Job Title: Network Engineer - Operational Technology (OT)
Location: Alvin, TX 77511
Business Unit: Operational Technology & Process Controls
Reports To: OT Infrastructure & Controls Manager
Type: 6-12 month contract-to-hire
Citizenship Status: Open to US Citizen and Green Card
Schedule: Hybrid: On-site Mon, Tues, Thurs and remote Wed, Fri
Option to work a 9/80 schedule or a 4/10 schedule
Experience Required: 5-10 Years
Industry Background: Petrochemical / Refinery preferred
Position Overview:
We are seeking an experienced and highly skilled Network Engineer to join our Operational Technology (OT) and Process Controls team within a global leader in the petrochemical industry. This role is critical to the stability and security of our OT network infrastructure, with a focus on designing, implementing, and maintaining robust, secure, and scalable industrial networks that support process control systems across our operations.
Key Responsibilities:
- Design, deploy, and maintain OT network infrastructure including switches, routers, and firewalls.
- Configure and manage Palo Alto Firewalls and industrial firewalls to ensure network security and segmentation within OT environments.
- Utilize SolarWinds for network monitoring, performance analysis, and issue resolution.
- Support and manage Cisco switch configurations and maintenance, including VLANs, trunking, and port configurations.
- Oversee the installation and maintenance of fiber optic and Ethernet cabling and connectivity.
- Work closely with control systems engineers and process teams to ensure network reliability and security within process-critical environments.
- Implement and maintain documentation, network diagrams, and change control processes in line with OT and cybersecurity best practices.
- Ensure compliance with internal standards, industry regulations, and cybersecurity frameworks for industrial networks (e.g., ISA/IEC 62443).
- Participate in incident response, root cause analysis, and corrective actions related to OT network events.
- Support planning and execution of network upgrades, expansions, and remediation projects.
Qualifications & Experience:
- 5-10 years of hands-on experience in network engineering, preferably within refinery or petrochemical environments.
- Strong expertise in Palo Alto Firewalls, SolarWinds, and Cisco switching technologies.
- Proven experience working with industrial firewalls in OT/ICS environments.
- In-depth knowledge of Ethernet and fiber-optic networking, including installation, termination, and troubleshooting.
- Experience working in regulated industrial environments with a strong focus on reliability and safety.
- Ability to work collaboratively across multidisciplinary teams and support 24/7 operations as needed.
- Strong documentation skills and familiarity with change management processes.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Network Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related field.
- Industry certifications such as:
- Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP)
- Palo Alto Networks Certified Network Security Engineer (PCNSE)
- Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP), a plus
- Familiarity with ISA/IEC 62443 and other OT cybersecurity standards.