Lead Senior Network Engineer - PAE Fires IT Support Services

Job Description

Job Description

PENDING CONTRACT AWARD

Mission Objectives - PAE Fires requires comprehensive voice, data, and video services across the PAE Enterprise Network, PAE Classified Network, and associated applications, interfaces, and devices spanning approximately 20 facilities. Mission network support shall ensure secure and highly available systems on a 24/7 basis. The Lead Senior Network Engineer directs all network operations and telecommunications activities.

Position Responsibility Summary:

• Own the end-to-end health, performance, and security of all PAE network infrastructure; when connectivity is degraded or lost, lead troubleshooting and drive resolution regardless of the hour or complexity
• Design network architectures that balance mission requirements, security constraints, and budget realities; make smart engineering trade-offs between performance, redundancy, and cost
• Manage both classified and unclassified network environments with the operational discipline required to prevent cross-domain contamination while maintaining usability for mission personnel
• Proactively monitor network performance using SolarWinds and Cisco analytics; identify degradation trends before they become outages; build dashboards that give leadership real-time visibility into network health
• Plan and execute network expansions, upgrades, and technology refreshes across approximately 20 facilities with minimal disruption to approximately 3,500 users; coordinate complex change windows involving multiple teams and stakeholders
• Serve as the decision-maker for network load balancing strategies in virtual environments; understand how application performance depends on underlying network architecture and optimize accordingly
• Evaluate and recommend new technologies (SDN, next-gen firewalls, UC platforms) based on hands-on lab testing and real-world applicability to the PAE environment, not just vendor presentations
• Develop and enforce network standards and configurations that ensure consistency, reduce troubleshooting time, and enable any team member to work on any facility's equipment without guessing
• Build and maintain strong working relationships with external organizations (higher headquarters, DISA, regional NOCs) whose decisions and changes impact PAE network operations
• Grow the network team's capabilities through structured training, knowledge transfer, and rotational assignments; ensure no single engineer is the sole expert on any critical system or facility

Primary Function (PWS 1.16.2, 1.16.2.1, 1.16.2.2, 1.16.2.3): Leads comprehensive voice, data, and video network services on classified and unclassified networks, directing infrastructure design, network planning/policy, and network security authorization. Provides the overarching technical authority for all network environments.

Cross-Functional System Management (PWS 1.16.3):* Cross-trained in System Management to understand server-to-network interdependencies across ESXi, OpenShift, and VDI platforms. Enables rapid joint troubleshooting with the Server team during infrastructure outages to assess root cause without waiting for a separate diagnostic cycle. Ensures planned network architecture decisions account for computing platform requirements, preventing configuration conflicts.