Principal Network Engineer

Principal Network Engineer

MUST BE ABLE TO OBTAIN/MAINTAIN A DOD SECRET CLEARANCE

Location: Rosslyn, Virginia (Hybrid)

Role Overview

We are seeking a Network Engineer to support a United States Air Force initiative for developing an interoperable system of systems in a cloud-based command and control (CBC2) environment. This position requires an individual with technical project management skills, communication abilities, and team skills. The successful candidate will balance and adjust work priorities to meet short deadlines.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the design and implementation of complex, scalable network solutions to support business and operational needs, ensuring high availability, security, and performance.
• Continuously analyze and optimize the network infrastructure, focusing on performance improvements, cost-efficiency, and future-proofing network capabilities.
• Design and implement secure network architectures, ensuring compliance with industry standards and cybersecurity best practices (e.g., firewalls, VPNs, access control).
• Lead efforts in troubleshooting complex network issues, identify root causes, and implement long-term solutions to minimize system downtime.
• Work closely with cross-functional teams (engineering, IT operations, security) to ensure network solutions meet the organization's needs, business goals, and security requirements.
• Stay up-to-date with emerging technologies and evaluate their potential impact on the network infrastructure. Recommend and implement new technologies to enhance network performance and scalability.
• Develop and maintain comprehensive network architecture documentation, network diagrams, and configuration records. Provide regular reports on network performance, issues, and improvements.
• Collaborate with external vendors to evaluate, procure, and integrate network hardware/software solutions.
• Provide mentorship and technical leadership to junior network engineers, helping them grow their skills and supporting their career development.

Required Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related field.

Experience:

• 9+ years of hands-on experience in network engineering, with at least 3 years in a leadership or principal engineer role. 7+ years with a Master's degree.
• Proven experience in designing, implementing, and optimizing large-scale, high-performance network infrastructures.
• Expertise in routing, switching, VPNs, firewalls, and load balancing.
• Experience with SDN (Software-Defined Networking), network automation, and cloud technologies (AWS).
• Strong knowledge of network security principles and best practices.

Technical Skills & Competencies:

• Deep understanding of networking protocols (BGP, OSPF, MPLS, etc.), TCP/IP, DNS, and
• Experience with routing and switching platforms (Cisco, Juniper, Arista, etc.) and working with Cisco SDN, VMware/KVM, and Python.
• Knowledge of network security tools and techniques, including firewalls, intrusion detection/prevention systems (IDS/IPS), VPNs, and endpoint security.
• Familiarity with network automation tools and scripting languages (e.g., Python, Ansible, or similar).
• Experience in cloud network architecture and integration with public and private cloud environments (AWS, Azure, etc.).
• Excellent troubleshooting skills, with the ability to resolve complex network issues efficiently.
• Strong organizational and time management skills, with the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to explain complex technical concepts to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.

Required Certifications:

• CompTIA Security+
• Core Network Certifications: CCNP, CCIE, JNCIP or equivalent.

Preferred Qualifications

• A Master's degree or equivalent experience is a plus.
• Cybersecurity certifications: CISSP, CEH.
• Cloud/Virtualization certifications: AWS Certified Solutions Architect, VCP, CCSP.