Network Engineer - SME

Position Title: Senior Network Engineer (Contract) Location: Onsite - Springfield/Franconia, VA (Place of performance: Alexandria, VA) Security Clearance: Minimum INTERIM SECRET clearance upgrade to TOP SECRET Citizenship: United States citizenship required Salary: Based on skills, experience, certifications, education. Benefits: Medical, Dental, Vision, 401K, Short Term Disability, Long Term Disability, Life Insurance, PTO, Paid Holidays. Overview Soft Tech Consulting is seeking a highly motivated, self‑directed individual to serve as a Senior Network Engineer for an existing government client. Responsibilities Design, implement, and maintain robust network infrastructures (LAN, WAN, VPNs). Monitor network traffic and performance, troubleshoot connectivity issues, and optimize network resources to minimize downtime. Implement and manage security measures, such as firewalls, access controls, and intrusion prevention systems. Inspect, maintain, and replace network cabling and related equipment. Administer hardware and software upgrades for network equipment. Create and maintain detailed network documentation (topology, IP schemas, firewall rules). Develop policies, procedures, and training plans for network resource administration, appropriate use, and disaster recovery. Perform network asset management and maintain network component inventory. Administer user accounts, permissions, and access rights. Recommend, schedule, and perform network improvements, upgrades, and repairs. Interact with vendors, outsourcers, and contractors to secure network products and services. Design, configure, troubleshoot, and expand IP address schemas for WAN/LAN. Develop functional, systems, and technical requirements documents. Perform technical analysis of IT alternatives supporting strategic modernization. Provide expert analysis and advice on system designs. Perform detailed engineering to optimize enterprise network topologies and produce supporting documentation. Provide technical support and quality control checks to ensure system designs meet standards. Troubleshoot and analyze network and communication issues. Perform firmware upgrades, apply patches, and routine maintenance. Co‑operate with other IT teams (security, system administrators, applications) for integrated operations. Setup and configure Juniper network devices (MX routers, SRX firewalls, QFX switches). Serve as network team lead and subject matter expert; communicate between administrators and senior leadership. Manage daily activities of the network team—handle technical faults, maintain on‑call schedule, ensure documentation completeness. Initiate, plan, delegate, execute, monitor, and complete projects under senior leadership direction. Qualifications 7+ years of Network Engineering experience. Must obtain Juniper certification within 6 months of employment. Strong understanding of TCP/IP, DNS, DHCP, BGP, OSPF. Experience with firewalls, IDS, and IPS. Strong communication and written skills. Preferred: Degree in computer science or related IT discipline. Preferred certifications: JNCIS‑ENT, JNCIE, or Cisco CCNP/CCIE. Experience with Juniper routers (MX), switches (EX), and firewalls (SRX). Junos OS knowledge. At least two years supervising small technical teams (≥6 staff). Experience with Juniper network solutions preferred. Minimum INTERIM SECRET clearance with upgrade to TOP SECRET. About Us Soft Tech Consulting, Inc. is a woman and minority‑owned business headquartered in Chantilly, VA, serving both public and private sectors across the DC metro area and nationwide. Soft Tech is an Equal Opportunity Employer. #J-18808-Ljbffr Soft Tech Consulting