IP / MPLS Network Engineer

Network Engineer - MPLS / WAN Networking Department : Network Engineering Location : Downtown Dallas, Texas Duration : 12-month CONTRACT (potential for contract extension based on performance) Work Model : Hybrid / On-site (On-office as needed, up to 3x per week) About Our Client Our client is a leading electric utility company serving millions of customers across a major metropolitan area. As a forward-thinking organization committed to grid modernization and network infrastructure excellence, they are deploying cutting-edge private LTE solutions and advanced IP / MPLS networks to support critical operational technology (OT) and enterprise services. The company operates in a highly regulated environment where reliability, security, and innovative networking solutions converge to deliver essential services. Their mission centers on operational excellence, infrastructure resilience, and leveraging advanced wide area networking technologies to meet the evolving demands of modern energy distribution and smart grid operations. Job Description As an MPLS / WAN Networking Engineer, you'll serve as the subject matter expert (SME) for IP / MPLS wide area networks, responsible for design, implementation, and high-level problem-solving across critical utility infrastructure. Your day-to-day will involve participating in large-scale project initiatives, including the deployment of a 100+ site private LTE solution supported over the existing private IP / MPLS network. You'll ensure the IP / MPLS infrastructure is optimally and securely configured to support new projects while maintaining stability and security for existing OT and enterprise services already running on the network. This role exists to architect and maintain robust, scalable, and secure wide area network infrastructure that enables mission-critical utility operations, smart grid capabilities, and enterprise communications. You'll be the technical authority on MPLS, BGP, ISIS, L3VPNs, traffic engineering, and QoS, working collaboratively with project managers, architects, cybersecurity teams, and field technicians to deliver end-to-end communications solutions. The ideal candidate has deep expertise in service provider-grade routing technologies, understands the complexities of OT / IT network convergence, and thrives in environments where network reliability directly impacts critical infrastructure. You'll collaborate extensively with network architects, data center support teams, security teams, network operations, field technicians, and vendors, serving as the senior technical expert who ensures WAN solutions are properly designed, implemented, and integrated with enterprise networks while maintaining the highest standards of security and operational excellence. Duties and Responsibilities

• Evaluate project requirements and scope, working in close collaboration with project teams consisting of project managers, architects, engineers, and cybersecurity personnel to develop end-to-end communications solutions for utility operations.
• Create comprehensive design and as-built documentation including network architecture diagrams, configuration templates, automation scripts, operational support materials, bandwidth capacity reports, configuration / security compliance reports, hardware selection criteria, and validation documentation.
• Work with existing network architects and engineers to integrate WAN with data center support teams and coordinate IP routing and connectivity into enterprise networks, ensuring seamless end-to-end connectivity.
• Submit firewall change requests to security teams as necessary for enabling communications to / from the WAN and associated management tools / enterprise applications, ensuring proper security controls.
• Create Method of Procedures (MOPs) and Test Plans, and review MOPs and Test Plans developed by other teams to ensure technical accuracy and completeness.
• Work directly with Network Operations teams and Field Network Technicians in a senior technical support role during implementation of changes, which may occasionally be performed outside normal business hours or on weekends.
• Evaluate risk and make recommendations to remediate discovered vulnerabilities within the IP / MPLS network, working with cybersecurity teams to ensure network hardening.
• Provide technical information and assist with data / log collection in the event of cyber incidents that directly or indirectly involve the IP / MPLS network, serving as the network SME during incident response.
• Join other engineers and technicians to perform on-site visits to offices, data centers, tower sites, or substations as necessary to evaluate and plan the deployment of new network infrastructure.
• Adhere to network engineering standards and best practices, as well as create new standards or adjust existing standards as networks evolve to meet changing operational requirements. Required Experience / Skills
• High school diploma, GED, or equivalent required (Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Computer Science, or related field strongly preferred).
• Strong understanding of MPLS, BGP, ISIS, L3VPNs, traffic engineering, and QoS is required - must be able to design and troubleshoot complex service provider-grade networks.
• Experience with Nokia 7750 and 7705 router platforms is highly preferred - candidates with this experience will be prioritized.
• Experience working directly with service providers / ISPs for leased circuits, dark fiber, cellular backhaul, and radio backhaul solutions.
• Experience working with security teams and strong knowledge of TCP / UDP-based protocols and how these are supported across firewalls and security infrastructure.
• Experience utilizing standard network industry "devops" tools, working with REST APIs, and ability to manipulate / analyze both structured and unstructured datasets to solve complex network tasks and inquiries.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, both verbal and written, with ability to effectively communicate complex technical concepts to diverse audiences.
• Proficient at creating and managing vendor support cases (both internal and external) and using workflow or issue-tracking tools such as JIRA.
• Ability to work on-site in Downtown Dallas as needed, up to 3 times per week, including occasional work outside normal business hours or weekends for network maintenance windows. Nice-to-Haves
• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Computer Science, Telecommunications, or related field.
• Nokia Service Routing Certifications (SRA, SRC, or equivalent).
• Experience with utility or critical infrastructure networking environments.
• Knowledge of OT (Operational Technology) network requirements and ICS / SCADA protocols.
• Experience with private LTE / 5G network integration with IP / MPLS infrastructure.
• Familiarity with network automation tools (Ansible, Python, NetDevOps practices).
• Understanding of cybersecurity frameworks and compliance requirements for critical infrastructure.
• Experience with MPLS-TE (Traffic Engineering) and segment routing. Education High school diploma, GED, or equivalent required. Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Computer Science, Telecommunications, or related field strongly preferred. Pay & Benefits Summary
• Hourly Rate : $100-115 / hr (based on experience and qualifications)
• Contract Duration : 12-month Contract
• Work Arrangement : Hybrid - Remote flexibility with on-site requirements in Downtown Dallas as needed (up to 3x per week)
• Opportunity to work on cutting-edge private LTE and smart grid infrastructure projects
• Collaborate with industry experts in telecommunications, cybersecurity, and utility operations
• Make a meaningful impact on critical infrastructure that serves millions of customers
• Gain experience with large-scale service provider-grade network deployments in utility environments Apply Now!
• Connect with your Catapult Recruiter : Kailyn Hartley, directly at kailyn.hartley@catapultsg.com
• Ready to architect and optimize mission-critical IP / MPLS networks for critical utility infrastructure? Submit your application today and join a team driving innovation in wide area networking and smart grid technology. This is your opportunity to leverage your MPLS / WAN expertise in a high-impact environment! MPLS | WAN Engineering | BGP | ISIS | L3VPN | QoS | Nokia 7750 | Network Architecture | Service Provider Networks | Utility Infrastructure | Smart Grid | Private LTE | Critical Infrastructure | Downtown Dallas