Senior Campus Wireless Engineer The University of Virginia is seeking a Senior Campus Wireless Engineer to design, deploy, optimize, and maintain high-performance wireless networks across UVA's large, multi-building campus environment. This position plays a critical role in providing reliable, secure, and scalable wireless connectivity for academic, administrative, research, residential, and guest users. The Senior Campus Wireless Engineer will lead wireless design and optimization efforts, troubleshoot complex network issues, and collaborate with network operations, information security, facilities, vendors, and other University partners to deliver a high-quality wireless experience. The successful candidate will join UVA Information Technology Services and contribute to the continued evolution of the University's enterprise network infrastructure. This role offers the opportunity to work on wireless technology at significant scale while supporting a diverse range of environments, including classrooms, offices, research facilities, residence halls, event spaces, and other University facilities. The successful candidate will bring strong wireless networking expertise, a solid understanding of radio frequency (RF) principles, and experience supporting complex enterprise or campus environments.
Responsibilities
Wireless Network Design and Deployment:
Design and implement campus-wide wireless networks, including RF planning, coverage design, and capacity analysis.
Conduct predictive and on-site wireless site surveys to validate network performance and determine optimal wireless access point placement.
Deploy, configure, and support wireless access points, controllers, cloud-managed platforms, and related network infrastructure.
Develop wireless solutions that support high-density, academic, research, residential, administrative, and guest environments.
Operations and Optimization:
Monitor wireless network health and performance and proactively identify opportunities to improve connectivity, reliability, and capacity.
Diagnose and resolve wireless issues including RF interference, roaming challenges, coverage gaps, and performance degradation.
Perform RF optimization, channel planning, and transmit power adjustments to improve network performance and the end-user experience.
Maintain accurate wireless network documentation, topology diagrams, configuration information, and asset inventories.
Troubleshooting and Technical Support:
Provide Tier II and Tier III support for complex wireless network incidents and service issues.
Partner with service desk and field support teams to troubleshoot and resolve wireless connectivity concerns.
Diagnose issues related to authentication, DHCP, DNS, roaming, RF interference, network access, and wireless client connectivity.
Collaborate with information security teams to ensure wireless environments align with University security standards and industry best practices.
Infrastructure Management:
Administer wireless controllers, cloud-based wireless management platforms, and network monitoring and management tools.
Manage wireless infrastructure firmware and software lifecycles and coordinate system upgrades and maintenance.
Monitor infrastructure capacity, reliability, and lifecycle needs and make recommendations for improvements and future investments.
Coordinate with technology vendors on technical support cases, hardware replacements, upgrades, and new product capabilities.
Collaboration and Project Support:
Participate in campus construction, renovation, expansion, and technology projects requiring wireless connectivity.
Collaborate with facilities teams, architects, contractors, engineers, and University stakeholders to incorporate wireless requirements into project plans.
Provide technical guidance related to wireless network design, capacity planning, infrastructure standards, and emerging technologies.
Support planning and implementation of future wireless network upgrades and technology initiatives.
Minimum Qualifications:
Bachelor's degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent relevant experience.
At least five years of hands-on wireless networking experience in a large enterprise, higher education, campus, or similarly complex environment.
Demonstrated understanding of RF principles, wireless network design, and Wi-Fi standards, including 802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax.
Experience supporting enterprise wireless platforms from vendors such as Cisco, Aruba, Juniper/Mist, Ruckus, or comparable technologies.
Experience using wireless survey and analysis tools such as Ekahau, iBwave, AirMagnet, or similar platforms.
Strong understanding of TCP/IP networking, VLANs, DHCP, DNS, authentication, and network security fundamentals.
Demonstrated ability to troubleshoot complex wireless and network connectivity issues.
Strong analytical, problem-solving, communication, and organizational skills.
Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively across technical and non-technical teams.
Preferred Qualifications:
Professional wireless certifications such as CWNA, CWDP, CWSP, or relevant vendor-specific certifications.
Cisco, Aruba, Juniper/Mist, or other enterprise networking certifications.
Experience supporting high-density wireless environments such as auditoriums, stadiums, residence halls, classrooms, or large event spaces.
Experience supporting wireless connectivity for Internet of Things (IoT) devices and other specialized endpoints.
Familiarity with network automation and scripting technologies such as Python or Ansible.
Experience administering cloud-managed networking platforms.
Experience working in a higher education, research, healthcare, or similarly complex distributed environment.
Experience contributing to large infrastructure, construction, or renovation projects.
Physical Demands This is primarily a sedentary position involving extensive use of computers and network management tools. The position may occasionally require walking throughout University facilities, accessing network equipment locations, or participating in on-site wireless assessments and site surveys.
Position Type & Work Location This is a full-time position with the University of Virginia. The position requires regular work on Grounds in Charlottesville, Virginia, due to the hands-on nature of wireless network design, troubleshooting, deployment, and site survey responsibilities. Specific work arrangements will be discussed during the recruitment process.
About UVA The University of Virginia is an iconic public institution of higher education, boasting nationally ranked schools and programs, distinguished faculty, a major academic medical center, and a proud history as a renowned research university. UVA is located in beautiful Charlottesville, Virginia, a setting that combines the amenities and cultural attractions of a vibrant college town with the natural beauty of the surrounding Blue Ridge Mountains.
