Lead Network Systems Engineer

Peraton; Corridor North (MD); On-site; USD 176,000 - 282,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days PTO

Bonus eligible

Subsidized benefits

Job summary

Peraton is seeking a Lead Network Systems Engineer in the Annapolis Junction area to design, implement, and optimize complex networks for national security missions. You will lead cross-functional teams and coordinate with government stakeholders to ensure mission success.

The role requires deep hands-on experience with Cisco hardware and security architectures, plus a proven track record in delivering reliable, scalable network solutions in demanding environments.

Qualifications

• Active TS/SCI security clearance with current polygraph.
• 20 years of experience in planning and leading Systems Engineering efforts.
• Bachelor's degree in a technical discipline; five years can substitute for degree.
• Experience with SEMPs and SITPs and system development lifecycle.
• Strong written and verbal communication with customers and stakeholders.
• Ability to assess technical feasibility and recommend mission-focused solutions.

Responsibilities

• Design, configure, monitor, maintain, and optimize networks to meet mission requirements.
• Develop network architecture specifications, detailed schematics, and technical designs.
• Lead system requirements analysis, design, and development activities.
• Coordinate with government stakeholders and senior leadership to resolve issues.
• Create comprehensive system architecture and design documentation for customers.
• Develop and plan SEMPs and SITPs, including testing and validation.

Skills

Network design

Cisco hardware

Failover & redundancy

VPNs & NAT & MPLS

System requirements specs

Technical leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in technical discipline

Tools

Cisco Nexus 9000

Cisco ASA

ASR 1000 series

Cisco Catalyst 6500 series

F5 BIG-IP

Job description

Lead Network Systems Engineer

Job Locations

US-MD-Annapolis Junction

Job Details

• Requisition ID: 2026-172368
• Position Category: Information Technology
• Clearance: Top Secret/SCI w/Poly

Peraton Overview

Peraton is a next-generation national security company that drives missions of consequence spanning the globe and extending to the farthest reaches of the galaxy. As the world's leading mission capability integrator and transformative enterprise IT provider, we deliver trusted, highly differentiated solutions and technologies to protect our nation and allies. Peraton operates at the critical nexus between traditional and nontraditional threats across all domains: land, sea, space, air, and cyberspace. The company serves as a valued partner to essential government agencies and supports every branch of the U.S. armed forces. Each day, our employees do the can't be done by solving the most daunting challenges facing our customers. Visit peraton.com to learn how we're keeping people around the world safe and secure.

Responsibilities

Job Description

Collaborate with engineering and network teams to analyze and understand customer requirements, translating them into effective technical solutions.

Job Duties

• Design, configure, monitor, maintain, and optimize networks to meet mission requirements.
• Develop network architecture specifications, detailed schematics, and technical designs.
• Recommend network hardware, implementation techniques, and tools to deliver efficient solutions that address current and future capacity requirements.
• Design and implement network failover, redundancy, and resiliency solutions for major customers.
• Develop and implement network solutions to support server requirements, including traffic management, load balancing, VPNs, firewall contexts, NAT, GRE tunnels, and MPLS.
• Configure network equipment and conduct redundancy and failover testing to validate network reliability and performance.
• Analyze user requirements, CONOPS documents, and high-level system architectures to develop system requirements specifications.
• Lead system requirements analysis, design, and development activities.
• Guide users in defining and developing requirements, recommend alternative approaches, and conduct feasibility studies to determine effective technical solutions.
• Provide technical leadership in integrating system requirements, design, and technology.
• Incorporate new plans, designs, and systems into ongoing operations.
• Develop comprehensive technical documentation, including system architecture and system design documentation, for customers and stakeholders.
• Lead system development and implementation planning by assessing, developing, and executing SEMPs and SITPs.
• Engage with government stakeholders regarding systems engineering technical considerations, issues, and conflicts.
• Ensure the technical integrity and quality of systems engineering deliverables within the assigned area of responsibility.
• Coordinate with program personnel, government representatives, and senior executives to communicate technical information and resolve issues.

Required Skills

• Demonstrated experience in network engineering, including network design, configuration, monitoring, maintenance, and troubleshooting.
• Expertise in network hardware, interconnections, and interfaces, including routers, multiplexers, firewalls, hubs, bridges, and gateways.
• Experience designing and implementing network failover and redundancy solutions using Cisco and related network appliances.
• Experience with Cisco ASA appliances, Cisco Nexus 9000 series, Cisco 9348GC Layer 2 switches, Cisco Catalyst 6500 series, Cisco 9336 and 9508 switches, and ASR 1000 series routers.
• Knowledge of F5 traffic management and load balancing, VPNs, firewall contexts, network address translation (NAT), GRE tunnels, and MPLS.
• Experience conducting redundancy and failover testing across multiple Cisco network devices.
• Experience analyzing user requirements, concept of operations (CONOPS) documents, and high-level system architectures to develop system requirements specifications.
• Experience with systems engineering, system architecture, and system design documentation.
• Knowledge of system development, integration, implementation planning, and testing processes, including System Engineering Management Plans (SEMPs) and System Integration and Test Plans (SITPs).
• Ability to assess technical feasibility, evaluate alternative solutions, and recommend approaches that meet mission requirements.
• Strong technical leadership, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to develop technical documentation and communicate effectively with customers, government stakeholders, program personnel, and senior leadership.

Qualifications

Basic Qualifications

• Active TS/SCI security clearance with current polygraph required
• Twenty (20) years of experience in planning and leading Systems Engineering efforts.
• Bachelor's degree in technical discipline from an accredited college or university is required
• Five (5) years of additional systems engineering experience may be substituted for a bachelor's degree

Benefits

• heavily subsidized employee benefits coverage for you and your dependents
• 25 days of PTO accrued annually up to a generous PTO cap
• eligibility to participate in an attractive bonus plan

Benefits Statement

• medical
• dental
• vision
• life
• health savings account
• short/long term disability
• EAP
• parental leave
• 401(k)
• paid time off (PTO) for vacation
• company paid holidays

Peraton offers eligible employees a variety of benefits including medical, dental, vision, life, health savings account, short/long term disability, EAP, parental leave, 401(k), paid time off (PTO) for vacation, and company paid holidays. A full listing of available benefits can be viewed at https://www.careers.peraton.com/benefits.

Target Salary Range

$176,000 - $282,000. This represents the typical salary range for this position. Salary is determined by various factors, including but not limited to, the scope and responsibilities of the position, the individual's experience, education, knowledge, skills, and competencies, as well as geographic location and business and contract considerations. Depending on the position, employees may be eligible for overtime, shift differential, and a discretionary bonus in addition to base pay.

EEO

EEO: Equal opportunity employer, including disability and protected veterans, or other characteristics protected by law.