Network Engineer I

Network Engineer I – Joint Fires Network (JFN)

Location: Scott AFB, IL Compensation Range: $55 – $75k Clearance: Active DoD Top Secret required Schedule: Rotating w/ 10% Travel

Company Overview: Cornerstone Defense is the Employer of Choice within the Intelligence, Defense, and Space communities of the U.S. Government. Realizing early on that our most prized assets are our employees, we continually focus our attention on improving the overall work/life experience they have supporting the mission. Our Team is pushed every day to use their industry leading knowledge to provide end-to-end solutions to combat our nation's toughest and most secure problems. If you are looking for a place to not only be professionally challenged, but encouraged and supported by a company that cares, don't look any further than Cornerstone Defense.

Benefits Overview: Cornerstone Defense offers a very comprehensive benefits package including, but not limited to: Medical, Dental and Vision Plans * Generous PTO Policy * 401(k) * HSA and FSA options * Life and Disability Insurance * Tuition Reimbursement and Training * Perks at Work Discount Program * Referral Program * Leads Generation Program * CollegeAmerica 529 * Fitness Reimbursement Program * Travel Assistance * Norton Lifelock Benefit Solutions * Life Planning Financial & Legal Services

Position Description: The Network Engineer II executes real‑time network operations, analysis, troubleshooting, and change management across DISN transport and IP infrastructure. This role requires a blend of technical expertise, operational awareness, and customer‑focused communication to maintain maximum network availability and support critical DoD missions. Engineers work in a 24×7 environment and coordinate directly with customers, government agencies, O&M teams, and higher‑tier engineering organizations.

Core Tasks:

• Execute network operations including configuration, analysis, and support of customer circuits across optical platforms, multiplexers, routers, and switches.
• Perform real‑time circuit redesign and alternate routing to restore connectivity during outages, maintenance, or service degradations.
• Work directly with internal/external customers, government agencies, and higher‑tier engineering teams to ensure maximum network availability.
• Proactively monitor network alarms using platform‑specific tools and identify service‑impacting conditions.
• Conduct change‑management tasks including hardware replacement, software configuration adjustments, and ASI execution.
• Utilize incident management applications to document outages, degradations, troubleshooting steps, escalations, and resolutions throughout the lifecycle of network incidents.
• Assess, identify, and recommend solutions to network issues using foundational knowledge of routers, switches, crypto devices, routing, Cisco, Juniper, MSPP, optical transport systems, MPLS, TDM, and SDH/SONET.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree and less than 2 years relevant experience, or equivalent education/experience combination.
• DoD‑8570 IAT Level II certification (Security+ CE or equivalent) prior to start date.
• Ability to work in a 24×7 shift environment.
• General understanding of both IP and Transport network topologies.

Preferred:

• Experience in a tech control facility or cyber transport environment.
• Exposure to circuit actions, vendor coordination, or IP/Transport architecture.
• Experience with SolarWinds and Jira.
• Telco NOC, inside plant, or outside plant experience.
• Proficiency with MS Office Suite (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access, Teams).
• Experience in one or more areas: alarm surveillance, fault management, LAN maintenance, performance management, change management.