Senior Network Systems Engineering Manager

Employment Type: Salaried
Work Designation: Hybrid 

Position Summary:

The purpose of the Sr. Manager, Network Systems Engineering position is to manage the design, implementation, and operations Ventura Foods’ complex network infrastructure, ensuring high availability, security, and optimal performance across all locations. This role requires advanced expertise in network architecture, security protocols, and access controls to support the organization’s business operations effectively. The Sr. Manager will collaborate closely with cross-functional IT teams, providing guidance on network resilience strategies, troubleshooting critical issues, and executing strategic projects, including IT/OT integration, SD-WAN, and Zero Trust initiatives. 

Major Duties and Responsibilities:

• Network Design and Implementation
  • Develop, configure, and deploy network infrastructure solutions, including LAN, WAN, SD-WAN, and SASE, ensuring optimal connectivity and performance across all Ventura Foods locations
  • Design and implement network security protocols aligned with Zero Trust Architecture and Cisco ISE, enhancing secure access control and continuous verification of users and devices
• Maintenance and Optimization
  • Perform regular monitoring, maintenance, and tuning of network systems using tools such as SolarWinds and Infoblox, ensuring high availability and proactively addressing potential issues
  • Conduct periodic reviews and upgrades of network components, including Cisco Catalyst, Nexus switches, and Palo Alto firewalls, to maintain alignment with industry best practices
• Network Operations
  • Manages and plans the activities of assigned staff, service providers and/or user personnel in support of IT Network operations for all locations, this includes 1st and 2nd level ITS user support calls
  • Act as the escalation point for complex network issues, diagnosing and resolving critical incidents swiftly to minimize downtime and ensure business continuity. Provide ongoing support for network-related inquiries and incidents, collaborating with cross-functional teams to resolve issues efficiently
• Documentation and Reporting
  • Ensure the development and maintenance of detailed network documentation, including configurations, SOPs, DR plans, and failover procedures, to support operational consistency and compliance
  • Prepare and present regular reports on network performance, security posture, and project progress to inform stakeholders and support strategic decision-making
• Project Management and Collaboration
  • Lead and contribute to key infrastructure projects, such as IT/OT integration, SD-WAN deployment, and cloud connectivity, ensuring alignment with organizational goals and timelines
  • Collaborate closely with IT teams, including Security, Compliance, and DevOps, to support seamless execution of cross-functional projects and initiatives
• Security and Compliance
  • Implement and manage security measures on network devices, including firewalls and VPNs (GlobalProtect), ensuring compliance with internal policies and external regulations
  • Conduct regular vulnerability assessments, risk analyses, and simulations to identify and mitigate potential threats, supporting Ventura Foods’ resilience goals
• Documentation and Reporting
  • To support operational consistency and compliance, develop and maintain detailed network documentation, including configurations, SOPs, DR plans, and failover procedures
  • To inform stakeholders and support strategic decision-making, generate regular reports on network performance, security posture, and project progress
• Vendor and Stakeholder Management
  • Coordinate with external vendors and service providers for network hardware, software, and managed services, ensuring timely support, updates, and alignment with Ventura Foods' standards
  • Act as a key point of contact for internal stakeholders, gathering requirements, providing technical insights, and ensuring network solutions meet operational needs and strategic objectives
• Additional responsibilities as assigned.

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science or related field or equivalent experience, is required
• Required: 7+ years prior experience in network engineering, including managing switches, firewalls, routers, etc., is required
• Experience with network monitoring tools, is required
• Proficiency in Cisco ISE for secure network access (authentication, authorization, and accounting), is required
• Proficiency in Firewall Management, expertise with Palo Alto firewalls for advanced policy configuration and monitoring, is required
• Experience managing third party service providers and internal contractors, is required
• Ability to travel up to 35%, is required
• Master's Degree, is preferred
• Prior experience with direct people leadership, is a bonus

Knowledge and Skills:

Personal Skills:

• Strategic approach to network resilience, including scaling Zero Trust for IoT, adaptive security, and proactive risk management.
• Focused on resilience through regular simulations, stress tests, and agility in threat identification.
• Proven ability to collaborate with diverse teams (Security, Compliance, DevOps) to align operations on project launches, audits, and rollouts.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills to coordinate effectively across departments in a multi-location environment.

Professional Skills:

• Experience with compliance frameworks and regular quarterly failover simulations for critical systems (ERP, AD, and cloud).
• Knowledge of ITIL Foundation practices for incident, problem, and change management to support 24x7 operations.
• Strong documentation abilities, emphasizing SOP creation, DR plans, and adherence to IT documentation standards.

Technical Skills:

• Infoblox: Proficient in Infoblox for DNS, DHCP, and IPAM, enhancing network management and IP address configuration.
• SolarWinds Orion: Competent in real-time network monitoring for proactive health management and alerts.
• Cisco Catalyst & Nexus Switches: In-depth knowledge of Catalyst 9000 and Nexus switches for campus and data center networks.
• Layer 3 Routing Protocols: Skilled in OSPF, BGP, and advanced Layer 3 routing for enterprise routing and multi-site segmentation.

Why Join Us:
Ventura Foods innovates and manufactures food solutions for foodservice and retail businesses.  We make exclusive products for the world's most iconic restaurants and retailers, we provide ready-to-go product solutions for professional kitchens, and we make consumer brands everyone knows and loves.  When you work for Ventura Foods, you get a strong foundation of training, a manager who cares about you and celebrates your success, a safe environment, and challenging work.  As part of our team, your future is limited only by how much you’re willing to push yourself to get there.  We invest in your growth because you invest in ours.  

Ventura Foods offers career growth opportunities as well as competitive compensation and benefits:​

• Medical, Prescription, Dental, & Vision – coverage beginning on your 1st day for eligible employees​
• Profit Sharing and 401(k) matching (after eligible criteria is met)​
• Paid Vacation, Sick Time, and Holidays​
• Employee Appreciation Events​ and Employee Assistance Programs
• Salary Base Range of $151,198.00 - $200,828.25 for Employees Located in California*
• Annual bonus (based on the incentive program terms and conditions)

*The “base salary range” provided above is a good faith estimate of what we expect to pay for this position.  The range provided is for California-based employees as Ventura Foods is required by California State Law to post pay rates.  Ventura Foods reserves the right to pay outside of the given range based on a variety of factors including but not limited to: candidate skills and experience, complexity of the job, budgetary factors, and location/geography.  Ventura Foods conducts regular reviews of compensation ranges and therefore reserves the right to alter this range at any given time.  

Diversity & Inclusion:
Our commitment to a diverse and inclusive environment in which all employees are treated with respect is evident in our company culture and values.  We believe that fostering an environment of inclusion and a focus on diversity across our organization is vital to attracting top talent, driving innovation, and meeting the high expectations of our customers in a rapidly evolving global marketplace.

Ventura Foods is proud to be an equal opportunity employer.  All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law.