Network Administrator

Are you a passionate, self-motivated Network Administrator with strong data center experience and the ability to think beyond standard operating procedures? Do you enjoy working in a smaller, collaborative environment where your expertise directly impacts the organization?

Our Vaughan-based client is seeking an Intermediate/Senior Network Administrator to support and evolve their in-house hybrid infrastructure spanning both cloud and on-prem environments. In this role, you will not be siloed—you’ll work across networking, security, cloud, and data center domains with genuine ownership and influence.

You’ll join a lean in-house team of seven (six technical members plus a team lead), where autonomy, innovation, and cross-functional problem-solving are part of everyday work.

This hybrid position requires 3 days onsite per week.

What You’ll Do

Strategy & Planning

- Partner with leadership and a small technical team to assess short- and long-term network and data center capacity needs.
- Document network and data center configurations, topology maps, operational processes, and DR procedures.
- Develop and maintain internal policies and guidelines tailored to the organization's unique environment.
- Think beyond SOPs—identify vulnerabilities and design creative, practical solutions to maintain system integrity and resilience.

WAN & Data Center Infrastructure Administration

- Design, implement, and optimize WAN and data center infrastructure: routers, switches, servers, UPS systems, cabling, and telephony.
- Research new technologies and recommend improvements suited for a smaller, agile in-house environment.
- Manage procurement, licensing, and lifecycle upgrades of network and data center hardware/software.
- Work closely with vendors and contractors while maintaining hands-on ownership of operational systems.

Network Architecture & Management

- Architect, configure, and maintain enterprise networks using Cisco/Palo Alto firewalls, Cisco/Juniper switching, and Azure Networking.
- Implement and optimize BGP and OSPF routing across hybrid cloud and data center environments.
- Support, optimize, and troubleshoot the organization’s Zscaler architecture.
- Configure and manage Azure VNets, NSGs, routing policies, and Azure Firewall.
- Ensure the reliability, performance, and high availability of cloud and on-prem network services.
- Operate within ITIL-based incident, change, and service management processes using platforms like ServiceNow.

Security & Monitoring

- Administer and enhance network security systems and policies.
- Deploy, tune, and manage SIEM platforms (Microsoft Sentinel, Rapid7).
- Monitor Zscaler policies, logs, and user experience to maintain strong security without impacting performance.
- Collaborate with Systems Administration to address vulnerabilities and strengthen security posture.
- Perform patching, vulnerability assessments, and continuous network hardening.
- Evaluate overall network performance and provide actionable insights through reporting.

Voice & Communication Systems

- Support and maintain VoIP systems such as Microsoft Teams Phone, ensuring stable and seamless communication across the organization.

What We’re Looking For

Required Experience

- 5+ years of enterprise network administration, including hands-on data center operations.
- Strong experience with Palo Alto, Juniper, Cisco, and Azure networking technologies.
- Expertise in routing protocols (BGP, OSPF) and hybrid cloud networking.
- Proven hands-on experience with Zscaler (deployment, advanced policy tuning, troubleshooting).
- Comfortable working in a lean IT team, taking end-to-end ownership across networking, cloud, and data center infrastructure.
- Ability to think creatively and troubleshoot beyond SOPs—bringing resourcefulness and practical reasoning to real-world problems.
- Strong communication, documentation, and analytical skills.
- Knowledge of GDPR and modern security frameworks.
- Experience with VoIP systems and SIEM tools.

Education & Certifications

- Bachelor’s degree or diploma in Computer Science, Information Technology, or related field. Equivalent experience welcomed.
- ITIL v4 Foundation certification preferred.
- Certifications in Azure, Cisco, Palo Alto, or Juniper are strong assets.
- Data center–specific training or operational certifications are a plus.