Network Engineer 📍 Location: Clayton, NC (On-Site – 5 Days/Week) 💼 Employment Type: Long-Term Contract 💰 Compensation: $55–70/hour (based on experience) About the Role We are seeking an experienced Network Engineer to support and maintain critical network infrastructure in a manufacturing environment. This role is ideal for someone who thrives in hands-on, on-site settings and has a strong background in Cisco networking and industrial/automation environments. You will play a key role in ensuring the reliability, performance, and security of network systems supporting manufacturing operations. Key Responsibilities • Design, implement, and maintain network infrastructure in a manufacturing setting • Support and troubleshoot automation and infrastructure systems • Configure, monitor, and optimize Cisco networking equipment • Diagnose and resolve network performance issues and outages • Collaborate with operations and engineering teams to support production systems • Ensure network security, uptime, and compliance with best practices • Participate in upgrades, migrations, and continuous improvement initiatives Required Qualifications • 5+ years of professional experience in network engineering • Strong hands-on experience with Cisco networking equipment • CCNA certification (required) • Proven experience supporting manufacturing or industrial environments • Experience with automation infrastructure troubleshooting • Strong understanding of network protocols, routing, and switching • Ability to work on-site full-time (5 days/week) Preferred Qualifications • Experience with network monitoring and performance tools • Familiarity with industrial networking (OT/IT environments) • Knowledge of network security best practices Benefits • 15 days PTO • 11 paid federal holidays • Comprehensive Cigna healthcare coverage