Network Engineer III

Leidos•Hampton, VA

2d•$92,300 - $166,850•Hybrid

About The Position

Leidos is seeking a highly skilled and experienced Network Engineer to support the Advanced Enterprise Global Information Technology Solutions (AEGIS) program and help evolve and sustain the NASA Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO) Enterprise Corporate Network. The role provides senior-level technical expertise in the design, configuration, optimization, and troubleshooting of NASA's enterprise network infrastructure, with a primary focus on Wi-Fi technologies. The engineer applies advanced knowledge of RF principles, wireless protocols, and Cisco wireless solutions to ensure network performance, reliability, and security. The role also uses Cisco Catalyst Center for network management, Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) for access control, and Splunk for monitoring and analysis in support of NASA's Zero Trust Architecture objectives and a secure, reliable, highly available network. The position currently offers a hybrid work arrangement. Candidates must live within 50 miles or a reasonable commuting distance of a NASA facility to meet onsite support requirements. Listed facilities include Ames, Armstrong, Glenn, Goddard, NASA Headquarters, Johnson, Kennedy, Langley, Marshall, Stennis, Wallops, and White Sands.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Management Information Systems, Cybersecurity, or a related technical field; additional years of experience in lieu of a degree may be considered.
At least 10 years of combined experience in wireless LAN (WLAN) and wired LAN engineering within large-scale enterprise network environments.
Advanced knowledge of Wi-Fi technologies and IEEE 802.11 standards (a/b/g/n/ac/ax), with extensive experience designing, implementing, and optimizing Cisco wireless infrastructure, including access points, wireless LAN controllers, and management platforms such as Cisco Prime Infrastructure and Catalyst Center.
Demonstrated expertise in wireless RF design, site surveys, and performance optimization using Ekahau, iBwave, AirMagnet, or comparable tools.
Advanced understanding of enterprise LAN architectures, including Power over Ethernet (PoE), three-tier network topologies, Software-Defined Access (SD-Access), Cisco routing and switching, multicast, and Quality of Service (QoS), including wireless QoS implementation.
Extensive experience implementing and supporting Network Access Control (NAC) solutions using IEEE 802.1X authentication across wired and wireless environments.
Strong analytical, troubleshooting, and problem-solving skills, including the ability to independently resolve complex enterprise network issues and recommend effective engineering solutions.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills and the ability to collaborate across technical teams, engage government customers, and communicate complex technical concepts effectively.
U.S. citizenship is required.
Ability to obtain and maintain a Public Trust.
Must reside within 50 miles or a reasonable commuting distance of a NASA facility to meet customer onsite support requirements.

Nice To Haves

Experience with Cisco Fabric-Enabled Wireless (SD-Access Wireless) architectures and deployments.
Proficiency with Splunk for network log management, analysis, and development of custom dashboards, alerts, and reports.
Advanced knowledge of networking protocols, including OSPF, BGP, MPLS, and IPSec.
Familiarity with Software-Defined WAN (SD-WAN) solutions and network automation tools, including Ansible and Terraform.
Demonstrated ability to provide technical guidance and mentorship to other network engineers.
Relevant industry certifications, including CWNA, CWDP, CWSP, CWNE, CCNP Enterprise (Wireless Design and/or Wireless Implementation specialization), or CCIE Enterprise Wireless; additional network security and routing/switching certifications are a plus.

Responsibilities

Lead the design, implementation, and optimization of complex Cisco Catalyst-based wireless architectures, including FlexConnect, Bridge Mode, and Fabric-Enabled Wireless (SD-Access Wireless), ensuring scalable and secure solutions aligned with NASA mission requirements.
Lead technical requirements gathering and collaborate with NASA customers, network architects, engineers, cybersecurity teams, and application teams to design and implement enterprise wireless solutions and network infrastructure enhancements.
Perform advanced wireless RF analysis, predictive modeling, and site surveys using Ekahau to optimize access point placement, coverage, capacity, and performance across office spaces, conference rooms, and outdoor locations.
Provide technical leadership in configuring, integrating, and optimizing Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) to enforce Network Access Control (NAC) policies across wired and wireless environments.
Manage and optimize enterprise network configurations, inventory, and performance using Cisco Catalyst Center, and develop Splunk dashboards and alerts to monitor network performance, security events, and operational risks.
Lead advanced troubleshooting, root cause analysis, and resolution of complex network incidents and escalated customer-impacting issues to minimize downtime and ensure network stability.
Serve as a senior technical advisor to NASA Government customers, providing independent assessments, recommendations, and guidance on network operations, maintenance, modernization, and industry best practices.
Collaborate with NASA customers and technical teams to plan and execute complex network infrastructure changes and modifications while maintaining operational continuity.
Develop and maintain technical documentation, including network designs, configurations, operational procedures, troubleshooting guides, incident resolutions, and technical presentations.
Perform additional duties as assigned.