Sr. Network Infrastructure Engineer in Chicago, Illinois at ASCENDING LLC

Senior Engineer – Networking & Server Infrastructure
Remote within Chicago, IL
4-month contract

We are seeking a seasoned Senior Engineer with deep expertise in networking, server infrastructure, and virtualization technologies to support a critical 4-month project. The ideal candidate will have hands-on experience with VMware and Hyper-V environments, as well as extensive knowledge of Cisco and Palo Alto Networks solutions, including firewalls and advanced security appliances. This role is fully remote and open to candidates located within the United States.

Responsibilities:

• Design, deploy, configure, and troubleshoot networking and server infrastructure across multi-vendor environments.
• Manage and optimize virtualization platforms (VMware vSphere, Hyper-V), including VM provisioning, performance tuning, and upgrades.
• Install, configure, and support Cisco network devices (switches, routers, firewalls) and Palo Alto firewalls/security appliances.
• Analyze and resolve complex network, server, and virtualization performance issues.
• Implement network security best practices, firewall rules, VPNs, and segmentation strategies.
• Work closely with cross-functional IT teams to deliver infrastructure solutions and support project goals.
• Create and maintain technical documentation, diagrams, and operational procedures.
• Participate in incident response, root cause analysis, and contribute to proactive infrastructure improvements.

Requirements:

• 7+ years of experience in networking and server engineering roles.
• Advanced expertise in VMware vSphere and Microsoft Hyper-V environments.
• Strong hands-on experience with Cisco networking (routers, switches, firewalls).
• Deep working knowledge of Palo Alto Networks firewalls and security products.
• Solid understanding of network security, VLANs, VPN, and routing protocols.
• Familiarity with Windows and Linux server administration.
• Proven ability to troubleshoot and resolve complex infrastructure issues in enterprise environments.
• Excellent communication skills and ability to work effectively in a remote, collaborative setting.
• Relevant certifications (CCNP, PCNSE, VCP, or similar) are a strong plus.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status.