Lead Network Administrator

Koniag Government Services•Washington, DC

7d•Onsite

About The Position

Koniag Technology Solutions, Inc, a Koniag Government Services company, is seeking an experienced Network Administrator to support a critical 7x24x365 Network Operations Center (NOC) environment serving thousands of internal users and millions of external users. The ideal candidate will be a dedicated professional with strong technical expertise in network infrastructure management, monitoring, and troubleshooting, capable of maintaining high availability in a mission-critical environment. This position requires the ability to work in a fast-paced NOC environment and respond to incidents promptly to ensure continuous network operations. The Network Administrator will be responsible for the day-to-day management, monitoring, and maintenance of enterprise network infrastructure supporting a large-scale user base. This role operates within a 7x24x365 Network Operations Center environment, ensuring optimal network performance and availability.

Requirements

Associate's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Network Engineering, or related field from an accredited college or university, OR equivalent combination of education and experience
5+ years of hands-on experience in network administration and operations
Experience working in a 7x24x365 NOC or similar mission-critical environment
Demonstrated experience supporting large-scale network environments with thousands of users
Industry certifications such as Cisco CCNA, CompTIA Network+, or equivalent
Strong knowledge of TCP/IP networking, routing protocols (BGP, OSPF, EIGRP), and network services (DNS, DHCP, VPN)
Proficiency with network monitoring and management tools (e.g., SolarWinds, Nagios, PRTG, Splunk)
Experience with enterprise networking equipment from major vendors (Cisco, Juniper, Palo Alto, etc.)
Solid understanding of network security principles, including firewalls, IDS/IPS, and VPN technologies
Expertise in LAN/WAN architecture, design, and troubleshooting
Knowledge of switching and routing configurations and best practices
Experience with wireless networking technologies and management
Ability to work effectively in high-pressure situations and prioritize multiple concurrent issues
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with attention to detail
Excellent written and verbal communication skills for documenting issues and communicating with stakeholders
Ability to work independently and as part of a team in a 24/7 operations environment
Flexibility to work rotating shifts, including nights, weekends, and holidays as required
Understanding of ITIL framework and incident/change management processes
Ability to create and maintain comprehensive network documentation
Physical ability to work in data center environments and perform equipment installations as needed
Ability to obtain Public Trust or higher security clearance

Nice To Haves

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Network Engineering, or related field
8+ years of network administration experience
Advanced certifications such as Cisco CCNP, CCNP Security, or equivalent
Experience working in a federal government IT environment
Knowledge of cloud networking (AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud Platform)
Familiarity with SD-WAN technologies and implementation
Experience with network automation and scripting (Python, Ansible, PowerShell)
Understanding of application delivery and load balancing technologies (F5, Citrix NetScaler)
Experience with packet capture and analysis tools (Wireshark, tcpdump)
Knowledge of IPv6 implementation and migration strategies
Familiarity with CDN (Content Delivery Network) technologies
Experience with NetFlow/sFlow analysis and traffic engineering
Understanding of VoIP and unified communications infrastructure
Knowledge of network compliance frameworks (NIST, ISO 27001, FedRAMP)
Advanced security certifications (CISSP, Security+, CEH)
Vendor-specific advanced certifications (Cisco CCIE, Juniper JNCIE, Palo Alto PCNSE)
Experience supporting high-availability architectures and disaster recovery implementations

Responsibilities

Monitor network performance and integrity across all network devices, systems, and applications on a 24/7 basis
Respond to and resolve network incidents, outages, and performance degradation issues in accordance with established SLAs
Perform routine network maintenance, including firmware updates, patches, and configuration changes
Configure, deploy, and maintain network hardware including routers, switches, firewalls, load balancers, and wireless access points
Implement and maintain network security measures to protect infrastructure and data
Troubleshoot complex network connectivity issues affecting both internal and external users
Document network configurations, procedures, and incident resolutions in accordance with change management protocols
Collaborate with cross-functional teams including security, systems administration, and application development teams
Participate in on-call rotation to provide after-hours support for critical network issues
Monitor bandwidth utilization and recommend capacity planning improvements
Generate and analyze network performance reports and metrics
Maintain network documentation including topology diagrams, IP address management, and configuration standards
Assist in network infrastructure projects including upgrades, migrations, and expansions
Ensure compliance with organizational policies, industry standards, and regulatory requirements