Okay, I've searched for Senior Network Engineer roles in Chicago, IL, requiring skills in Palo Alto and Fortinet technologies, full-time positions, 10+ years of experience, and a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science or IT. I have found 73 positions for you.

Sure. Here's the analysis:

Job Analysis:

The Senior Network Engineer role at K2 Services is fundamentally about ensuring the design, implementation, and ongoing management of a secure, scalable, and resilient network infrastructure that supports complex, multi-platform environments. This is a highly technical and strategic position that goes beyond routine network maintenance — it demands advanced expertise in Palo Alto and Fortinet firewall technologies paired with in-depth knowledge of Cisco or Arista switches for routing and switching solutions. Success in this role requires a seasoned professional who can lead and mentor teams while acting as a critical liaison among architecture, security, and engineering to integrate and optimize network solutions in customer-facing production settings. Given the responsibility for high-risk change management, incident resolution, and performance optimization, the candidate must be comfortable working under pressure and possess strong analytical troubleshooting capabilities paired with excellent communication skills. The position demands judgment in balancing security and operational needs, ensuring seamless service restoration and proactive network improvements, all while working remotely within a collaborative but dynamic environment. The ideal engineer will demonstrate strategic thinking about how network infrastructure aligns with broader business goals, influencing multiple stakeholders and driving enterprise-grade network stability and scalability.

Company Analysis:

K2 Services operates as a technology-enabled managed services provider with a specialized focus on servicing the legal industry, a niche that requires a nuanced understanding of enterprise IT ecosystems and sensitivities around security and uptime. They position themselves as a simplifier of complex technology infrastructures, enabling clients to concentrate on their core business through reliable and optimized IT services. This places the Senior Network Engineer in a critical role where technical expertise directly impacts customer satisfaction and operational continuity. The company's emphasis on partnership and integrated service delivery suggests a culture valuing collaboration, precision, and a proactive mindset. Though remote, the work environment likely expects a high degree of autonomy combined with strong cross-team coordination, reflecting the company's layered service model which involves multiple stakeholders and partners. Being in a growth-oriented and customer-driven setting, the role is strategic, offering visibility and influence across technical and business facets and requiring adaptability to evolving client needs and emerging tech trends, such as cloud and virtualization. For a candidate, thriving here means balancing technical mastery with the soft skills necessary for mentorship, negotiation, escalation management, and driving consensus across a distributed workforce.

Absolutely. Here are some mock interview questions that could come up:

• Behavioral: Tell me about a time when you had to lead a complex network change affecting multiple teams. How did you ensure a smooth implementation with minimal disruption?
• Behavioral: Describe an instance when you identified a critical network security vulnerability. What steps did you take to address it and communicate the risk?
• Behavioral: Can you share an experience where you mentored junior engineers? How did you tailor your approach to different skill levels?
• Behavioral: Give an example of how you managed a high-pressure incident with conflicting priorities. What was your approach to problem-solving and coordination?
• Technical: How do you approach configuring and managing Palo Alto and Fortinet firewalls to maximize security without sacrificing performance?
• Technical: Explain your methodology for designing scalable routing and switching solutions using Cisco or Arista equipment in a multi-platform environment.
• Technical: What tools or techniques do you use for troubleshooting complex network issues that span security and infrastructure layers?
• Technical: Have you implemented automation or scripting for network tasks? Can you describe a project where this improved network operations?
• Situational: Imagine you receive an escalation about an intermittent network outage impacting a key client. How would you investigate and resolve this issue?
• Situational: If a proposed network architecture change conflicted with existing security policies, how would you address this disagreement among stakeholder teams?
• Situational: How would you handle a situation where junior engineers on your team disagree about the cause of a persistent network problem?
• Company Fit: What interests you about working with K2 Services, particularly given our specialization in managed services for the legal sector?
• Company Fit: How do you see your network engineering skills contributing to the mission of simplifying technology ecosystems for our clients?
• Company Fit: K2 Services values collaboration across architecture, security, and engineering teams. Can you provide examples of how you’ve successfully worked cross-functionally?
• Questions for Interviewer: How does the network engineering team currently collaborate with the security and architecture groups here at K2 Services?
• Questions for Interviewer: What are the biggest network infrastructure challenges K2 Services is currently facing, and how would the Senior Network Engineer contribute to overcoming them?
• Questions for Interviewer: Can you describe the professional development and mentorship opportunities available to senior engineers in this remote environment?