Amherst College
Network Infrastructure Administrator
Amherst Campus Full Time JR6132
Amherst has taken a leadership role among highly selective liberal arts colleges and universities in successfully diversifying the racial, socio-economic, and geographic profile of its student body. The College is similarly committed to enriching its educational experience and its culture through the diversity of its faculty, administration and staff.
Job Description:
Amherst College invites applications for the Network Infrastructure Administrator position. The Network Infrastructure Administrator is a full-time, year-round position, starting at $90,000 - commensurate with experience.
The Network Infrastructure Administrator supports the College's network and security infrastructure, ensuring reliable and secure access to campus systems. This role is responsible for the configuration, monitoring, and maintenance of firewalls (primarily Palo Alto or Fortinet), as well as supporting Windows server infrastructure and key enterprise systems. The incumbent works collaboratively within the Systems & Networking team and across departments to maintain secure, high-performing, and well-documented network services.
Summary of Responsibilities: Manage Palo Alto and/or Fortinet firewalls, including configuration, policy management, and threat prevention
Perform network security and access control for network devices, including firewall rule audits and compliance enforcement
Monitor, analyze, and respond to network logs and threats, using tools like Wireshark or packet sniffers to optimize performance and security
Maintain network infrastructure, including firmware patching, lifecycle management, and network device configuration
Document network architecture, changes, and policies following change management protocols and prepare reports for leadership
Evaluate and recommend network technologies, and support planning efforts for future upgrades
Provide cross-functional support to staff and collaborate with IT teams on enterprise systems and network issues
Participate in on-call rotation to resolve after-hours issues as needed
Qualifications:
Required Bachelor's degree in STEM
Minimum of 5 years of relevant IT experience supporting enterprise networking environments
At least 3 years of hands-on experience managing and configuring enterprise firewalls, preferably Palo Alto (Fortinet acceptable)
Specialized skill training/certification in lieu of minimum education and related experience; PCNSA/E;FCP
Strong working knowledge of network security principles, firewall policies, and access control management
Experience with packet analysis and troubleshooting tools such as Wireshark
Demonstrated ability to diagnose and resolve complex network performance issues in a timely manner
Familiarity with enterprise networking hardware, routing/switching concepts, and network management tools (e.g., SolarWinds)
Solid understanding of Windows Server administration and Active Directory preferred
Strong documentation skills and attention to detail, with experience writing and maintaining network diagrams and change records
Ability to work both independently and collaboratively in a team-oriented environment
Excellent communication skills, with a demonstrated commitment to supporting a diverse and inclusive community
Successful completion of required reference and background checks
Preferred Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related field
Industry certifications such as Palo Alto Networks Certified Network Security Administrator (PCNSA) or Engineer (PCNSE), Fortinet Certified Professional (FCP) or equivalent
Experience in a higher education or research-intensive enterprise environment
Familiarity with security compliance frameworks such as NIST, CIS Controls, or GLBA
Experience with network automation tools and scripting languages (e.g., Python, Ansible, PowerShell)
Knowledge of Zero Trust networking principles and segmentation strategies
Experience implementing or supporting identity-aware network access solutions (e.g., NAC, SSO, MFA)
Amherst College is pleased to provide a comprehensive, highly competitive benefits package that meets the needs of staff and faculty and their families. Benefits are an important part of our overall compensation, so it is critical that you review all of the options to ensure it meets your total compensation requirements. Click here for
Benefits Information .
Interested candidates are asked to submit a resume and cover letter online at
Amherst_Jobs .
Please be sure to upload all requested documents prior to clicking Submit. Applications cannot be revised once submitted.
(Current employees and students should apply by clicking on the Jobs Hub icon from their Workday home screen)
Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled.
It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.
To apply, visit en-US/Amherst_Jobs/job/Amherst-Campus/Network-Infrastructure-Administrator_JR6132
jeid-234ad80f7c98d749a708cf73a9d62223
Amherst Campus Full Time JR6132
Amherst has taken a leadership role among highly selective liberal arts colleges and universities in successfully diversifying the racial, socio-economic, and geographic profile of its student body. The College is similarly committed to enriching its educational experience and its culture through the diversity of its faculty, administration and staff.
Job Description:
Amherst College invites applications for the Network Infrastructure Administrator position. The Network Infrastructure Administrator is a full-time, year-round position, starting at $90,000 - commensurate with experience.
The Network Infrastructure Administrator supports the College's network and security infrastructure, ensuring reliable and secure access to campus systems. This role is responsible for the configuration, monitoring, and maintenance of firewalls (primarily Palo Alto or Fortinet), as well as supporting Windows server infrastructure and key enterprise systems. The incumbent works collaboratively within the Systems & Networking team and across departments to maintain secure, high-performing, and well-documented network services.
Summary of Responsibilities: Manage Palo Alto and/or Fortinet firewalls, including configuration, policy management, and threat prevention
Perform network security and access control for network devices, including firewall rule audits and compliance enforcement
Monitor, analyze, and respond to network logs and threats, using tools like Wireshark or packet sniffers to optimize performance and security
Maintain network infrastructure, including firmware patching, lifecycle management, and network device configuration
Document network architecture, changes, and policies following change management protocols and prepare reports for leadership
Evaluate and recommend network technologies, and support planning efforts for future upgrades
Provide cross-functional support to staff and collaborate with IT teams on enterprise systems and network issues
Participate in on-call rotation to resolve after-hours issues as needed
Qualifications:
Required Bachelor's degree in STEM
Minimum of 5 years of relevant IT experience supporting enterprise networking environments
At least 3 years of hands-on experience managing and configuring enterprise firewalls, preferably Palo Alto (Fortinet acceptable)
Specialized skill training/certification in lieu of minimum education and related experience; PCNSA/E;FCP
Strong working knowledge of network security principles, firewall policies, and access control management
Experience with packet analysis and troubleshooting tools such as Wireshark
Demonstrated ability to diagnose and resolve complex network performance issues in a timely manner
Familiarity with enterprise networking hardware, routing/switching concepts, and network management tools (e.g., SolarWinds)
Solid understanding of Windows Server administration and Active Directory preferred
Strong documentation skills and attention to detail, with experience writing and maintaining network diagrams and change records
Ability to work both independently and collaboratively in a team-oriented environment
Excellent communication skills, with a demonstrated commitment to supporting a diverse and inclusive community
Successful completion of required reference and background checks
Preferred Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related field
Industry certifications such as Palo Alto Networks Certified Network Security Administrator (PCNSA) or Engineer (PCNSE), Fortinet Certified Professional (FCP) or equivalent
Experience in a higher education or research-intensive enterprise environment
Familiarity with security compliance frameworks such as NIST, CIS Controls, or GLBA
Experience with network automation tools and scripting languages (e.g., Python, Ansible, PowerShell)
Knowledge of Zero Trust networking principles and segmentation strategies
Experience implementing or supporting identity-aware network access solutions (e.g., NAC, SSO, MFA)
Amherst College is pleased to provide a comprehensive, highly competitive benefits package that meets the needs of staff and faculty and their families. Benefits are an important part of our overall compensation, so it is critical that you review all of the options to ensure it meets your total compensation requirements. Click here for
Benefits Information .
Interested candidates are asked to submit a resume and cover letter online at
Amherst_Jobs .
Please be sure to upload all requested documents prior to clicking Submit. Applications cannot be revised once submitted.
(Current employees and students should apply by clicking on the Jobs Hub icon from their Workday home screen)
Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled.
It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.
To apply, visit en-US/Amherst_Jobs/job/Amherst-Campus/Network-Infrastructure-Administrator_JR6132
jeid-234ad80f7c98d749a708cf73a9d62223