Senior Network Hand & Feet Engineer (L2/L3 Physical & Logical Support)

Senior Network Hand & Feet Engineer (L2/L3 Physical & Logical Support)

Location: East Hanover, NJ,07936

Note: Ad-hoc on-call support needed

About Smart IT Frame

At Smart IT Frame, we connect top talent with leading organizations across the USA. With over a decade of staffing excellence, we specialize in IT, healthcare, and professional roles, empowering both clients and candidates to grow together.

Core Objective

• The candidate will be responsible for the end-to-end physical deployment and logical validation of network infrastructure.
• Diagnose issues across Layers 1, 2, and 3 of the OSI model, ensuring that physical connectivity aligns with logical configurations.

Required Experience & Skills

• Experience: 6–8 years in a Data Center or large Enterprise campus environment.
• Ethernet, Fiber cabling, Hardware:
• Experience in installation of ethernet and fiber cabling on Cisco, Arista, Palo Alto, F5 load balancers
• Associated components: SFP, PIC, NIM, DPC
• Routing and Switching:
• Ability to navigate Cisco IOS, NX-OS, PAN OS, or Arista EOS
• Perform show commands and basic interface configurations
• Tools:
• Proficiency with Visual Fault Locators (VFL)
• Light Meters
• Fiber Inspection Scopes
• Certifications:
• CCNA or equivalent is mandatory
• CCNP Enterprise (ENCORE) is highly preferred
• Experience handling mission-critical network incidents/problems in:
• Enterprise networks
• Large campus networks
• Data centers
• Advanced Device Racking & Mounting
• Precision Placement:
• Interpret and execute Rack Elevation Diagrams (REDs)
• Mount high-density chassis (Cisco Nexus 9k, Catalyst 9500) and 1U/2U appliances
• Mechanical Safety:
• Proper use of rack rails, cage nuts, and stabilization kits
• Manage weight distribution to maintain rack integrity
• Power Sequencing:
• Connect dual-homed power supplies to diverse PDU sources (A+B feeds)
• Perform "pull tests" to verify seating
• Structured Cabling & Fiber Management
• Fiber Optics:
• Expert handling of Single Mode (SMF) and Multi-Mode (MMF) fiber
• Cleaning connectors (IBC cleaners) and inspecting end-faces with fiber scopes
• SFP / Transceiver Management:
• Install SFP, SFP+, QSFP+, QSFP28 modules
• Troubleshoot "link down" issues (wavelength compatibility, light levels)
• Patching & Labeling:
• Execute high-density patching per ANSI/TIA-606-B standards
• Ensure labeling at both ends with Near-End/Far-End information
• Patch Panels & Cross-Connects
• Circuit Extensions:
• Coordinate with Telco providers to extend circuits from Meet-Me-Room (MMR) to local rack
• Patch Panel Termination:
• Manage copper (RJ45) and fiber (LC/SC/MPO) panels
• Perform "light-checks" using VFL
• Media Conversion:
• Deploy and troubleshoot media converters or transceivers
• Remote Management & Console Access
• Out-of-Band (OOB) Setup:
• Configure and cable Terminal Servers (Opengear, Lantronix, Cisco ISR)
• Provide permanent remote console access
• Serial Connectivity:
• Troubleshoot baud rate mismatches, roll-over cables, DB9-to-RJ45 adapters
• Local Support:
• Connect via laptop and serial-to-USB adapters
• Provide live stream of boot sequences or BIOS-level troubleshooting
• Advanced Routing & Switching Knowledge

L1 Fundamentals

• Strong working knowledge of:
• Ethernet, Gigabit Ethernet, Serial, Fiber cabling
• Transceivers (Arista, Cisco SFP+, QSFP+)
• SFP, PIC, NIM, HA ports, power supplies
• Patching and troubleshooting
• Knowledge of DWDM and experience handling 10/20/40 Gig fiber links

L2 Fundamentals

• Configure and troubleshoot:
• VLANs
• VTP
• Spanning Tree Protocol (STP)
• Port mirroring
• Packet captures
• Identify and resolve:
• Broadcast storms
• Physical loops at rack level

L3 Fundamentals

• Assist in bring-up of:
• Layer 3 interfaces (SVIs and routed ports)
• Basic knowledge of:
• Prefix lengths
• IP addressing
• Gateway connectivity validation

Protocol Verification

• Use CLI commands to verify:
• BGP neighbor adjacencies
• OSPF neighbor adjacencies
• Validate after physical circuit hand-offs or cross-connect installations

EtherChannel / LACP

• Provision and troubleshoot Link Aggregation Groups (LAGs)
• Ensure physical cabling aligns with logical member-port configuration on switches

📩 Apply today or share profiles at Gayathri.s@smartitframe.com