaining, and troubleshooting network infrastructure, including routers, switches, firewalls, and wireless access points.
Configuration and Deployment: Support the configuration and installation of network hardware and software under the guidance of senior engineers.
Network Monitoring: Use monitoring tools (e.g., SolarWinds, Nagios, Wireshark) to track network performance, identify bottlenecks, and report issues.
Troubleshooting: Diagnose and resolve basic network issues, such as connectivity problems, latency, or packet loss, and escalate complex issues to senior engineers.
Documentation: Create and maintain network diagrams, configuration records, and documentation for network setups and changes.
Security Support: Assist in implementing network security measures, such as firewalls, VPNs, and access control lists (ACLs), to protect against threats.
Collaboration: Work with cross-functional teams, including system administrators and cybersecurity specialists, to support IT projects and ensure network reliability.
Upgrades and Maintenance: Participate in network upgrades, patch management, and routine maintenance tasks to ensure optimal performance.
User Support: Provide technical support to end-users for network-related issues, such as Wi-Fi connectivity or VPN access.
Learning and Development: Stay updated on networking technologies, protocols, and best practices through training and certifications.

Required Skills and Qualifications

Education: Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Network Engineering, or a related field (or equivalent experience).

Experience:

2-5 years of experience in networking or IT support.
Hands-on experience with network hardware (e.g., Cisco, Juniper, Aruba) or lab-based projects is a plus.

Technical Skills:
Basic understanding of networking protocols (e.g., TCP/IP, DNS, DHCP, VLANs, OSPF, BGP).
Familiarity with network hardware, including routers, switches, firewalls, and wireless access points.
Knowledge of network monitoring tools (e.g., Wireshark, SolarWinds, PRTG).
Understanding of network security fundamentals, such as firewalls, VPNs, and intrusion detection systems.
Basic proficiency in command-line interfaces for network devices (e.g., Cisco IOS).
Familiarity with cloud networking concepts (e.g., AWS VPC, Azure VNet) is a plus.

Certifications (preferred but not mandatory):
Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA)
CompTIA Network+
Other relevant certifications (e.g., Juniper JNCIA, Fortinet NSE 4) are a plus.

Preferred Qualifications

Experience with scripting or automation tools (e.g., Python, Ansible) for network tasks.
Familiarity with software-defined networking (SDN) or network virtualization.
Exposure to cloud-based networking solutions (e.g., AWS, Azure, Google Cloud).
Hands-on experience in a network operations center (NOC) or similar environment.