Network Operations Engineer (SME/Technical Advisor), Tucson, AZ - Onsite

RTX•Tucson, AZ

6d•$132,400 - $251,600•Onsite

About The Position

The Classified Infrastructure Services department provides expertise in Data Center Management, Network Operations, and High-Performance Computing that our programs and Engineering teams rely on to fulfill their missions. Reporting to the Network Operations Associate Director as a Network Operations Principal Networking Engineer (P5), you will serve as the senior technical advisor (Subject Matter Expert/SME) to resolve technical or complex escalations with standard and non-standard solutions and drive network innovation, leading improvement in network performance and reliability. You will provide mentorship and technical guidance to the networking department. You will Collaborate with cross functional partners, and SBU/Program leads to identify inefficiencies and recommend solutions to transform our network operations team to new levels of excellence. This role is primarily on-site supporting our Tucson, AZ campus locations. Travel is required throughout regional areas of responsibility (up to 25%). The Principal Network Engineer (P5), Network Operations for Classified Infrastructure Services within Raytheon Digital Technology. This role will serve as the senior technical advisor to respond to technical or complex escalations with standard and non-standard solutions within our programs. Collaborating with a team of various levels of Network support professionals responsible for secure, reliable, scalable, and supportable network services. This position requires the ability to identify systemic inefficiencies, delivering measurable performance improvements, identifying opportunities for innovation, providing input to review boards, and communicating with parties within and outside of own function. This role oversees and manages major projects, ensuring all technical designs and network changes are thoroughly reviewed and properly executed. The position participates in budget planning and the development of operational guidelines, while also driving the creation of new standard operating procedures and team practices. The principal engineer will provide leadership with clear presentations and status updates on key project initiatives and will be responsible for implementing new technology innovations across the organization. Relocation may be available if the selected applicant meets company policy criteria. The following Technical and Leadership skills are critical for success in this role: Functional Strategy This principal network engineer should be a recognized SME within discipline, having deep knowledge of organizational practices within a specific discipline. Will drive the development and implementation of new products, processes, standards, and operational plans that deliver measurable impact on functional goals and enterprise performance. Organizational Impact Owns and develops key components of functional strategy and short‑ to medium‑term operational goals (1–2 years), directing impactful activities and implementing new products, processes, policies, standards, or operating plans aligned to the functional strategy. Problem Solving & complexity Solves numerous complex and often undefined problems requiring extensive investigation and deep root‑cause analysis across functions and programs. Drives improvement of existing systems and processes through advanced conceptual reasoning and integration of industry best practices. Provides Tier 3/4 escalation support for highly complex classified network issues, leading deep technical troubleshooting across routing, switching, firewalls, segmentation, encryption devices, WAN circuits, and secure communication systems. Engineer novel solutions for emerging mission requirements, system integrations, and high‑availability architectures while conducting advanced technology evaluations, trade studies, and recommendations for secure networking capabilities. Communication and Influence Collaborates with Cybersecurity, Systems Engineering, Operations, and external partners to ensure network solutions meet enterprise, mission, and security requirements. Interfaces directly with teams outside your organization to align designs, requirements, and technical implementation across programs. Actively participates in major design forums, technical working groups, and engineering review boards, providing senior engineering expertise for proposals and new program captures. Communicates effectively with stakeholders inside and outside the organization—including customers and vendors—and influences adoption of new concepts, practices, and approaches. Regularly briefs executive leadership on matters of significant organizational impact. Leadership & Talent Management Develops annual strategic plans and technical vision aligned with functional and program goals, while owning multi‑year network engineering and technology refresh roadmaps that guide lifecycle management and modernization. Leads major engineering initiatives across classified environments—including upgrades, redesigns, segmentation enhancements, secure communications improvements, and WAN/transport modernization—and drives simplification, resiliency, and modernization across engineering processes and systems. Knowledge & Experience Demonstrates expert-level mastery of the functional domain, supported by advanced education and extensive experience (typically 10+ years, or 7+ with an advanced degree), with deep knowledge of related disciplines and the ability to assess cross-functional impacts. Provides strong team leadership through mentoring engineers and junior technical staff, developing training plans to strengthen technical capability, and owning the refinement and creation of engineering SOPs, processes, and best practices. Regularly communicates technical status, major engineering decisions, and strategic updates to executives and senior leadership.

Requirements

Typically requires a University Degree or equivalent experience and minimum 10 years prior relevant experience, or An Advanced Degree in a related field and minimum 7 years' experience
Experience as network engineer for classified, enterprise-class Cisco-based Local and Wide Area Networks (LAN/WAN) with in-depth Layer 2 and Layer 3 experience
Experience with boundary protection technologies (preferably Palo Alto)
Integrate new capabilities including hardware, software, operating systems, and applications leveraging knowledge across all digital domains to speed deployment.
Certification meeting 8570 IAT Level III or 8140 Advanced for Network Operations Specialist (e.g. CCNP Security, CISSP, or CASP+) and Professional- or Expert-level Cisco certification (e.g. CCNP or CCIE)
Active and transferable U.S. Government issued Secret security clearance is required prior to start date. U.S. citizenship is required, as only U.S. citizens are eligible for a security clearance.
Experience deploying and operating a variety of Cisco-based technologies (You should have 2 or more of the following): Software Defined Networking (SD-WAN (preferred), Catalyst Center/SD-Access, and Application Centric Infrastructure (ACI))
Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) for 802.1x and AAA
Cisco Unified Communications Manager and/or Cisco Meeting Server

Nice To Haves

Strong communication skills, with ability to influence and drive change with peers and leaders across the organization.
Experience as an SME or technical advisor in a fast-paced program environment.
Demonstrated success in managing projects and leading change efforts in a Digital Technology domain.
Extensive experience of critical infrastructure systems such as Microsoft Active Directory Services (AD, DNS, CS, etc.), Linux configuration and operation, ESXi, and NAS/SAN
Experience installing and operating SNMP-based network management tools (e.g. SolarWinds)
Experience briefing senior leaders on projects
Certified RTX CORE Professional or higher
Active and transferable U.S. Government issued Top Secret security clearance

Responsibilities

Serve as the senior technical advisor (Subject Matter Expert/SME) to resolve technical or complex escalations with standard and non-standard solutions.
Drive network innovation, leading improvement in network performance and reliability.
Provide mentorship and technical guidance to the networking department.
Collaborate with cross functional partners, and SBU/Program leads to identify inefficiencies and recommend solutions to transform our network operations team to new levels of excellence.
Respond to technical or complex escalations with standard and non-standard solutions within our programs.
Collaborate with a team of various levels of Network support professionals responsible for secure, reliable, scalable, and supportable network services.
Identify systemic inefficiencies, delivering measurable performance improvements, identifying opportunities for innovation, providing input to review boards, and communicating with parties within and outside of own function.
Oversee and manage major projects, ensuring all technical designs and network changes are thoroughly reviewed and properly executed.
Participate in budget planning and the development of operational guidelines.
Drive the creation of new standard operating procedures and team practices.
Provide leadership with clear presentations and status updates on key project initiatives.
Implement new technology innovations across the organization.
Drive the development and implementation of new products, processes, standards, and operational plans that deliver measurable impact on functional goals and enterprise performance.
Own and develop key components of functional strategy and short‑ to medium‑term operational goals (1–2 years), directing impactful activities and implementing new products, processes, policies, standards, or operating plans aligned to the functional strategy.
Solve numerous complex and often undefined problems requiring extensive investigation and deep root‑cause analysis across functions and programs.
Drive improvement of existing systems and processes through advanced conceptual reasoning and integration of industry best practices.
Provide Tier 3/4 escalation support for highly complex classified network issues, leading deep technical troubleshooting across routing, switching, firewalls, segmentation, encryption devices, WAN circuits, and secure communication systems.
Engineer novel solutions for emerging mission requirements, system integrations, and high‑availability architectures while conducting advanced technology evaluations, trade studies, and recommendations for secure networking capabilities.
Collaborate with Cybersecurity, Systems Engineering, Operations, and external partners to ensure network solutions meet enterprise, mission, and security requirements.
Interface directly with teams outside your organization to align designs, requirements, and technical implementation across programs.
Actively participate in major design forums, technical working groups, and engineering review boards, providing senior engineering expertise for proposals and new program captures.
Communicate effectively with stakeholders inside and outside the organization—including customers and vendors—and influences adoption of new concepts, practices, and approaches.
Regularly brief executive leadership on matters of significant organizational impact.
Develop annual strategic plans and technical vision aligned with functional and program goals.
Own multi‑year network engineering and technology refresh roadmaps that guide lifecycle management and modernization.
Lead major engineering initiatives across classified environments—including upgrades, redesigns, segmentation enhancements, secure communications improvements, and WAN/transport modernization.
Drive simplification, resiliency, and modernization across engineering processes and systems.
Provide strong team leadership through mentoring engineers and junior technical staff.
Develop training plans to strengthen technical capability.
Own the refinement and creation of engineering SOPs, processes, and best practices.
Regularly communicate technical status, major engineering decisions, and strategic updates to executives and senior leadership.