Network Engineer Principal (TS/Q clearance required)

General Dynamics Information Technology•Germantown, MD

4d•$127,500 - $172,500•Onsite

About The Position

GDIT is seeking an experienced Network Engineer Principal to support mission-critical operations for the Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration. The position designs, implements, maintains, and troubleshoots complex network systems in a large-scale Cisco environment to ensure performance, security, reliability, and scalability. The role is onsite at a client site in Albuquerque, New Mexico, or Germantown, Maryland, and requires U.S. citizenship and a DOE Q or TS security clearance. The listed work location is Germantown, Maryland. Travel is less than 10%, and the schedule is 40 hours per week. The engineer works across LAN, MAN, and WAN environments, providing network design, operations oversight, testing, performance improvements, documentation, and technical input on policies and standards. The position calls for substantial experience with network engineering, infrastructure design, routing and switching, and circuit troubleshooting. The likely salary range is $127,500–$172,500; compensation may vary based on experience, location, and contractual requirements. GDIT describes opportunities for professional growth through internal mobility, paid certifications, and continuous learning. Its benefits include medical, dental, and vision plan options; a 401(k) with company match; paid time off and various leave plans; and disability, life, and other insurance offerings. Flexible work weeks may be available where possible, though this position is listed as onsite.

Requirements

At least 5 years of related experience is listed in the job qualifications; the minimum qualifications section specifies 7 or more years of professional experience in network engineering, infrastructure design, and circuit troubleshooting involving routing and switching protocols.
Bachelor’s degree or equivalent years of experience.
DOE Q or TS security clearance required.
U.S. citizenship required.
Deep knowledge of Cisco routers, switches, firewalls, wireless technologies, and network design principles.
Expertise in BGP, OSPF, EIGRP, STP, RSTP, VXLAN, and LACP protocols.
Understanding of network security practices, including system hardening and compliance with organizational standards.
Ability to work onsite at the client site in Albuquerque, New Mexico, or Germantown, Maryland.

Nice To Haves

Cisco certification; the posting names CCNA, CCNP, CCDA, CCIE, or another Cisco certification.
Experience with Juniper and Palo Alto.
Previous experience with the Department of Energy or similar federal agencies.
Familiarity with Microsoft DNS and Unix BIND systems.
Experience with DISA STIGs and other security frameworks for federal compliance.

Responsibilities

Design, build, and implement network systems for LAN, MAN, and WAN environments to meet performance and scalability requirements.
Monitor and diagnose network issues, perform root-cause analysis, resolve connectivity problems, and optimize operations.
Analyze network traffic patterns and provide capacity-planning solutions for infrastructure growth and performance improvements.
Coordinate with vendor support services to resolve issues and escalate outages or performance degradation appropriately.
Perform system-level design and configuration, determining hardware, operating systems, and platform specifications for operational requirements.
Evaluate and test new and existing network products and technologies against organizational standards and quality protocols.
Provide technical assistance and oversight across network operations, including LAN/MAN/WAN administration, security protocols, and systems integration.
Contribute technical insights to policy discussions concerning standards, technical constraints, and budget considerations.
Conduct routine testing and analysis of network hardware, communications systems, and connectivity components.
Identify and implement network optimizations to improve performance and security.
Create and maintain documentation for network configurations, processes, and procedures.

Benefits

Medical plan options, including options with Health Savings Accounts.
Dental plan options.
Vision plan.
401(k) plan with company match.
Paid time off, including vacation, sick and personal time, and holidays.
Paid parental, military, bereavement, and jury duty leave.
Short- and long-term disability benefits.
Life insurance and other insurance offerings, including accidental death and dismemberment, personal accident, critical illness, and business travel and accident insurance.
Professional growth opportunities, including internal mobility programs, paid certifications, and continuous learning opportunities.
Full flex work weeks where possible.