Role Title: Network Engineer – Cisco Projects Lead
Engagement: Contract, 2 years
Location: Hervey Bay
Workplace Flexibility: On-site preferred (flexibility considered; on-site presence required during build phase)
Role Purpose The Network Engineer – Cisco Projects Lead will be responsible for leading the end-to-end design, deployment, and delivery of the network infrastructure for a new multi-storey building. The role requires ownership of technical solutioning, implementation planning, vendor coordination, site staging, commissioning, testing, and a complete transition into business-as-usual operations.
This role will suit an experienced network engineer with extensive Cisco and fibre WAN expertise who can deliver large-scale, technically complex infrastructure projects.
Key Responsibilities
* Conduct discovery activities, site surveys, and capacity planning for multi-floor environments, including MDF/IDF placement, riser provisioning, and cabling strategies.
* Architect Cisco Catalyst/Nexus Layer 2/3 solutions: VLAN design, VRFs, inter-floor routing, aggregation, and HA topologies.
* Deliver resilient campus switching and routing with PoE for APs/telephony and QoS for critical services.
* Deploy Cisco ISE for secure, role-based access across staff, contractors, guests, and IoT/OT devices.
* Implement Catalyst Center / DNA Center automation for device onboarding, assurance, and operational consistency.
* Specify and validate fibre and copper infrastructure: backbone design, patching, labelling, rack elevations, and comms-room requirements.
* Develop migration, staged cutover, and rollback plans ensuring minimal service disruption.
* Undertake acceptance testing, validation, and performance tuning across wired and wireless domains.
* Produce comprehensive documentation, including design packs, diagrams, test logs, commissioning certificates, and runbooks.
* Engage with internal stakeholders, vendors, and delivery partners to align timelines, budgets, and project outcomes.
* Lead technical workshops and deliver structured handover and knowledge transfer to operational teams.
* Execute the fibre-optic WAN strategy, including vendor delivery management, resilience auditing, and integration with LAN.
Deliverables
* Target architecture and design pack (network, cabling, rack drawings).
* Procurement-ready specifications and vendor evaluation criteria for LAN/WAN fibre works.
* Fibre WAN audit report including asset map, test results, risk register, and remediation plan.
* Migration roadmap and cutover/rollback schedules.
* Commissioning and test reports (wired/wireless), including heatmaps and tuning logs.
* Handover package: as-built configurations, training materials, runbooks, and post-cutover support arrangements.
Required Skills and Experience
* CCNA minimum, CCNP or equivalent preferred.
* 5+ years delivering Cisco network projects (Catalyst, Nexus, ISE, DNA/Catalyst Center) in multi-floor or multi-site environments.
* Strong Layer-3 architecture expertise: OSPF, EIGRP, BGP, and HA topologies.
* Proven experience with structured cabling and fibre backbones, PoE, and comms-room design.
* Hands-on Cisco ISE deployment (802.1X, MAB, guest access).
* Demonstrated WAN fibre delivery and audit experience (OTDR/LLD testing, resilience planning).
* Strong cutover, acceptance testing, and post-deployment tuning experience.
* Proficiency with packet analysis and wireless validation tools (Wireshark, tcpdump, heatmapping).
* Strong documentation, stakeholder engagement, and vendor management skills.
Desirable Expertise
* CCNP/CCIE or equivalent advanced certification.
* SDA/SD-Access, VXLAN/EVPN, or Nexus/data-centre integration.
* High-density Wi-Fi and IoT/OT/BMS segmentation.
* Experience delivering under public-sector procurement and compliance frameworks.