Staff Network Engineer

ARA•Raleigh, NC

10d

About The Position

Applied Research Associates (ARA), Inc. is seeking an experienced Network Engineer to design, operate, secure, and sustain classified and mission-supporting network infrastructure within the Integrated Mission Systems Sector in Raleigh, North Carolina. The engineer will support Cisco switching and routing, Cisco and Palo Alto firewalls, integration with Splunk and Forescout, vulnerability remediation, configuration management, and related documentation. The position requires an active DoD Secret clearance with eligibility for TS/SCI and close coordination with system administrators, cybersecurity personnel, program teams, and Government stakeholders.

Requirements

U.S. citizenship.
Active DoD Secret clearance with eligibility for TS/SCI.
Bachelor's degree in Cybersecurity, Information Technology, Computer Science, Information Systems, or a related field, along with 2–4 years of relevant work experience; additional directly relevant experience may substitute for a degree.
At least 8 years of relevant network engineering, administration, or operations experience.
Strong troubleshooting ability across OSI Layers 1 through 4, including packet and log analysis.
Experience with network monitoring, configuration management, backup and recovery, patching, vulnerability remediation, and technical documentation.
Ability to meet DoD 8570/8140 cybersecurity workforce qualification requirements applicable to the assigned work role (IAT Level II).
Ability to communicate technical risk, authorization status, deficiencies, and resource needs to technical staff, program leadership, and Government stakeholders.

Nice To Haves

CCNA, CCNP, or another relevant networking or security certification.
Experience supporting SIPRNet, DoDIN connectivity, classified contractor environments, or DCSA-authorized systems.
Experience with Cisco Firepower, network automation, Forescout, Splunk, TACACS+/RADIUS, network-access control, virtualization, or high-availability architectures.

Responsibilities

Document current infrastructure through server, cable, PPSM, and port maps under Raleigh Secure IT ownership, and provide information owners with guidance on future expansion and improvement recommendations.
Design, configure, maintain, and troubleshoot LAN infrastructure supporting classified and mission environments, including SIPRNet where assigned, applying DISA STIG and NIST 800-53 controls.
Administer Cisco Catalyst switches, ARS/ISR routers, Dell Fabric switches, Palo Alto 450s, Cisco ASA 1000s, and integrations with Forescout/ISE, Splunk, and AAA services.
Administer IOS, IOS-XE, FTD/ASDM, Palo Alto, and SmartFabric OS10 operating systems.
Implement and support Layer 2 technologies, including STP, 802.1Q VLANs, QoS, 802.1X/MAB, DAI, and additional port security.
Implement and support Layer 3 technologies, including static and dynamic routing, BGP, ACLs, VRFs, traffic shaping, and rate limiting as applicable.
Maintain secure network segmentation, boundary protection, firewall policy, routing controls, DNS, and approved external or DoDIN connectivity.
Integrate network infrastructure with Splunk, Forescout, or other SIEM platforms to monitor availability, performance, capacity, configurations, and security events.
Apply applicable DISA STIGs, secure configuration baselines, software updates, vulnerability remediation, and hardening requirements to network devices.
Develop and maintain network diagrams, IP address plans, device inventories, rack elevations, ports/protocols/services records, configuration baselines, standard operating procedures, and recovery documentation.
Prepare implementation, validation, and rollback plans and execute approved changes through the Configuration Control Board process.
Support cybersecurity incidents, outages, Government-directed actions, assessment activities, and after-hours maintenance when mission requirements demand it.
Provide technical evidence and engineering support for RMF, ATO maintenance, continuous monitoring, DCSA reviews, and customer assessments.