Senior Network & Systems Infrastructure Engineer (Cisco & VMWare)

Job description

About the role This is an onsite, Monday through Friday position in Fort Lauderdale / Miami area. We are seeking an experienced Infrastructure Engineer to manage, maintain, and optimize our enterprise network and virtualization infrastructure. The role covers end-to-end administration of Cisco network switches, routers, and firewalls, as well as VMware virtualization platforms and associated storage systems. The ideal candidate combines strong hands-on technical skills with a proactive approach to configure monitor, capacity planning and documentation of core IT infrastructure. What you'll do Network Infrastructure • Install, configure, and maintain Cisco switches and routers across LAN/WAN environments. • Manage routing protocols VLANs, trunking, spanning tree, and inter-VLAN routing. • Configure and administer Cisco firewalls, including access control policies, NAT, site-to-site and remote-access VPNs. • Monitor network performance, troubleshoot connectivity and latency issues, and perform root-cause analysis. • Implement network segmentation, QoS policies, and security hardening in line with best practices. • Maintain firmware/IOS upgrade cycles, configuration backups, and change control for all network devices. Server & Storage • Administer On-prem VMware vSphere environments, including ESXi hosts, vCenter Server and resource pools. • Manage VM lifecycle: provisioning, templates, snapshots, migrations (vMotion/Storage vMotion), and decommissioning. • Perform configurations, performance tuning, monitoring and patch management. • Support backup and disaster recovery solutions for virtualized workloads (e.g., Veeam or equivalent). • Administer SAN/NAS storage platforms (e.g., Dell EMC) including LUN provisioning, zoning, and datastore management. • Manage storage connectivity (iSCSI, Fibre Channel, NFS) between storage arrays and the VMware environment. • Monitor storage capacity, IOPS, and latency; plan expansions and optimize utilization. • Implement and test storage-level replication, snapshots, and data protection policies. General Infrastructure & Operations • Respond to incidents and service requests within defined SLAs; participate in on-call rotation as required. • Maintain accurate infrastructure documentation: network diagrams, IP address management, runbooks, and configuration standards. • Collaborate with security, application, and vendor teams on projects, upgrades, and audits. • Support datacenter operations, including hardware installation, cabling, and environmental monitoring. • Contribute to infrastructure improvement initiatives, automation (scripting), and technology refresh planning. Qualifications • Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related field (or equivalent practical experience). • 5+ years of hands-on experience managing enterprise network and virtualization infrastructure. • Strong expertise in Cisco networking: switching, routing, and firewall administration. • Proven experience administering VMware vSphere (ESXi, vCenter) in production environments. • Solid working knowledge of enterprise storage technologies (SAN/NAS, iSCSI, FC, NFS). • Strong understanding of network security principles, VPNs, and access control. • Experience with monitoring and management tools (e.g., SolarWinds, PRTG, vRealize/Aria Operations). • Excellent troubleshooting, analytical, and documentation skills. Preferred Certifications • Cisco CCNA required; CCNP (Enterprise or Security) preferred. • VMware VCP-DCV (Data Center Virtualization). • Storage vendor certification (e.g., NetApp NCDA, Dell EMC) is a plus. • ITIL Foundation is an advantage. Desirable Skills • Scripting/automation experience (PowerShell, PowerCLI, Python, Ansible). • Experience with backup solutions (Veeam, Commvault) and DR planning. • Familiarity with Windows Server and Active Directory environments. Soft Skills • Strong communication skills and ability to work with cross-functional teams and vendors. • Self-driven, with the ability to prioritize and manage multiple tasks in a fast-paced environment. • Commitment to reliability, security, and continuous improvement. Working Conditions • On-call availability for critical incidents and scheduled maintenance windows (evenings/weekends as needed). • Onsite required: Monday - Friday, 8am-5pm About Fortellar We are a boutique IT consulting and business process outsourcing organization supporting mid to enterprise-level organizations. We are a small, but mighty, team of experts who know how to stretch, adapt, and put on any hat required in the moment to make our clients successful and enable Fortellar’s growth. Keys to success at Fortellar include: Collaboration: You demonstrate excellence in remote collaboration across your Fortellar and client teams. Growth Mindset: You embrace personal growth and are always learning new things to support your team, your clients, and your personal goals. Client Success: You have a passion for your client’s success – you don’t just deliver to the contract you ensure that your client’s goals and needs are met. Humanity First: Honest and transparency are your natural instincts – your actions speak louder than your words and your team members love working with you. Entrepreneurial: You find a way to get it done, no matter what the challenges or seeming blockers are in front of you