Network Engineer Principal

General Dynamics Information Technology•Springfield, VA

10h•$107,525 - $145,475•Onsite

About The Position

GDIT is seeking a creative and driven Network Engineer Principal to support the US Battlefield Information Collection and Exploitation System eXtended (US BICES-X), a program supporting Department of War intelligence information sharing about current and emerging global threats. The internationally dispersed team supports combatant commands and their missions. The position is based onsite at a client location in Springfield, Virginia, and requires 10–25% travel. The role designs, develops, tests, upgrades, and supports network architectures and systems. It works with network staff, executives, decision makers, and stakeholders to define requirements, align network strategies with organizational objectives, and resolve technical and business systems issues. The principal engineer also leads and mentors network engineers and administrators, coordinates troubleshooting and incident response, sets performance expectations, and encourages knowledge sharing and continuous learning. The position requires a bachelor's degree, at least 10 years of related network engineering experience, an active Top Secret/SCI clearance, and a completed CCNA certification. Candidates must meet DoW 8750 requirements and be eligible for IAT Level II access upon hire for positions with elevated privileges, and must obtain ITIL V4 Foundation within six months of hire. The advertised likely salary range is $107,525–$145,475, subject to experience, location, and contractual requirements.

Requirements

At least 10 years of related Network Engineering experience.
Must possess and maintain a Top Secret/SCI security clearance.
Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree.
Completed CCNA certification.
Must meet DoW 8750 requirements and be eligible for IAT Level II access upon hire for positions with elevated privileges.
Must obtain ITIL V4 Foundation within six months of hire; additional specific certifications may be required depending on job assignment.
Knowledge and experience with routing and switching protocols, including examples such as OSPF, EIGRP, BGP, Spanning Tree Protocol, ISAKMP, ESP, SIP, and SCCP.
Knowledge and experience with current Cisco IOS software and hardware features.
Knowledge and experience with current Juniper JUNOS software and hardware features.
Ability to configure and troubleshoot Multicast.
Ability to configure and troubleshoot DMVPN and GRE tunnels.
Ability to work in a team-oriented, collaborative environment and efficiently in a fast-paced environment while multitasking and maintaining high-quality work.
Strong organizational skills and ability to prioritize work and work autonomously.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills, attention to detail, and presentation skills.
Results-driven, efficient, energetic, and highly motivated.
Work is typically performed at client sites with proper safety precautions; may require physical effort handling light materials, boxes, or equipment.
US citizenship required.

Nice To Haves

JNCIA-JUNOS or JNCIS-SP certification.
Knowledge and experience with VoIP or collaboration systems.
Knowledge and experience with HAIPE-based encryption devices.
Knowledge of VMware, Citrix, and Microsoft virtualization technologies.
Knowledge and experience with data center networking.
Experience with firewalls and firewall rule sets.
Understanding of network virtualization.
Understanding of concepts presented in the VMware Data Center Virtualization Fundamentals course.
Knowledge of network automation.
Experience with F5 LTM BIG-IP.
Experience with Riverbed Steelhead Optimization.
Experience with Puppet, Ansible, Python, or API-based automation.

Responsibilities

Collaborate with network staff to ensure reliable operation of software and systems in support of business objectives and processes.
Work with executive team members, decision makers, and stakeholders to define business requirements and systems goals and identify and resolve business systems issues.
Design and define network architecture for new or existing computer systems; perform complex network development and design work.
Participate in operating system upgrades and design network enhancements.
Provide input for documentation on new or existing networks.
Develop and conduct tests to ensure networks meet documented user requirements.
Identify, analyze, and resolve network problems.
Provide network, equipment, and specialized training and technical guidance.
Determine network specifications, input/output processes, and working parameters for hardware and software compatibility.
Provide guidance and leadership to less-experienced systems engineers as needed.
Maintain current knowledge of relevant technology and participate in special projects as assigned.
Lead, mentor, and motivate a team of network engineers and administrators, fostering a collaborative and productive work environment.
Collaborate with senior management and other teams to understand business objectives and develop aligned network strategies.
Lead and delegate troubleshooting efforts to resolve network issues, minimize downtime, and support rapid incident response.
Set clear expectations and performance goals for the network team, aligned with departmental and organizational objectives.
Encourage knowledge sharing, continuous learning, and the exchange of ideas and best practices.
Act as an escalation point for technical challenges or critical incidents and ensure prompt, effective resolution.