Manager of Network Engineering – Academic Network Infrastructure & Service Orchestration

Department Overview

The Network Services team within UVA Information Technology Services (ITS) provides the core networking infrastructure that underpins the University’s academic, research, and administrative missions. The team is responsible for designing, deploying, and managing high-performance wired and wireless networks, as well as the automation platforms that support secure, reliable, and scalable connectivity across Grounds.

Position Summary

The University of Virginia seeks a Manager of Network Engineering to lead the planning, implementation, and ongoing management of its campus-wide network infrastructure. This role is critical to ensuring high-performance, secure, and scalable connectivity across UVA’s academic, research, and administrative environments.

The successful candidate will manage a team of network engineers and oversee the architecture, deployment, and lifecycle management of the network platforms and service orchestration systems that automate provisioning and management of network services in a complex higher education setting.

Responsibilities

Leadership & Team Management

• Lead, mentor, and develop a team of network engineers and support staff responsible for maintaining high availability across the institution’s core and edge network infrastructure.

• Coordinate cross-functional collaboration with IT teams, academic departments, and research units to ensure the network aligns with institutional needs.

Academic Network Infrastructure

• Lead the transformation of UVA’s core network to next-generation control and forwarding plane architectures.

• Oversee the design, deployment, and maintenance of highly available and scalable wired and wireless network infrastructure across classrooms, labs, research centers, libraries, and residence halls.

Service Orchestration & Automation

• Partner with the Network Management Systems team to design and implement orchestration platforms that automate deployment and lifecycle management of network services (e.g., VLAN provisioning, device configuration, access control).

• Integrate orchestration platforms with ITSM tools, CMDB, and monitoring systems.

• Lead service ownership across Core/WAN, Edge (wired and wireless), Firewalls, Load Balancing, and Data Center.

Security & Compliance

• Ensure network systems adhere to institutional security policies and applicable regulatory requirements (e.g., FERPA, HIPAA, NIST).

• Collaborate with Information Security to implement secure architectures and incident response procedures.

Project & Stakeholder Management

• Lead major infrastructure and service improvement projects including campus network upgrades, wireless expansion, and cloud connectivity.

• Engage with academic and research stakeholders to understand unique networking needs and support innovative initiatives.

• Manage vendor relationships, contracts, and external partnerships with research networking consortia.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Engineering, or a related field.

• Four or more years of progressively responsible experience in network engineering, with at least two years in a management or team lead role.

• Proven experience designing and operating enterprise or campus-scale networks, including both wired and wireless technologies.

• Experience with network automation and orchestration platforms such as Cisco NSO, Ansible, or equivalent.

• Proficiency in networking concepts (e.g., routing, switching, firewalls, load balancing, DNS/DHCP, VPN, BGP, OSPF), with particular focus on routing and ISP/WAN.

Preferred Qualifications

• Strong understanding of the needs of academic and research computing environments.

• Relevant industry certifications (e.g., CCNP/CCIE, JNCIP/JNCIE).

• Familiarity with Internet2 and Research & Education (R&E) networking standards and best practices.

• Experience integrating networking services with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP) and hybrid environments.

• ITIL or project management experience.

Essential Skills

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills to engage with faculty, researchers, and institutional leadership.

• Ability to manage competing priorities and deliver high-quality outcomes in a dynamic academic environment.

• Proven ability to build and lead high-performing teams with a focus on mentoring and growing talent.

• Collaborative mindset with a focus on building strong partnerships with internal and external stakeholders.

Physical Demands

This role is primarily sedentary, involving extensive use of desktop computers. The position may require occasional travel to UVA locations or vendor sites.

Salary Range

$130,000 – $135,000 annually, commensurate with experience.

Position Type & Work Location

• Full-time

• Exempt

• This position is eligible for a hybrid work arrangement in accordance with UVA policy.

About UVA and the Community

The University of Virginia is a world-class institution dedicated to excellence in education, research, healthcare, and public service. Located in historic Charlottesville, Virginia, UVA is consistently ranked as one of the top public universities in the nation. Charlottesville and the surrounding area offer a high quality of life, rich cultural experiences, and abundant natural beauty, making it an ideal place to live and work.

Application Timeline

Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled.

Additional Requirements

The selected candidate will be required to complete a background check prior to their first day of employment.

How to Apply

Please apply through Online and search for “R0075623.” Internal applicants must apply through their UVA Workday profile by searching “Find Jobs.” Complete the application and upload the following required materials:

• Cover letter

• Resume

Please note that multiple documents can be uploaded in the “Resume” box. Applications that do not contain all required documents will not receive full consideration.

Reference Check Process

If selected as a finalist for this role, you will be asked to provide at least 5 references. Your reference list should include at least two current or former supervisors, two current or former colleagues, and one subordinate, if applicable. The UVA reference process is designed to gather balanced perspectives on your leadership, collaboration, and performance.

Contact

For inquiries about the position, please contact:

Bill Crane
Senior IT HR Recruiter
Email: Xer5ff@virginia.edu

The University of Virginia is an equal opportunity employer. All interested persons are encouraged to apply, including veterans and individuals with disabilities. Click here to read more about UVA’s commitment to non-discrimination and equal opportunity employment.