Principal Network Engineer

RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: No relocation assistance availableCLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR START: YesCLEARANCE TYPE: SecretTRAVEL: Yes, 10% of the Time

Description At Northrop Grumman, our employees have incredible opportunities to work on revolutionary systems that impact people's lives around the world today, and for generations to come. Our pioneering and inventive spirit has enabled us to be at the forefront of many technological advancements in our nation's history - from the first flight across the Atlantic Ocean, to stealth bombers, to landing on the moon. We look for people who have bold new ideas, courage and a pioneering spirit to join forces to invent the future, and have fun along the way. Our culture thrives on intellectual curiosity, cognitive diversity and bringing your whole self to work — and we have an insatiable drive to do what others think is impossible. Our employees are not only part of history, they're making history.

At the heart of Defining Possible is our commitment to missions. In rapidly changing global security environments, Northrop Grumman brings informed insights and secure technological solutions to enable strategic objectives. We’re looking for innovators who can help us keep building on our wide portfolio of secure, affordable, integrated, and multi-domain systems and technologies that fuel those missions. By joining in our shared mission, we will support your mission of expanding your personal network and developing skills, whether you are new to the field or an industry thought leader. At Northrop Grumman, you will have the resources, support, and team to do some of the best work of your career.

Northrop Grumman’s Corporate Sector's Chief Information & Digital Office (CIDO) is seeking a Principal Network Engineer to support its IT Infrastructure & Operations organization's Network Communications and Visibility (NCV) team in Sunnyvale, CA.

Please note that the candidate selected for this position will be required to work on-site, full-time at our Sunnyvale campus – this is not a remote work opportunity.

The selected candidate’s primary focus will be on supporting the Sunnyvale campus. Additionally, the role will involve enterprise-wide responsibilities across the Northrop Grumman network footprint. The successful candidate will design, implement, and maintain high availability network infrastructure, work directly with customers and vendors, and contribute to continuous improvement of our secure communications environment.

Key Responsibilities :

• Plan, design, and deploy site and enterprise level network solutions in accordance with Northrop Grumman standards and best practices.
• Produce comprehensive design review packages, including schematics, bill-of-materials, and implementation schedules.
• Install and commission Cisco core network equipment (routers, multilayer switches, firewalls, wireless controllers, and access points).
• Coordinate fiber‑optic and copper cabling projects with suppliers and internal construction teams.
• Provide Tier 2/3 troubleshooting for WAN, LAN, and SD‑WAN environments, ensuring 99.9 % availability of firewalls, routing, and wireless services.
• Execute corrective actions, hardware replacements, and software upgrades while maintaining accurate documentation in our configuration management database (CMDB).
• Serve as the primary technical liaison with vendors (Cisco, Aruba, Juniper, etc.) for escalations, service definitions, and new service onboarding.
• Work closely with the Sunnyvale sector customer base to translate business requirements into robust technical solutions.
• Implement and enforce security policies for network segmentation, access control, and vulnerability remediation in line with DoD and NIST guidelines.
• Participate in after-action reviews, recommend process enhancements, and mentor junior engineers on best-in-class networking practices.

Basic Qualifications:

• Associate’s degree with 7 years of relevant experience, Bachelor’s degree with 5 years of relevant experience, Master’s degree with 3 years of relevant experience, or a PhD with 1 year of relevant experience; a High School Diploma or equivalent with 9 years of relevant experience may be considered in lieu of a completed degree.
• Applicants must have a current U.S. Government Secret level security clearance (at a minimum), to include a closed investigation date completed within the last 6 years, or must be enrolled in the DoD Continuous Evaluation Program (CEP) in order to be considered; the required security clearance must be maintained as a condition of continued employment.
• Experience with managed network solutions and large-scale technical network engineering project experience.
• Experience with Cisco Router and Switch equipment, Firewall Cisco Network Equipment, Cisco Wireless Technology, and Cellular Technology.
• A strong knowledge of the TCP/IP protocol, Cisco Router and Switch products.
• Knowledge and experience with LAN/WAN protocols and technologies such as multicast, QoS, CoS & OSPF.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with SDWAN methodologies/equipment a plus.
• Experience leading enterprise projects for large networks.
• Experience in designing network solutions.
• Experience leading network implementation projects.
• Project Management certification.
• Experience using test equipment such as the Network Associates Sniffer, cable and fiber optics test sets, and other protocol analyzers.
• A strong knowledge of Cisco and Palo Alto Firewalls.
• Current U.S. government Top Secret security clearance.

We offer flexible work arrangements, phenomenal learning opportunities, exposure to a wide variety of projects and customers, and a very friendly team environment. At Northrop Grumman, we are on the cutting edge of innovation. Our diverse portfolio of programs means there are endless paths to cultivate your career. We also offer exceptional benefits/healthcare, a 9/80 work schedule, and a great 401k matching program. Come join us!

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Primary Level Salary Range: $103,600.00 - $155,400.00The above salary range represents a general guideline; however, Northrop Grumman considers a number of factors when determining base salary offers such as the scope and responsibilities of the position and the candidate's experience, education, skills and current market conditions.Depending on the position, employees may be eligible for overtime, shift differential, and a discretionary bonus in addition to base pay. Annual bonuses are designed to reward individual contributions as well as allow employees to share in company results. Employees in Vice President or Director positions may be eligible for Long Term Incentives. In addition, Northrop Grumman provides a variety of benefits including health insurance coverage, life and disability insurance, savings plan, Company paid holidays and paid time off (PTO) for vacation and/or personal business.The application period for the job is estimated to be 20 days from the job posting date. However, this timeline may be shortened or extended depending on business needs and the availability of qualified candidates.Northrop Grumman is an Equal Opportunity Employer, making decisions without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, national origin, age, veteran status, disability, or any other protected class. For our complete EEO and pay transparency statement, please visit U.S. Citizenship is required for all positions with a government clearance and certain other restricted positions.