Network and Cloud Engineer

George Mason University; Chantilly (VA); On-site; USD 100,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

The Network and Cloud Engineer at George Mason University designs, deploys, secures, and documents the network and cloud infrastructure supporting Mason facilities and mission activities.

This role is the primary technical integrator across ISPs, campus IT and cybersecurity teams, cloud providers, and sponsor partners, ensuring reliable internet access, secure remote connectivity, and IL2 workloads accommodation while adhering to sponsor requirements.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in cybersecurity, engineering, or related field, or equivalent experience.
• Experience supporting enterprise networks, cloud platforms, or hybrid infrastructure.
• Hands-on experience configuring network devices, firewalls, wireless networks, VPNs, and cloud resources.
• Experience documenting architectures, configurations, operating procedures, and changes.
• Advanced knowledge of TCP/IP, routing, switching, VLANs, DNS, DHCP, VPNs, wireless, firewalls, and segmentation.
• Working knowledge of AWS architecture and administration, including IAM, EC2, S3, CloudWatch/CloudTrail.
• Knowledge of cybersecurity principles, least privilege, zero-trust concepts, logging, vulnerability management, and incident response.
• Ability to troubleshoot complex network, cloud, endpoint-connectivity, and performance issues across multiple vendors and locations.
• Ability to translate operational and sponsor requirements into documented designs and practical implementation plans.
• Strong project coordination, documentation, customer service, and communication skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in an evolving environment with sensitive information.
• Demonstrated ability to work with cybersecurity, infrastructure, facilities, vendors, and end users.
• U.S. citizenship is required due to federal activities; background screening required.

Responsibilities

• Design, implement, configure, and maintain site network infrastructure including routers, switches, firewalls, and VPNs.
• Architect and administer AWS cloud environments for IL2 workloads and cost controls.
• Operate security and reliability controls, including baselines, patching, monitoring, and incident response coordination.
• Coordinate technical work with Mason ITS, cybersecurity offices, and external partners; manage changes and escalations.
• Maintain diagrams, inventories, runbooks, and provide guidance to interns and end users.

Skills

Project coordination

Documentation

Communication skills

Customer service

Team collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree in cybersecurity/engineering

Tools

AWS cloud services

Firewalls

Networking equipment

Infrastructure as code

Job description

Department: Academic Affairs

Classification: Info Technology Spec 3

Job Category: Classified Staff

Job Type: Full‑Time

Work Schedule: Full‑time (1.0 FTE, 40 hrs/wk)

Location: Colorado Springs, Colorado

Workplace Type: On Site Required

Sponsorship Eligibility: Not eligible for visa sponsorship

Pay Band: 06

Salary: Salary commensurate with education andexperience

Restricted: Yes

Criminal Background Check: Yes

Security Clearance Check: Yes

About the Department

Continuing and Professional Education (CPE) at George MasonUniversity serves as the university’s central hub for workforcedevelopment, executive education, and applied professionallearning. CPE partners with federal agencies, industry, andacademic units across Mason to design and deliver high impacttraining programs that strengthen the region’s talentpipeline.

CPE supports strategic university initiatives by offering flexible,mission aligned programs—including short courses, certificateprograms, customized federal training, and large scale workforceskilling efforts that advance organizational performance andaddress emerging national security, defense, and technology needs.As part of George Mason University's research and innovationecosystem, CPE collaborates closely with Mason Defense, academiccolleges, and research centers to ensure programs are responsive,experiential, and aligned with federal workforce priorities.

Mason Defense leads George Mason University’s efforts to expand anddeliver impactful defense and national security programs throughapplied research, federal partnerships, workforce development, andstrategic initiatives. The department collaborates closely withacademic units, research centers, and federal agencies.

About the Position

The Network and Cloud Engineer designs, deploys, secures, operates,and documents the network and cloud infrastructure supporting PIAfacilities and mission activities. This position serves as theprimary technical integrator across local internet serviceproviders, campus information technology and cybersecurity teams,external support partners, and cloud service providers. The Networkand Cloud Engineer will support reliable internet access, segmentedwired and wireless networks, secure remote connectivity, AWS-basedenvironments appropriate for unclassified/IL2 workloads, identityand access controls, monitoring, backup, and continuity ofoperations. This position does not independently authorizeclassified systems or bypass Mason or sponsor securityrequirements.

Responsibilities

• Design, implement, configure, and maintain site networkinfrastructure, including routers, switches, firewalls, wirelessaccess points, VPNs, network segmentation, guest/partner access,and resilient internet connectivity;
• Architect and administer AWS cloud environments for approvedunclassified/IL2 workloads, including accounts, virtual networks,compute, storage, logging, backup, identity and access management,cost controls, and infrastructure-as-code practices whereappropriate;
• Operate security and reliability controls, includingconfiguration baselines, vulnerability and patch management,monitoring, alerting, log review, access review, incident responsecoordination, disaster recovery, and continuity planning;
• Coordinate technical work with Mason ITS and cybersecurityoffices, Mason’s Cyber Lab, internet and telecommunicationscarriers, facilities teams, cloud vendors, and sponsor-designatedtechnical or security personnel; manage approved changes andservice escalations; and
• Maintain network diagrams, asset and configuration inventories,standard operating procedures, access records, runbooks, servicemetrics, and technical recommendations; provide technical guidanceand mentorship to interns and end users.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in cybersecurity, engineering, or relatedfield, or an equivalent combination of education, certifications,training, and experience;
• Substantial professional experience supporting enterprisenetworks, cloud platforms, or hybrid infrastructure;
• Hands-on experience configuring and troubleshooting networkdevices, firewalls, wireless networks, VPNs, and cloudresources;
• Experience documenting technical architectures, configurations,operating procedures, and incident or change activity;
• Advanced knowledge of TCP/IP, routing, switching, VLANs, DNS,DHCP, VPNs, wireless networking, firewalls, and networksegmentation;
• Working knowledge of AWS architecture and administration,including VPCs, IAM, EC2, S3, CloudWatch/CloudTrail, backup,encryption, and cost management;
• Knowledge of cybersecurity principles, least privilege,zero-trust concepts, secure configuration, logging, vulnerabilitymanagement, and incident response;
• Ability to troubleshoot complex network, cloud,endpoint-connectivity, and performance issues across multiplevendors and locations;
• Ability to translate operational and sponsor requirements intodocumented technical designs and practical implementationplans;
• Strong project coordination, documentation, customer service,and communication skills, including the ability to work withtechnical and nontechnical stakeholders;
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in an evolving,mission-oriented environment and exercise sound judgment withsensitive information;
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively withcybersecurity, infrastructure, facilities, vendors, and end users;and
• U.S. citizenship is required due to the nature of the supportedfederal and defense activities. Employment is contingent uponcompletion of applicable background screening. The employee must beeligible to obtain and maintain sponsor-required facility, system,or security access. The position may require occasional travel,after-hours maintenance, and response to service interruptions. Theemployee must comply with George Mason University, Commonwealth ofVirginia, sponsor, export-control, cybersecurity, acceptable-use,and data-handling requirements.

Preferred Qualifications

• Current AWS, Cisco, CompTIA Security+/Network+, or comparablecloud, networking, or cybersecurity certification;
• Experience supporting AWS environments for federal, defense,research, or regulated workloads, including IL2 or comparableunclassified environments;
• Experience with Cisco, Fortinet, Palo Alto, Aruba, Meraki, orcomparable enterprise networking and security technologies;
• Experience with infrastructure as code, configurationautomation, Linux administration, Microsoft Entra ID/ActiveDirectory, and endpoint or device-management integrations; and
• Experience working in a university research, innovation lab,federal contracting, or Department of Defense partnerenvironment.

Posting Open Date: August 14, 2026

Full Consideration Date, Apply by: August 28, 2026

Open Until Filled: Yes

Mason Ad Statement

George Mason University is a nationally ranked R1 researchuniversity committed to creating a more just, free, and prosperousworld. With 40,000 enrolled students, George Mason is the largestand most diverse public research university in Virginia, offeringdegree programs at the master's, doctoral, and professional level,along with certificates and credentials.

George Mason fosters an All Together Different environment forstudents, faculty, and staff, driven by our core beliefs. Webelieve in inclusivity over exclusivity; we believe in advancingour mission by being willing to take risks, not avoiding them; andwe believe our best work is possible when we apply our diversity oforigin, identity, circumstance, and thought.

Equity Statement

George Mason University is an equal opportunity/affirmative actionemployer, committed to promoting inclusion and equity in itscommunity. All qualified applicants will receive consideration foret employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexualorientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability orveteran status, or any characteristic protected by law.

Campus Safety Information

Mason’s Annual Security and Fire Safety Report is available at http://police.gmu.edu/annual-security-report/