Lead Network Automation Engineer

General Dynamics Information Technology•Arlington, VA

9d•$144,500 - $195,500•Hybrid

About The Position

GDIT is seeking a Lead Network Automation Engineer to develop, implement, and sustain network automation solutions for a complex, multivendor enterprise network. This hands-on technical leadership role combines network engineering fundamentals with advanced Python and Ansible expertise. The engineer will work with network administrators, engineers, architects, and customer stakeholders to turn technical requirements into scalable, reliable, and maintainable automation, improving operational efficiency, deployment speed, consistency, and reliability. The position leads a small team of automation engineers, provides technical direction and mentoring, and promotes repeatable engineering practices. Work includes developing production-ready automation, enhancing existing scripts and playbooks, establishing standards for source control, testing, documentation, and deployment, and ensuring solutions have appropriate validation, logging, error handling, and rollback capabilities. The role is hybrid, with three days per week onsite at the Pentagon and two days remote, in a secure customer environment. An active TS/SCI clearance and U.S. citizenship are required.

Requirements

Active TS/SCI security clearance.
U.S. citizenship.
Ability to work onsite in a secure customer environment.
Advanced proficiency developing Python scripts, modules, and applications for network infrastructure automation.
Advanced hands-on experience developing, troubleshooting, and maintaining Ansible playbooks and automation workflows.
Demonstrated experience automating network configuration deployments, device administration, software patching, or other network operational activities.
Working knowledge of enterprise routing and switching fundamentals, including TCP/IP, VLANs, routing protocols, and network device configuration.
Practical experience administering, troubleshooting, or automating enterprise network infrastructure.
Experience with multivendor networking technologies such as Cisco, Juniper, Arista, or Aruba.
Experience using Git or comparable version-control tools to maintain automation code.
Ability to translate technical requirements from network engineering teams into functional automation solutions.
Understanding of automation testing, error handling, logging, change validation, and operational safeguards.
Ability to troubleshoot complex automation workflows and issues involving network devices, APIs, and automation systems.
Demonstrated ability to provide technical leadership, mentoring, or direction to other engineers.
Strong communication skills for working with network administrators, engineers, architects, and technical stakeholders.
Ability to independently execute engineering requirements and deliver maintainable, production-ready solutions.
Experience documenting technical solutions and communicating implementation requirements, issues, and results.
Demonstrated success delivering network automation solutions in an enterprise or similarly complex networking environment.
The posting lists 8+ years of related experience, while noting that relevant technical experience and proven engineering accomplishments will be prioritized over a specific number of years in a particular job title.

Nice To Haves

Experience automating Cisco IOS XE, IOS XR, Juniper JunOS, Arista EOS, or ArubaOS environments.
Understanding of BGP, OSPF, MPLS, or EVPN.
Experience with Python networking libraries, APIs, SSH-based automation, or structured network configuration management.
Experience with Jinja2 templates and automated network configuration generation.
Familiarity with Nornir, Netmiko, NAPALM, or equivalent network automation frameworks.
Experience with Ansible Automation Platform or AWX.
Experience with REST APIs, NETCONF, RESTCONF, or other programmatic network management interfaces.
Familiarity with CI/CD practices and automated testing for infrastructure automation.
Experience developing network configuration compliance, drift detection, or automated validation solutions.
Experience supporting Department of Defense, federal government, or other highly regulated enterprise environments.
Experience leading a small technical team or mentoring automation engineers.
Relevant certifications such as Cisco CCNP, Cisco DevNet, Juniper certifications, Red Hat Ansible certifications, or CompTIA Security+.
Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Network Engineering, Cybersecurity, or a related discipline, or equivalent relevant experience.

Responsibilities

Design, develop, test, deploy, and maintain network automation solutions using Python and Ansible.
Create Ansible playbooks, Python scripts, and reusable modules for network configuration management, provisioning, patching, maintenance, and operational tasks.
Automate device configuration changes, software updates, configuration backups, compliance checks, and operational validation across multivendor environments.
Develop automation capabilities for Cisco, Juniper, Arista, Aruba, and other enterprise networking technologies.
Implement configuration validation, network state verification, and configuration drift detection.
Build automation for network monitoring, reporting, inventory management, and operational data collection.
Develop standardized, reusable components that reduce repetitive administration and improve engineering consistency.
Include appropriate error handling, logging, validation, and rollback capabilities in automated network changes.
Troubleshoot automation failures and resolve integration challenges between automation tools and network infrastructure.
Work with network administrators, engineers, and architects to understand technical requirements and operational challenges.
Translate network engineering specifications into functional automation playbooks, scripts, and workflows.
Evaluate manual administration processes and identify opportunities for automation.
Collaborate with infrastructure and cybersecurity teams to ensure solutions meet operational and security requirements.
Validate automation solutions with network engineering stakeholders before production deployment.
Provide recommendations on implementation approaches, feasibility, and operational considerations.
Serve as technical lead for a small team of network automation engineers; provide direction, mentorship, and hands-on support.
Coordinate and assign development activities according to engineering priorities.
Conduct code reviews and promote consistent development, testing, documentation, and version-control practices.
Establish reusable development standards and encourage knowledge sharing.
Coach junior and midlevel engineers through technical guidance and collaborative problem solving.
Communicate progress, challenges, dependencies, and delivery risks to engineering and program leadership.
Enhance existing Python scripts and Ansible playbooks and expand automation capabilities.
Establish consistent source-code management, testing, documentation, and deployment approaches.
Develop maintainable solutions that other engineers can support and enhance.
Assist with implementing development, testing, and production deployment controls.
Document workflows, technical dependencies, operating procedures, and troubleshooting guidance.
Measure automation effectiveness through task execution time, configuration consistency, reduced manual work, and operational reliability.

Benefits

Comprehensive medical plan options, including some plans with Health Savings Accounts.
Dental plan options.
Vision plan.
401(k) plan with company match.
Competitive pay.
Vacation, sick, and personal time off plans.
Paid holidays.
Paid parental leave.
Military, bereavement, and jury duty leave.
Short- and long-term disability benefits.
Life, accidental death and dismemberment, personal accident, critical illness, and business travel and accident insurance, provided or available.
Career growth tool identifying career steps and learning opportunities.
Internal mobility team supporting career goals.
Wellness packages.
Full flex work weeks where possible.