Sr. Network Engineer

Overview Senior Network Engineer LOCATION: Columbia, MD (Onsite) JOB STATUS: Full-time CLEARANCE: Active Top Secret (TS/SCI Preferred) TRAVEL: As Needed SALARY RANGE: $145k - $165k Astrion has an exciting opportunity for a highly experienced Senior Network Engineer to design, implement, secure, and maintain mission-critical network infrastructures supporting Department of Defense/Department of War (DoD/DoW) environments. The ideal candidate brings deep expertise in Cisco and Fortinet technologies , extensive experience operating within classified networks , and a proven track record of implementing and maintaining systems in compliance with Risk Management Framework (RMF) , DoD STIG and Cross Domain / Comply-to-Connect (C2C) requirements.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS / SKILLS

Active Top Secret security clearance. TS/SCI preferred Bachelor's degree in Network Engineering, Computer Science, or related field (or equivalent experience) 8+ years of experience in network engineering within Department of Defense/Department of War (DoD/DoW) or classified environments Deep expertise in: Cisco routing & switching (BGP, OSPF, EIGRP, VLANs, MPLS) Fortinet solutions (FortiGate, FortiOS, VPNs, security fabric) Demonstrated experience implementing and maintaining DISA STIG compliance Hands-on experience with C2C / Cross Domain architectures and security controls Strong understanding of: RMF (Risk Management Framework) DISA security requirements and accreditation processes DCSA Accreditation Standards Active DoD 8140 (formerly DoD 8570) compliant industry certification (e.g., Security+ CE, CISSP, etc.) Active DoD 8140 (formerly DoD 8570) compliant environment certification (e.g., minimum Cisco CCNP) Experience with C2C Requirements: Network automation (Python, Ansible) Zero Trust architectures SIEM integration and log analysis NetFlow monitoring KEY COMPETENCIES Advanced network design and troubleshooting Security hardening and compliance enforcement Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities Excellent communication and documentation skills Ability to operate in high-security, mission-critical environments PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS / SKILLS CCIE (Enterprise or Security) Fortinet NSE 4-7 certifications Project Management Experience Experience briefing Executive Leadership Prior experience supporting Cross Domain Solutions (CDS) programs Experience with cloud-based DoD environments (e.g., Azure Government, Azure Secret) RESPONSIBILITIES Design, implement, and maintain secure network architectures using Cisco (routing/switching, ISE) and Fortinet (FortiGate) solutions Design, implement, and maintain 802.1x compliance platform Engineer and support classified and unclassified network environments (e.g., MDA CNET, NIPR, SIPR, JWICS as applicable) Ensure compliance with DoD Security Technical Implementation Guides (STIGs) and cybersecurity policies Implement and maintain Cross Domain Solutions (CDS) and Comply-to-Connect (C2C) architectures Perform network hardening, vulnerability remediation, and continuous monitoring in accordance with RMF controls Develop and maintain network documentation , diagrams, SOPs, and security artifacts Support Authority to Operate (ATO) processes, including STIG checklists, POA&Ms, and risk assessments Troubleshoot complex network and security issues across multi-vendor environments Collaborate with cybersecurity, systems engineering, and mission stakeholders to ensure secure, reliable operations Support audits, inspections, and compliance validation activities ASTRION, INC.