Data Center Network Engineer

Absolute Business Solutions Corp. (ABSc); Maryland; Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 162,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401k retirement plan

Health & wellness allowance

Education and training funds

Volunteer time off

Charitable match

Referral program

Job summary

Absolute Business Solutions Corp (ABSC) seeks a Data Center Network Engineer to support the AFNCR ITS-2 program from Joint Base Andrews, MD. You will manage core data center network gear, load-balancers, and encryption devices in secure DoD environments, ensuring availability, cybersecurity, and disaster recovery.

The role requires a DoD Secret clearance, hands-on Cisco/Nexus experience, and on-site work with occasional telework.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or closely related discipline with hands-on experience.
• Active DoD Secret or higher clearance and ability to satisfy DoD 8140 IAT requirements.
• Proven experience configuring and troubleshooting enterprise Cisco switches/routers; Nexus platforms.
• Experience with security devices and DoD security requirements and STIGs.

Responsibilities

• Manage and maintain core data center network infrastructure (switches/routers).
• Configure Cisco Nexus and Catalyst Center for network management and automation.
• Administer Cisco Identity Services Engine for policy enforcement and access control.
• Operate F5 Local/Global Traffic Manager for application availability and resiliency.
• Manage RSA Authentication Manager and MFA configurations across secure enclaves.
• Document configurations, incidents, and infrastructure changes; provide Tier 3 support.

Skills

DoD security

Troubleshooting

Network documentation

On-call readiness

Education

Bachelor's in CS/IT/CE/E CE

Tools

Cisco Nexus

Cisco Catalyst Center

Cisco Identity Services Engine

F5 LTM/GT M

RSA Authentication Manager

Job description

Absolute Business Solutions Corp (ABSC) is not just another tech company. We’re a community of innovators, engineers, analysts and business professionals working together with our customers to tackle the most complex challenges. For more than 20 years we’ve supported critical Department of Defense (DoD), Intelligence Community (IC), Federal Civilian missions and global, multi-national corporations. We specialize in supporting our clients in the Intelligence, Technology, Defense, AI/ML, and Data Science fields. As we continue to grow at a rapid pace, we need some amazing new professionals to join our team.

ABSC has an exciting opening for a Data Center Network Engineer supporting the Air Force National Capital Region Information Technology Services-2 (AFNCR ITS-2) program.

AFNCR ITS-2 delivers, secures, and sustains the enterprise IT and network infrastructure supporting senior Air Force leadership, command-and-control operations, and mission partners throughout the National Capital Region. The program supports highly available classified and unclassified environments where network resilience, cybersecurity, and rapid restoration directly affect mission continuity.

In this role, you will help operate and protect the data center infrastructure supporting these critical missions. You will manage advanced Cisco networking technologies, load-balancing and authentication platforms, high-assurance encryption devices, and the physical infrastructure required to maintain secure and reliable enterprise services. Your work will directly contribute to network availability, cybersecurity, disaster recovery, and operational readiness across the AFNCR.

Work Location:

Full-time onsite at Joint Base Andrews, MD, with ad-hoc telework based on mission requirements and prior client approval.

Schedule:

10:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m., with participation in an on-call rotation and occasional off-hours support for mission-impacting events.

Security Clearance Required:

Active DoD Secret clearance or higher.

Responsibilities

As the Data Center Network Engineer, you will:

• Manage, deploy, configure, troubleshoot, and maintain core data center network infrastructure, including enterprise switches, routers, and high-performance server network interfaces.
• Configure and administer Cisco Nexus switches supporting secure data center operations.
• Administer Cisco Catalyst Center, formerly Cisco DNA Center, to support network management, automation, visibility, and device lifecycle operations.
• Configure and maintain Cisco Identity Services Engine to support policy enforcement, device profiling, authentication, and automated access control.
• Configure, manage, and troubleshoot F5 Local Traffic Manager and Global Traffic Manager load-balancing capabilities supporting application availability and resiliency.
• Administer RSA Authentication Manager databases and user-agent configurations supporting multifactor authentication across secure enclaves.
• Install, key, configure, maintain, and troubleshoot TACLANE devices, including KG-175D, KGV-72, and other High Assurance Internet Protocol Encryptors.
• Maintain precise physical infrastructure documentation, including rack elevations, port maps, cabling information, equipment configurations, and physical asset records.
• Monitor network performance, capacity, availability, and environmental health using Cacti and other SNMP-based telemetry and monitoring tools.
• Deploy, support, and troubleshoot multicast-based Internet Protocol Television services operating across the enterprise LAN.
• Configure and troubleshoot multicast routing technologies, including Protocol Independent Multicast and Internet Group Management Protocol snooping.
• Implement and enforce physical and logical cybersecurity controls protecting network boundaries, databases, systems, and critical infrastructure.
• Apply DISA Security Technical Implementation Guides to network devices and supporting appliances.
• Develop, update, and maintain Standard Operating Procedures for data center operations, maintenance, system restoration, safety, and environmental requirements.
• Coordinate with the 26th Network Operations Squadron, Defense Information Systems Agency, and other higher-level support organizations during network outages and degraded-performance events.
• Draft, coordinate, and process Authorized Service Interruptions, ensuring appropriate technical planning, risk mitigation, change coordination, and stakeholder notification.
• Coordinate with engineering, cybersecurity, facilities, and operational stakeholders to plan and execute preventive maintenance, upgrades, and infrastructure changes.
• Identify single points of failure and recommend technical or operational improvements that increase network availability and mission resiliency.
• Support disaster-recovery planning, system backups, restoration testing, and logical and physical recovery activities.
• Document technical findings, system configurations, maintenance actions, incident resolutions, and infrastructure changes.
• Provide Tier 3 technical support for complex data center and network incidents.
• Participate in an operational standby and on-call rotation to resolve mission-impacting incidents outside normal business hours.
• Communicate technical issues, operational impacts, risks, and recommended actions clearly to Government leadership and technical stakeholders.

Required Qualifications

• Active DoD Secret security clearance or higher.
• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a closely related discipline with at least five years of relevant hands‑on experience.
• Alternatively, a master’s degree in a qualifying technical discipline with at least three years of relevant experience.
• In lieu of a degree, at least 10 years of intensive and progressive experience demonstrating the required technical proficiency.
• Current CCNA or CCNP Enterprise certification.
• Ability to satisfy applicable DoD 8140 IAT Level II or Level III qualification requirements for the assigned position.
• Proven experience configuring, administering, and troubleshooting enterprise Cisco switches and routers.
• Hands-on experience with Cisco Nexus switching platforms.
• Hands‑on administration of Cisco Catalyst Center and Cisco Identity Services Engine.
• Experience configuring and administering F5 Local Traffic Manager or Global Traffic Manager.
• Experience administering RSA Authentication Manager databases and user-agent configurations.
• Direct experience installing, keying, configuring, and troubleshooting TACLANE or comparable HAIPE encryption devices.
• Working knowledge of DoD COMSEC requirements applicable to high‑assurance encryption devices.
• Experience applying DISA STIGs to network devices, security appliances, or related infrastructure.
• Familiarity with SNMP-based monitoring and Cacti or comparable monitoring platforms.
• Knowledge of multicast routing and IPTV technologies, including PIM and IGMP snooping.
• Experience maintaining rack layouts, port maps, cabling records, asset databases, and other data center infrastructure documentation.
• Understanding of data center resilience, capacity planning, preventive maintenance, backup, and disaster‑recovery practices.
• Strong troubleshooting, analytical, documentation, and communication skills.
• Ability to coordinate effectively with Government customers, technical teams, vendors, and external support organizations.
• Ability to work full‑time onsite at Joint Base Andrews and participate in an on‑call rotation.

Desired Qualifications

• CompTIA Security+ CE certification.
• Understanding of IPv6 configuration, addressing, notation, and nomenclature.
• Experience using Python or Ansible for network automation.
• Familiarity with Cisco Software‑Defined Wide Area Networking.
• Familiarity with Cisco Application Centric Infrastructure.
• Experience operating and maintaining networks in air‑gapped or classified environments, including SIPRNet.
• Experience supporting Air Force, Pentagon, or AFNCR network environments.
• Previous experience working at the Pentagon, Joint Base Andrews, or Joint Base Anacostia‑Bolling.
• Experience coordinating Authorized Service Interruptions within a DoD environment.
• Experience supporting mission‑critical data center or enterprise network operations.

Salary and Compensation

The salary range for this position is $90k to $162k annual. Salary is commensurate with education, experience, knowledge, skills, abilities, and qualifications. The anticipated salary range for this requisition will be determined based on the applicable contract labor category and position requirements. The actual salary offered will depend on the position’s responsibilities, relevant qualifications, certifications, security clearance, internal equity, applicable market data, contractual labor‑category requirements, and applicable laws or requirements.

Who we are:

ABSC is a technology and services company that combines the agility of a small business with proven processes refined over more than two decades in business. We specialize in supporting public sector clients in the Intelligence, Defense, Health, and Safety areas. Our team stands ready to deliver the next generation of programs, personnel, and solutions to help advance our federal government customers’ missions, driving innovation, agility, and security across all mission areas.

Some of our benefits include:

• Retirement Planning – 401k Fully Vested with Match
• Annual Health and Wellness Allowance – buy an Apple Watch, a treadmill, or hit the gym on us
• Career Development – Annual Funds to spend on Education and Training or AI subscriptions
• Volunteer Time Off – Annually, all employees can spend 8 hours directly supporting a charity of choice
• Charitable Match – ABSC matches an employee’s donation to a qualifying charity
• Referral Program – We pay for internal and external referrals!
• LOV Awards – Earn bonus awards throughout the year from our Living Our Values awards program

ABSC is a proud V3, Virginia Values Vets, member, which recognizes our commitment to hiring Veterans. If you are a veteran, please be sure to include that in your application.

Equal Opportunity Employer, including veterans and individuals with disabilities.