Network Engineer Principal (TS/Q clearance required)

General Dynamics Information Technology•Germantown, MD

28d•$111,155 - $150,385•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 (NNSA). The role designs, implements, maintains, and troubleshoots complex network systems in a large-scale Cisco environment to ensure performance, security, reliability, and scalability. The position is onsite at a client location in Albuquerque, New Mexico, or Germantown, Maryland, and requires U.S. citizenship and a DOE Q or TS security clearance. The posting lists Germantown, Maryland, as the work location and 40 scheduled hours per week, with less than 10% travel required. The role supports LAN, MAN, and WAN infrastructure, network operations, security, systems integration, and enterprise IT capabilities for critical government programs. It includes system design and configuration, monitoring and troubleshooting, capacity planning, product evaluation, performance optimization, documentation, vendor coordination, and technical input to network policies and standards. The likely salary range is $111,155–$150,385; compensation may vary based on experience, geographic location, and contractual requirements. GDIT describes professional growth opportunities including internal mobility, paid certifications, and continuous learning, along with comprehensive benefits and a collaborative team environment.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent years of experience.
At least 10 years of professional experience in network engineering, infrastructure design, and circuit troubleshooting involving routing and switching protocols.
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.
Understanding of network security practices, including system hardening and compliance with organizational standards.
The posting’s job qualifications section also lists 5+ years of related experience.

Nice To Haves

Cisco certification is described as valuable; examples listed include CCNA, CCNP, CCDA, and CCIE.
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 develop capacity-planning solutions to support infrastructure growth and performance improvements.
Coordinate with vendor support services to resolve issues and escalate outages or performance degradations as appropriate.
Perform system-level design and configuration, determining hardware, operating systems, and platform specifications to meet operational requirements.
Evaluate and test new and existing network products and technologies against organizational standards and quality protocols.
Provide technical assistance and oversight for network operations, including LAN/MAN/WAN administration, security protocols, and systems integration.
Contribute technical insight to policy discussions concerning standards, technical constraints, and budget considerations affecting network operations.
Conduct routine testing and analysis of network hardware, communications systems, and connectivity components.
Identify and implement network optimizations to improve system performance and security.
Create and maintain detailed 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, holidays, paid parental, military, bereavement, and jury duty leave.
Full flexible work weeks where possible.
Short- and long-term disability benefits.
Life insurance and accidental death and dismemberment coverage.
Personal accident, critical illness, and business travel and accident insurance.
Paid certifications and continuous learning opportunities.
Internal mobility programs.