Exciting Opportunity: Network Engineer III - Chesapeake Connects Program

Be a part of Chesapeake's broadband transformation.

The City of Chesapeake is seeking an experienced and forward-thinking Network Engineer III to help stand up Chesapeake Connects (CCX) as a municipal Internet Service Provider (ISP). This role is critical to our city's vision of delivering affordable, high-speed broadband infrastructure that serves our community, enhances public services, and fuels economic development.At the heart of CCX is the development of a 175-mile municipal fiber optic network, supported by CBRS LTE and LoRaWAN wireless technologies. As we prepare to light up the first segments of this network, we're building the internal capacity to operate as an ISP to serve city departments, public safety, schools, and libraries.

Your ImpactAs a Network Engineer III, you will play a pivotal role in:

• Standing up CCX as an operational ISP, helping to define and implement scalable network architecture and best practices.
• Collaborating with vendor partners and internal teams to establish and optimize our new broadband infrastructure.
• Designing, deploying, and supporting fiber and wireless network elements to enable smart city solutions, digital equity, and resilient connectivity.
• Supporting the full lifecycle of network operations-from planning and provisioning to ongoing performance and incident response.

Essential Functions

• Design, implement, and support core and access network elements within a municipal ISP environment.
• Maintain and optimize the transport network and all active network components.
• Collaborate with vendors and solution partners to define scalable ISP architecture and integrate best practices.
• Install and configure routers, switches, firewalls, wireless equipment, and optical gear.
• Perform Level III/IV troubleshooting of complex network issues, including customer escalations.
• Monitor network performance using appropriate tools and respond to alarms and alerts.
• Conduct software upgrades and ensure device configurations follow CCX security and performance standards.
• Document network topology, configurations, policies, and standard operating procedures.
• Train operations and field personnel on troubleshooting, monitoring, and routine maintenance.
• Coordinate with internal stakeholders and customers to plan and provision services.
• Serve as the technical lead for projects, coordinating day-to-day work with internal staff and third-party contractors.
• Participate in on-call rotation and support after-hours network maintenance and emergency response.

Preferred Qualifications

• Proven experience working in or designing ISP or carrier-grade networks.
• Familiarity with municipal broadband networks, dark fiber leasing, and last-mile connectivity.
• Hands-on experience with fiber optics, BGP/OSPF routing, DHCP, VLANs, firewalls, and IP address management.
• Experience with network monitoring and configuration tools (e.g., SolarWinds, NetBox, Ansible, etc.).
• Strong understanding of wireless backhaul, CBRS LTE, and LoRaWAN deployments.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or related field, or equivalent experience.
• Minimum of 4 years of progressive network engineering experience; at least 2 years supporting service provider environments preferred.
• Valid driver's license required.
• Ability to respond to emergencies, on-call rotations, and after-hours maintenance as needed.

Why Join Us?This is more than a job-it's a chance to help build the backbone of a smart, connected city. You'll work alongside visionary leaders and talented teams committed to transforming how Chesapeake delivers digital services to its community.
The City of Chesapeake offers an exceptional range of benefits. Please browse our Benefits Brochure for a full list of benefits and employee perks.PDN-9f3a6a6a-c69c-4b8e-b029-9c67178a4d6f