Junior Network Engineer

Organization: New Mexico Educational Assistance Foundation

Location: 7400 Tiburon NE,  Albuquerque, NM  87109

An Off-Campus Work-Study Position

JOB SUMMARY

We are seeking a motivated entry-level Junior Network Engineer to support and maintain our network infrastructure. This is an entry-level role ideal for someone with 1–3 years of hands-on IT or networking experience who is looking to grow their technical skills in switching, routing, and network troubleshooting. The successful candidate will assist with day-to-day network operations, troubleshooting, and analysis while working closely with senior engineers.
Key Responsibilities

Assist senior staff with basic network configuration and maintenance tasks
Assist senior staff in the installation, configuration, and maintenance of network devices such as switches, routers, and firewalls
Perform basic network troubleshooting to identify and resolve connectivity and performance issues
Perform basic packet capture and analyze network traffic using packet capture tools (e.g., Wireshark)
Support switching and routing configurations in a production environment
Assist with VLAN configuration, including tagged and untagged traffic
Apply and troubleshoot access control lists (ACLs) and understand traffic flow through the network
Monitor network performance and respond to alerts or incidents
Document network configurations, procedures, and troubleshooting steps
Escalate complex issues to senior engineers when necessary
Follow change management and security best practices

Enrolled in a degree seeking program at UNM, Enrolled at least half-time (6 hours) at UNM for fall and spring semesters (Audit hours do not count), and if Work Study, you must meet Satisfactory Academic Progress.

Required Skills & Qualifications

1–3 years of experience in IT or networking roles (internships or lab experience may count)
Basic understanding of networking fundamentals
Basic understanding of switching and routing concepts
Knowledge of subnetting and IP addressing
Introductory knowledge of VLANs, including tagging and untagging
Familiarity with the OSI model and how it applies to network troubleshooting
Basic experience with access lists (ACLs) and network traffic flow
Ability to perform packet captures and analyze network traffic
Experience troubleshooting network connectivity issues
Basic understanding of Windows desktop and server administration
Basic understanding of Active Directory, DNS, Group Policy
Basic understanding of virtualization (Hyper-V, VMware)
Basic understanding of Microsoft 365, identity and multi-factor authentication
Basic understanding of VPN and endpoint management
Strong problem-solving skills and attention to detail
Ability to communicate technical issues clearly to both technical and non-technical teams

Nice to Have

Exposure to Cisco, Fortinet, Juniper, Aruba, or similar networking equipment
Hands-on lab experience with networking equipment
Familiarity with network monitoring tools
Basic understanding of firewalls and network security concepts
Experience with command-line interfaces (CLI)
Relevant certifications (or the ability to obtain within 6 months) such as:
CompTIA Network+
Cisco CCNA
CompTIA Server+
Microsoft 365 Certified: Endpoint Administrator Associate

Only applications submitted through the official UNMJobs site will be accepted. If you are viewing this job advertisement on a 3rd party site, please visit UNMJobs to submit an application.

The University of New Mexico is committed to hiring and retaining a diverse workforce. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer, making decisions without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, veteran status, disability, or any other protected class.