Onsite Network Engineer: SD-WAN, Firewalls & VPNs

Job Title: Network Engineer Location: Richmond, VA 23219 Duration: 6+ Months Location: Onsite Local Candidates strongly preferred In-person interview The Client seeks a Network Engineer to support and maintain a secure, stable, and high-performing enterprise network environment. This role is responsible for administering and troubleshooting core networking infrastructure across multiple office locations, data centers, and remote access environments. The Network Engineer is a hands‑on technical role responsible for routing, switching, firewalls, VPN connectivity, wireless infrastructure, and network resiliency. The position works under the direction of the Director of Infrastructure & Operations and collaborates with Infrastructure, Information Security, End User Services, Application/Data Services, vendors, and service providers. This role emphasizes operational discipline, secure network design, structured change management, and reliable service delivery within a government environment. Network Infrastructure Administration Administer enterprise routing and switching infrastructure. Configure and maintain LAN, WAN, wireless, and remote access environments. Support hybrid MPLS and SD‑WAN connectivity across multiple locations. Maintain network availability, resiliency, and performance. Firewall & Secure Connectivity Management Administer firewalls, VPN solutions, and secure remote connectivity. Implement and maintain network segmentation and access controls. Support secure connectivity for cloud and hybrid environments. Coordinate firewall rule changes and network security updates. Monitoring & Troubleshooting Monitor network health, utilization, and performance. Respond to outages, connectivity issues, and infrastructure incidents. Perform network troubleshooting across routing, switching, wireless, and VPN environments. Conduct root cause analysis and implement corrective actions. Security & Compliance Support Support implementation of network security controls and standards. Collaborate with the Information Security Office on vulnerability remediation and risk reduction. Assist with logging, monitoring, and audit activities. Support secure configuration and hardening practices. Change Management & Operations Execute network changes through defined change management processes. Validate planned changes and maintain rollback procedures. Participate in maintenance windows and operational planning. Maintain network documentation and diagrams. Vendor & Carrier Coordination Coordinate with telecommunications providers and vendors. Support circuit provisioning, troubleshooting, and escalations. Assist with hardware lifecycle and support renewals. Cross‑Team Collaboration Partner with Systems Administration on infrastructure dependencies. Coordinate with End User Services regarding user‑impacting network issues. Support Application/Data teams with connectivity and performance needs. Communicate operational risks and system impacts to leadership. Required Qualifications Experience administering enterprise network environments. Strong knowledge of routing and switching concepts. Experience with firewalls, VPNs, and secure remote access. Experience troubleshooting network connectivity and performance issues. Familiarity with wireless networking technologies. Understanding of structured operational and change management processes. Preferred Qualifications Experience with Cisco networking technologies. Experience with SD‑WAN and hybrid network environments. Experience in government or regulated environments. Familiarity with network monitoring and logging tools. Knowledge of security frameworks such as NIST. Relevant certifications such as CCNA or CCNP. Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Strong troubleshooting and analytical skills. Ability to manage multiple operational priorities. Effective written and verbal communication skills. Ability to work collaboratively across technical teams. Focus on reliability, security, and operational consistency. Working Conditions Office-based environment. Occasional after‑hours support for maintenance or incident response. Limited travel between office locations may be required. Nice to have BGP Dynamic routing protocols Advanced firewall administration Cisco ASA or NGFW experience SD‑WAN design/optimization QoS configuration Azure networking Hybrid cloud networking Zero Trust networking concepts SIEM/network logging integration IDS/IPS familiarity Government IT experience Multi‑site enterprise experience #J-18808-Ljbffr