MRECC Network & Systems Engineer

Town of Natick / Middlesex Regional Emergency Communications Center (MRECC)

Department: MRECC

FLSA Status: Exempt

Reports To: MRECC Executive Director

Salary Range: $110,000 - $130,000 annually, commensurate with qualifications and experience

The Town of Natick is seeking an experienced Network & Systems Engineer to support the Middlesex Regional Emergency Communications Center (MRECC), a regional 9-1-1 emergency communications center serving multiple communities.

This is a unique opportunity for an experienced IT professional to take a lead role in developing, supporting, and maintaining the technology environment of a new regional public safety communications center.

This position will initially be employed by the Town of Natick and assigned exclusively to MRECC. From the date of hire, the Network & Systems Engineer will report directly to the MRECC Executive Director. The position is expected to transition to direct MRECC employment as MRECC completes its organizational transition.

Position Summary

The Network & Systems Engineer is MRECC's primary information technology professional and is responsible for the reliable, secure, and continuous operation of MRECC's technology infrastructure and mission-critical public safety systems.

The position will independently administer and support MRECC's network, servers, telecommunications infrastructure, cybersecurity environment, workstations, applications, and public safety technology systems. The Network & Systems Engineer will also coordinate extensively with member-community IT departments, public safety agencies, State 911, technology vendors, contractors, and service providers.

Because MRECC operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, the successful candidate must understand the operational importance of system availability and be capable of responding to critical technology incidents when necessary.

Key Responsibilities

• Administer, monitor, maintain, and secure MRECC network, server, virtualization, storage, wireless, firewall, telecommunications, and endpoint infrastructure.
• Maintain system availability and troubleshoot complex network, server, application, connectivity, and hardware issues.
• Support and coordinate MRECC's mission-critical public safety technology, including Computer-Aided Dispatch (CAD) and CAD interfaces, 9-1-1 systems, radio-related systems, records management systems, fire station alerting, GIS/mapping, logging recorders, and other emergency communications applications.
• Coordinate system integration and connectivity between MRECC, member communities, public safety agencies, State 911, vendors, and external systems.
• Manage cybersecurity protections, user access, system permissions, patching, vulnerability remediation, and related security controls.
• Administer backup and recovery systems and assist with disaster recovery, business continuity, and technology components of continuity-of-operations planning.
• Coordinate technology vendors, contractors, support agreements, service calls, upgrades, system implementations, and technology projects.
• Maintain accurate network diagrams, system documentation, inventories, configuration information, and technical procedures.
• Assist MRECC leadership with technology planning, procurement, budgeting, system lifecycle planning, and evaluation of future technology needs.
• Provide technical assistance and support to MRECC personnel.
• Participate in scheduled after-hours maintenance and respond to critical technology incidents outside normal business hours when necessary.

Minimum Qualifications

A combination of education, professional experience, technical training, and certifications demonstrating the knowledge and abilities necessary to perform the responsibilities of the position.

Preferred Qualifications Include

• Bachelor's degree in information technology, computer science, cybersecurity, network administration, information systems, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.
• At least five years of progressively responsible experience administering enterprise networks, servers, infrastructure, or information systems.
• Demonstrated ability to independently troubleshoot and maintain complex network and server environments.
• Strong knowledge of TCP/IP networking, routing and switching, VLANs, firewalls, VPNs, Windows Server, Active Directory, DNS, DHCP, virtualization, enterprise backup and recovery, wireless networking, endpoint management, and cybersecurity.
• Experience working with technology vendors, contractors, and service providers.
• Experience supporting a 24/7, high-availability, or other mission-critical environment strongly preferred.
• Experience supporting public safety, emergency communications, municipal government, healthcare, utilities, or another mission-critical environment strongly preferred.
• Experience with CAD, 9-1-1 systems, radio systems, records management systems, fire station alerting, GIS, logging recorders, or other public safety technology is highly desirable.

The successful candidate must have excellent troubleshooting, organizational, communication, documentation, and project-management skills and be capable of working independently, establishing priorities, and exercising sound technical judgment in a high-pressure public safety environment.

How To Apply

A complete job description is available upon request.

Interested candidates should submit one combined pdf document that includes a cover letter and resume with a file name (last name, job title applying, Natick) to [email protected] or to the Director of Human Resources, Town of Natick, 13 East Central Street, Natick, MA 01760.

EOE