Network Engineer- All Interested Applicants

Role Overview

This position places you at the center of a large, multi-agency diplomatic platform in Nairobi, where you will design, build, and keep alive the network infrastructure that supports thousands of users across the main compound, official residences, and nine remote sites. Day to day, you will move between logical network design, physical cabling work, vendor coordination, and outage response—making sure voice, data, and wireless services stay secure, fast, and available for the entire U.S. Mission community. Your work matters because every agency, from consular services to regional programs, depends on this infrastructure to operate securely and without interruption.

Key Responsibilities

• Plan, configure, and maintain logical networks including the Open Net, Dedicated Internet Network (DIN), and agency-specific systems across switches, routers, firewalls, wireless controllers, and access points.
• Implement routing, security, and access policies according to Department of State standards, including VLANs, IPv4/IPv6 subnets, NAT, VPNs, WLANs, QoS, bandwidth limits, and proxy services.
• Install, terminate, and test copper, fiber, and coaxial cabling for IT and telecommunications systems, including cable ladders, patch panels, wall jacks, and structured management systems.
• Relocate network termination points and use diagnostic hardware and software to identify and resolve connectivity, performance, and capacity issues across the enterprise.
• Design, maintain, and support the wide area network linking nine off-site locations and more than 1,700 end users, working with local providers to provision and troubleshoot leased lines, microwave links, wireless point-to-point links, and digital trunk circuits.
• Act as the technical point of contact for telecommunication contracts, overseeing vendor performance, reviewing deliverables, making recommendations on renewals or terminations, and coordinating with the Contracting Officer.
• Liaise with Kenyan regulatory authorities to verify requirements and secure the necessary communications licenses for Mission telecommunication projects and data circuits.
• Monitor WAN performance daily, set up automated alerts, and produce usage metrics that help leadership make data-driven decisions about subscribed services and capacity.

Requirements & Qualifications

• A bachelor’s degree or equivalent in computer science, information systems management, network engineering, or a closely related IT discipline.
• A current Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP) certification, plus at least one cabling or premises installation credential such as CNet Certified Network Cable Installer (CNCI), SCTE Broadband Premises Technician (BPT), or BICSI Cabling Installation Certification.
• At least five years of professional networking experience, including three years of hands-on cable installation and termination work and two years focused on network design, equipment configuration, maintenance, and technical documentation.
• Demonstrated ability to configure enterprise switches, routers, firewalls, wireless controllers, and access points, with a solid grasp of VPNs, VLANs, NAT, IPv4/IPv6, WLANs, and quality-of-service concepts.
• Experience diagnosing and fixing physical-layer and logical-layer network faults using standard testing tools and diagnostic equipment.
• Working knowledge of structured cabling standards and the ability to read, create, and maintain network diagrams and technical schematics.
• Familiarity with contract management, vendor oversight, or COR-style duties is strongly preferred, along with comfort coordinating with government regulators and external service providers.
• Ability to obtain and hold a security certificate or public trust security clearance, as required for the position.