Lead DoD Network Security Engineer – TS/SCI Eligible

AMERICAN SYSTEMS; Ridgecrest (CA); On-site; USD 160,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Healthcare benefits

Paid leave

Retirement plans

Insurance programs

Education and training assistance

Job summary

AMERICAN SYSTEMS, a 100% employee-owned federal contractor, seeks a Lead Network Security Engineer to secure classified DoD network infrastructure at China Lake, CA. You will bring Cisco engineering and cybersecurity expertise to keep mission systems secure, reliable, and available.

You will lead hands-on configuration, monitoring, and incident response while collaborating with customers and vendors. A Top Secret clearance and DoD experience are essential for success in this role.

Qualifications

• Active TS clearance with SCI eligibility and SAP access capability.
• U.S. citizenship required for DoD clearance.
• Bachelor’s degree in IT or Cybersecurity.
• 8–10 years’ DoD/network experience.
• CCNA certification.
• DoD 8140 IAT Level III certification (e.g., CASP+ CE, CCNP Security, CISA, CISSP or equivalents).
• Hands-on experience configuring Cisco network infrastructure.
• RMF/vulnerability management and patching experience.
• Experience with Solaris/Linux/UNIX.
• Experience with intrusion detection systems and firewalls.

Responsibilities

• Configure, administer, and troubleshoot Cisco routers and switches supporting classified networks.
• Install, maintain, and optimize enterprise LAN/WAN infrastructure.
• Monitor network health, system logs, backups, and scheduled jobs for reliability.
• Support remote users with equipment setup and Layer 2/3 connectivity troubleshooting.
• Diagnose and resolve Cisco infrastructure, VPN, and VMware‑related connectivity issues.
• Perform authorized software installations, upgrades, license management, and security patching.
• Manage user accounts and access controls per cybersecurity practices and customer requirements.
• Support incident response, vulnerability remediation, and risk identification.
• Maintain network procedures, documentation, and operational standards.
• Collaborate with internal teams and vendors to resolve issues.
• Work with minimal supervision while improving security posture.

Skills

Top Secret clearance w/SCI eligibility

US citizenship

DoD enterprise networks experience

CCNA

IAT Level III (DoD 8140)

Cisco network infra

RMF experience

Vulnerability management

Unix systems

IDS/Firewalls

COOP planning

Enterprise integration

Education

Bachelor's degree in IT, Cybersecurity or related field

Tools

Cisco

VMware

Job description

AMERICAN SYSTEMS, a 100% employee-owned federal contractor, seeks a Lead Network Security Engineer to secure classified DoD network infrastructure at China Lake, CA. You will bring Cisco engineering and cybersecurity expertise to keep mission systems secure, reliable, and available.

You will lead hands-on configuration, monitoring, and incident response while collaborating with customers and vendors. A Top Secret clearance and DoD experience are essential for success in this role.