Network Engineer - TS/SCI w/Poly

Network Engineer

We are seeking a highly skilled and self-motivated Network Engineer to support a large-scale enterprise program. This position involves the design, implementation, support, and maintenance of a complex network environment consisting of Juniper and Cisco switches, load balancers, and boundary devices. The ideal candidate will have experience managing networks that support hundreds of thousands of endpoint devices and must have a strong understanding of network security compliance and software-defined networking (SDN) practices. The engineer will also be responsible for utilizing Forward Networks software to create virtual network clones, test SDN code upgrades, and assist with comprehensive documentation of the current network infrastructure.

Provide day-to-day operational support, troubleshooting, and maintenance of enterprise-scale Juniper and Cisco switching infrastructure Configure and maintain load balancing technologies and boundary security devices (e.g., firewalls, edge routers). Leverage Forward Networks to:

• Build virtual replicas of the production network.
• Simulate and validate SDN code changes.
• Document the existing physical and logical network topology.

Ensure network integrity, performance, and security for a distributed infrastructure supporting several hundred thousand endpoints. Monitor and respond to network incidents, lead root cause analysis and resolution efforts. Maintain and update network diagrams, configurations, and documentation in accordance with industry and organizational standards. Ensure compliance with security policies and regulatory requirements. Participate in planning and executing network upgrades, migrations, and optimizations. Collaborate with cross-functional teams including cybersecurity, infrastructure, and application teams. Work independently with minimal supervision while proactively identifying and resolving network issues.

The Network Engineer Senior must have:

• Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Science
• 5+ years of related experience supporting enterprise networks with Cisco and Juniper technologies.
• Strong knowledge of Layer 2/3 networking, routing protocols (OSPF, BGP, EIGRP), VLANs, VRFs, and QoS.
• Experience configuring and managing load balancers (F5, Citrix, or equivalent) and boundary devices such as firewalls or network access control appliances.
• Proficiency with Forward Networks or similar digital twin/virtual network simulation tools.
• Solid understanding of Software-Defined Networking (SDN) principles.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and self-direct tasks in a complex environment.
• Strong awareness of network security best practices, compliance standards, and patch management processes.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Must be willing to support an on-call rotation.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Relevant certifications such as CCNP, JNCIP, CCIE, or JNCIE.
• Experience in high-availability, mission-critical environments.
• Familiarity with scripting languages (Python, Ansible) for network automation is a plus.
• Experience in government or highly regulated enterprise environments is desirable.

Security clearance level: TS/SCI w/Poly US citizenship required Certification Required: 8570 compliant with a Security + certificate