Network Engineer- All Interested Applicants at U.S. Embassy to Kenya

Job Overview

• Plan, install, and maintain data, voice and other information technology infrastructure across Mission Nairobi’s offices and residential facilities, including physical and logical infrastructure support for 61 ICASS level agencies and 1700+ Open Net users across the main Chancery compound and 9 tail sites. Administer and maintain the Mission’s Dedicated Internet Network (DIN), Enterprise Wi-Fi at the Chancery, and Wireless Local Area Networks (WLAN) at official residences and tail sites.  Maintain and program network switches, routers, wireless network devices and other networking equipment.  Develop and maintain documentation including network diagrams and technical schematics.  Develop technical statements of work for network infrastructure contracts and serve as the Mission’s primary technical point of contact for all information technology infrastructure contracts. The position reports to, and is supervised by the Supervisory Telecommunications Engineer (FSN 10, Position #C55227)

Major Duties and Responsibilities

Design and Configure Logical Area Networks 40%

• Plan, design, maintain, and configure Open Net, DIN, and other agency networks. This includes data and voice network switches, routers, firewalls, wireless access points, wireless controllers, and other telecommunications equipment, implementing security, routing and logical access configurations per Department of State guidelines and customer requirements.  Understand and be able to configure logical network configurations including Virtual Private Networks, Virtual LANs (VLANs), IPV4 and IPV6 subnets, Network Address Translation (NAT), Wireless Local Area Networks (WLANs), quality of service prioritization, bandwidth limits and proxy services.

Physical Local Area Network Infrastructure Installation and Maintenance 20%

• Install, terminate and cross-connect copper, fiber and coaxial cabling supporting information technology and telecommunications systems per established industry standards and Department of State guidelines. Plan, design and install structured network management systems such as cable ladders, patch panels, cable guides and wall jacks.  Relocate data, voice, and television network termination points.  Utilize standard network diagnostics hardware and software tools to troubleshoot, diagnose and fix network performance and connectivity issues. 

 Wide Area Network Circuit Support  15%

• Plan, design, maintain and configure Nairobi’s WAN network, supporting 9 offsites and 1700+ end users.
• Work with local service providers, Department of State customers, Information Resource Management and Procurement staff to research, make purchase recommendations for, install, and maintain Wide Area Network circuits of all types, including wireless peer to peer links, dedicated leased lines, microwave links, analog and digital trunk circuits (ISDN, E1, PRI).  Work with providers and US Government network support teams to diagnose network issues and resolve outages.  Assist in implementing telecommunications requirements for visiting VIP delegations, working with hotels, service providers, Embassy staff and VIP team members, often on very short notice, to set up the communications infrastructure and services required to support high-level members of the US Government during visits to Nairobi.

Telecommunications Contracting Oversight  15%

• Serve as a Department of State Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) and technical Point of Contact (POC) for telecommunication-related procurements and contracts.  Must understand contract terms and clauses.  Interfaces with vendors to implement service and provide oversight to ensure the products and services delivered by vendors meet the requirements of the US Government.  
• Maintains vendor performance records and provides feedback to vendor.
• Makes recommendations to Contracting Officer regarding contract issues including renewals, defaults, and terminations.
• Communicates with the Kenyan Government Authorities such as the Communications Authority of Kenya (CAK) and the Ministry of Information, Communications and Technology (ICT) to check and verify requirements and specifications towards approval and granting of communication licenses needed for telecommunication projects.
• Negotiates conditions for post to obtain required telecommunication license from the Kenyan Government to support and maintain post’s Telecommunication Data Circuits.

Monitoring of Wide Area Network (WAN) 10%

• Daily monitoring of Nairobi’s WAN, to include Open Net, DIN, Enterprise Wi-Fi, tail sites and official residences in order to proactively identify issues and address them. This will include the setup and maintenance of alerts as needed and providing management with the statistical and metrics necessary to make data-driven decisions in regard to the utilization and performance of subscribed services.

Qualifications and Evaluations

Requirements:

• All selected candidates must be able to obtain and hold a: security certificate; or Public trust security clearance. Education Requirements:
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in Computer Science, Information Systems Management, Network Engineering, or a similar information technology degree. 
• Must have a current Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP) certification and at least one of the following network infrastructure installation certifications: CNet Certified Network Cable Installer (CNCI), SCTE Broadband Premises Technician (BPT), or BICSI Cabling Installation Certification.

Evaluations:

• You will be evaluated against the qualifications and requirements in this vacancy announcement. 
• You may be asked to complete a pre-employment language or skills test.
• You must complete the application form and provide the required documents.  Your application must address all the position qualifications and requirements including education, experience, language, and any knowledge/skills/abilities listed.  

Qualifications:

Experience:

• The position requires minimum five years of networking experience with at least three (3) years of experience in hands-on network installation, termination and at least two (2) years of experience in network maintenance, design, equipment configuration, management, technical design, and development of technical documentation.