IT Network Associate I

Job Description

As the Network Associate I, you will join Ace Hardware's Infrastructure team to support both our enterprise network and telephony environments. You'll help maintain and administer the corporate, data center, and remote site networks, while also gaining hands-on experience with Teams PBX, 3CX PBX, SIP trunking, and low voltage planning with vendor coordination (AutoCAD experience is a plus).

This role is an excellent fit for an entry-level professional or recent graduate with a strong interest in networking and voice technologies who is ready to learn, grow, and contribute to enterprise infrastructure projects. Over time, you'll develop advanced network administration skills and broaden your expertise across multiple infrastructure domains.

What You'll Do

Technical Responsibilities

• Assist with implementing, administering, and troubleshooting network devices including routers, switches, wireless access points, and controllers.
• Support telephony systems including Microsoft Teams PBX, 3CX, and SIP carrier trunking.
• Coordinate low voltage cabling design and installation with external vendors; use AutoCAD for documentation and planning (training available).
• Monitor network and telephony performance, availability, and capacity.
• Participate in the 24x7 team on-call rotation to respond to and resolve critical issues.
• Contribute to network documentation, diagrams, and standard operating procedures.

Technology Exposure & Learning Opportunities

• Core switching technologies and protocols such as VLAN, RSTP, HSRP, VTP, LACP, and 802.1Q.
• Interior and exterior routing protocols (OSPF, BGP, MPLS, SD-WAN).
• Wireless infrastructure (Cisco WLC, CAPWAP, 802.11a/g/n/ac).
• Cisco Meraki and cloud-managed networking platforms.
• VoIP, SIP, audio/video systems, and endpoint integration.

Project & Planning

• Assist in planning and executing network and telephony projects from inception to implementation.
• Support deployments and upgrades at corporate offices, warehouses, and remote locations.
• Collaborate with engineers to design, deploy, and support enterprise solutions for data, wireless, and voice.

Professional Development

• Participate in training and mentorship to build technical expertise.
• Stay current with networking and telephony industry standards and best practices.
• Develop troubleshooting skills from Layer 1 through Layer 7 of the OSI model.

What You Need to Succeed

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Telecommunications, Engineering, or related field.
• 0–2 years of relevant experience (internships, co-ops, lab work, or personal projects count).
• Foundational understanding of networking concepts such as IP addressing, VLANs, DHCP/DNS.
• Interest in learning enterprise networking and telephony systems.
• Enthusiastic team player who can collaborate with peers and leadership.
• Self-starter with strong problem-solving and analytical skills.
• Network certifications (e.g., CCNA, Network+) are a plus but not required.
• Hands-on experience with AutoCAD, Meraki, or cabling projects is a plus.
• Willingness to participate in occasional travel for site visits (5–10%).

Compensation Details:

$ $93600

Why should you join our team?

We live our values - W.E.L.I.G.H.T (Winning, Excellence, Love, Integrity, Gratitude, Humility, and Teamwork). Gratitude. Humility. Love. You don't often see values like these in most corporate statements, but Ace is different. These things are important to us. They represent our commitment to the company, our employees, to Ace retailers and to the Ace brand.

In addition to providing our employees a great culture, Ace also offers competitive benefits* that address life's necessities and perks, many of which expand and improve year after year, including:

• Incentive opportunities, based on role/grade level (rapid company growth over the past 5 years resulted in incentives being paid out at an average of 122% of your target opportunity)
• Generous 401(k) retirement savings plan with a fully vested matching contribution the first year in addition to quarterly contributions and annual discretionary contribution (once eligibility requirements have been met). Over the past 5 years, company contributions (matching, quarterly & discretionary) for fully eligible employees have averaged 10.4% of total eligible compensation.
• Comprehensive health coverage (medical, dental, vision and disability – up to 26 weeks short-term disability and long-term disability) & life insurance benefits for you and your dependents
• 21 days of vacation immediately available (prorated in the first year) and up to 6 paid holidays depending on the month of hire
• Your career at Ace is more than just a job. It's a chance to be part of something meaningful. We help locally-owned businesses thrive and make an impact in their communities – and we support our employees in doing the same by offering an annual Ace Cares Week, 20 hours off work per year to volunteer at an organization of your choice, opportunities to help Children's Miracle Network Hospitals and the Ace Helpful Fund through the Ace Foundation
• Ace invests in every employee we hire, with a key focus on development and coaching. We offer on-site classes, facilitator-led courses, and a generous tuition assistance program, plus a performance management approach that goes beyond the typical annual review
• We know the work environment matters. That's why Ace holds frequent campus events like Employee Appreciation Week, vendor demos, cookouts, and merchandise sales
• We bring them to you Services such as mobile spas, auto maintenance, car wash and detailing, dry cleaning, dentists, eye doctors, flu shots, recycling and more
• Employee discounts on Ace merchandise (including top brands like Weber, Traeger, Yeti, Craftsman, DeWalt and more), travel, fitness, computers and thousands more
• Birth/Adoption bonding paid time off
• Adoption cost reimbursement
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) – access to free visits to therapists and lawyers, guidance on financial matters, elder and childcare, and assistance with tickets to entertainment events
• Identity theft protection

* Benefits are provided in compliance with applicable plans and policies.

Want to be notified when new jobs are posted? Follow the link below to create an account and set up custom job alerts:

Create Job Alert

We want to hear from you
When most people think of career opportunities with Ace Hardware, they often think of the helpful cashiers and sales associates at their local store. However, have you also considered the people behind the scenes who select, promote, ship and process the invoices for more than 75,000 products? Maybe you haven't, but we'd like you to. Because together we help our customers take care of their homes. Come find out why a career with the Ace Hardware Corporation is one of America's best kept secrets.

Equal Opportunity Employer
Ace Hardware Corporation is committed to a policy of promoting equal employment opportunities. The company recognizes the importance of diversity and leveraging the skills and talents of all people to the mutual advantage of each individual and the organization. The company is committed to the prevention of employment discrimination related to race, religion, color, sex (including sexual harassment), gender identity, national origin, age, marital status, disability and military or veteran status, sexual orientation or any other action covered by federal or applicable state/local laws.

Disclaimer

The pay range for this position starts as listed in the job posting, but could be higher based on education and experience. Please note, compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each opening. We take into consideration the minimum requirements outlined in the job description, such as an individual's education, training and experience, the position's work location, required travel (if any), and external market conditions when determining the final salary for potential new hires.

Be aware that salary estimates published via alternate online job boards may not be a true representation of the actual pay range offered for this position. Please refer to the Ace position description for the accurate starting pay range information and feel free to discuss this with a Talent Acquisition professional if you are chosen to move forward with an interview.

This written "Position Description" is not intended to cover all aspects of the position listed. It is meant to cover the basic/general essential job functions of a particular position. Ace Hardware Corporation reserves the right to change job duties, including essential job functions, according to business necessity.

It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.