Job Description
Kenya Trade Network Agency (KenTrade) is seeking to recruit a skilled, innovative, and highly motivated Network Engineer to strengthen and support its enterprise ICT infrastructure based in Nairobi. This position offers an exciting opportunity for a technology professional who is passionate about designing, implementing, optimizing, and securing modern network environments that support critical government digital services. The successful candidate will play a central role in ensuring the availability, resilience, security, and performance of the organization's communication systems while supporting continuous digital transformation initiatives.
The Network Engineer will be responsible for planning, deploying, maintaining, and improving secure wired and wireless network infrastructure across multiple locations. The role requires close collaboration with ICT teams, software developers, cybersecurity specialists, vendors, and external technology partners to deliver reliable connectivity for mission-critical applications. The successful candidate will participate in infrastructure planning, network expansion projects, disaster recovery preparedness, technology upgrades, and enterprise security improvements while ensuring compliance with organizational ICT governance standards.
This position demands strong analytical thinking, excellent troubleshooting abilities, and extensive technical expertise in enterprise networking technologies. The ideal candidate will continuously monitor network performance, identify potential risks before they impact operations, and implement proactive solutions that improve service reliability. Responsibilities also include supporting voice communication systems, virtual private networks, firewall technologies, cloud connectivity, routing, switching, server communication, storage connectivity, and secure remote access services.
The successful applicant will contribute to infrastructure modernization by evaluating emerging technologies, recommending improvements, and implementing scalable networking solutions that support organizational growth. Documentation of network architecture, technical procedures, configuration standards, asset inventories, maintenance schedules, and operational guidelines will form an important part of this role to ensure business continuity and knowledge management.
As part of the ICT Infrastructure and Service Management team, the Network Engineer will support business continuity planning by maintaining high system availability, minimizing downtime, coordinating preventive maintenance activities, and responding rapidly to network incidents. The position also requires maintaining compliance with internal ICT policies, information security requirements, industry best practices, and government technology standards while protecting critical organizational information assets.
KenTrade is looking for a professional who demonstrates integrity, accountability, technical excellence, adaptability, and a commitment to delivering reliable ICT services. The ideal candidate should possess excellent communication skills, the ability to work under pressure, sound project coordination abilities, and the confidence to manage multiple technical assignments simultaneously. This position presents an excellent opportunity to build a rewarding career while contributing to the efficient delivery of digital trade facilitation services that support economic growth and enhance national competitiveness through secure and dependable technology infrastructure.
Key Responsibilities
- Design, deploy, configure, and maintain secure enterprise network infrastructure that supports organizational operations and digital service delivery.
- Install, configure, and optimize advanced switching technologies for high-performance network environments.
- Develop and maintain reliable wired and wireless network architecture capable of supporting voice, video, and enterprise applications.
- Configure, administer, and monitor Cisco firewalls, VPN gateways, and other network security appliances.
- Maintain secure remote connectivity solutions for authorized users through properly configured VPN technologies.
- Implement effective firewall rules, network segmentation, and access control mechanisms to protect organizational information assets.
- Install, configure, and maintain Local Area Network (LAN) infrastructure including switches, structured cabling, patch panels, and supporting hardware.
- Participate in enterprise IP address planning, subnet design, DNS administration, and related network services.
- Support server connectivity and ensure reliable communication between enterprise applications and network infrastructure.
- Monitor network utilization, bandwidth consumption, latency, and overall system performance to maximize operational efficiency.
- Identify network bottlenecks and implement practical solutions that improve service reliability.
- Perform preventive maintenance on routers, switches, servers, storage devices, UPS systems, and supporting infrastructure.
- Coordinate planned infrastructure upgrades while minimizing service interruptions to users.
- Troubleshoot complex networking issues involving routing, switching, wireless connectivity, voice systems, and security appliances.
- Diagnose and resolve network failures affecting internet connectivity, internal communication systems, and integrated business applications.
- Maintain high availability of network services across the primary data centre, disaster recovery environment, and remote connections.
- Support enterprise Voice over IP (VoIP) infrastructure including configuration, maintenance, and performance optimization.
- Maintain secure connectivity between organizational systems and external partner institutions.
- Ensure infrastructure changes follow approved change management procedures and organizational ICT policies.
- Prepare detailed technical documentation covering network topology, configurations, asset inventories, operating procedures, and maintenance activities.
- Maintain accurate records of hardware installations, software versions, licensing, and infrastructure upgrades.
- Assist in technology evaluations and recommend innovative networking solutions that improve organizational performance.
- Collaborate with ICT teams during infrastructure expansion and system integration projects.
- Support cybersecurity initiatives by implementing secure network configurations and responding to identified vulnerabilities.
- Monitor security alerts and respond promptly to suspected network threats or unauthorized access attempts.
- Perform regular system backups for critical network configurations and recovery documentation.
- Participate in disaster recovery testing and business continuity planning exercises.
- Provide technical guidance and second-level support to internal users and technical teams.
- Coordinate with vendors during installation, maintenance, troubleshooting, and warranty support activities.
- Ensure compliance with ICT governance standards, regulatory requirements, and organizational policies.
- Continuously evaluate emerging networking technologies and recommend improvements that enhance operational efficiency.
- Maintain professionalism, confidentiality, accountability, and high-quality service delivery while performing any other related duties assigned by management.
Qualifications & Requirements
- Bachelor's degree in information and communication technology, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Information Systems, Telecommunications Engineering, or another closely related discipline from a recognized institution.
- Professional networking certifications such as CCNA, CCNP, CCVP, Cisco Enterprise certifications, or equivalent qualifications.
- Demonstrated knowledge of Voice over IP (VoIP) implementation, configuration, administration, and troubleshooting.
- Strong understanding of enterprise routing and switching technologies.
- Experience configuring Cisco networking equipment and enterprise security appliances.
- Knowledge of VPN technologies, firewall administration, and secure remote access solutions.
- Experience managing wired and wireless enterprise network environments.
- Familiarity with DNS, DHCP, IP addressing, VLAN configuration, and network segmentation.
- Knowledge of network monitoring, performance analysis, and capacity planning tools.
- Experience supporting enterprise servers, storage systems, and infrastructure hardware.
- Strong analytical and structured problem
- solving abilities.
- Ability to diagnose and resolve complex technical issues efficiently.
- Excellent documentation and technical reporting skills.
- Strong communication and interpersonal abilities.
- Ability to prioritize multiple assignments while meeting deadlines.
- High level of integrity, professionalism, and confidentiality.
- Commitment to continuous professional learning and technology advancement.
- Ability to work effectively both independently and within multidisciplinary teams.
- Understanding of ICT governance, information security standards, and best practices.
- Must satisfy the requirements of Chapter Six of the Constitution of Kenya.
How to Apply
Interested candidates who meet the stated requirements are invited to submit their application through the official Kenya Trade Network Agency (KenTrade) recruitment process. Applicants should prepare an updated curriculum vitae, certified copies of academic and professional certificates, national identification documents, and any additional supporting documents specified in the official vacancy announcement. Applications should be submitted before the stated closing date. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for the subsequent stages of the recruitment process. KenTrade is an equal opportunity employer committed to merit-based recruitment, diversity, fairness, and integrity. Canvassing in any form may result in automatic disqualification. Applicants are encouraged to ensure that all information provided is accurate, complete, and verifiable before submitting their applications.