Network & Cloud Engineer

The Chronicle Of Higher Education, Inc.; Chantilly (VA); Hybrid; USD 48,000 - 83,000; Part time

Job summary

George Mason University’s Partnership Intermediary Agreement is seeking a Network & Cloud Engineer to design, deploy, secure, operate, and document the network and cloud infrastructures supporting PIA facilities and mission activities.

You will coordinate with Mason ITS, cybersecurity offices, carriers, and vendors; manage AWS environments for unclassified IL2 workloads; maintain networks, VPNs, access controls, monitoring, and disaster recovery; mentor interns and end users.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in information technology, computer science, cybersecurity, engineering, or related field, or an equivalent combination of education, certifications, training, and experience.
• Substantial professional experience supporting enterprise networks, cloud platforms, or hybrid infrastructure.
• Hands-on experience configuring and troubleshooting network devices, firewalls, wireless networks, VPNs, and cloud resources.
• Experience documenting technical architectures, configurations, operating procedures, and incident or change activity; and
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with cybersecurity, infrastructure, facilities, vendors, and end users.

Responsibilities

• Design, implement, configure, and maintain site network infrastructure, including routers, switches, firewalls, wireless access points, VPNs, network segmentation, guest/partner access, and resilient internet connectivity.
• Architect and administer AWS cloud environments for unclassified IL2 workloads, including accounts, virtual networks, compute, storage, logging, backup, identity and access management, cost controls, and IaC practices where appropriate.
• Operate security and reliability controls, including configuration baselines, vulnerability and patch management, monitoring, alerting, log review, access review, incident response coordination, disaster recovery, and continuity planning.
• Coordinate technical work with Mason ITS and cybersecurity offices, Mason’s Cyber Lab, internet and telecommunications carriers, facilities teams, cloud vendors, and sponsor-designated personnel; manage approved changes and service escalations; and
• Maintain network diagrams, asset and configuration inventories, standard operating procedures, access records, runbooks, service metrics, and technical recommendations; provide technical guidance and mentorship to interns and end users.

Skills

Enterprise networking

Cloud platforms

Network security

Documentation

Collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in IT or related

Tools

Cisco

Fortinet

Palo Alto

Aruba/Meraki

Job description

Department: Academic Affairs

Classification: GMU Worker

Job Category: Part-Time / Hourly Wage

Job Type: Part-Time

Location: iHub, Colorado Springs, CO

Workplace Type: Hybrid Eligible

Sponsorship Eligibility: Not eligible for visasponsorship

Salary: Salary commensurate with education andexperience

Criminal Background Check: Yes

About the Department:

The Partnership Intermediary Agreement (PIA) supports George MasonUniversity’s work with the Air Force research and innovationenterprise, including AFOSR, Space Systems Command, NRO-alignedactivities, and AFCENT. The PIA connects government missionpartners with Mason faculty, students, laboratories, industry,startups, and investors while providing the operational andtechnical infrastructure necessary for collaboration,experimentaion, technology transition, workforce development, andmission-focused engagement.

About the Position:

The Network & Cloud Engineer designs, deploys, secures,operates, and documents the network and cloud infrastructuresupporting PIA facilities and mission activities. The positionserves as the primary technical integrator across local internetservice providers, campus information technology and cybersecurityteams, external support partners, and cloud service providers. TheEngineer will support reliable internet access, segmented wired andwireless networks, secure remote connectivity, AWS-basedenvironments appropriate for unclassified/IL2 workloads, identityand access controls, monitoring, backup, and continuity ofoperations. The position does not independently authorizeclassified systems or bypass Mason or sponsor securityrequirements.

PIA operations require dependable, secure connectivity acrossgeographically distributed innovation facilities, including spacesthat host government personnel, external partners, demonstrations,events, data-intensive technical work, and future secureenvironments. The Network & Cloud Engineer provides dedicatedengineering capacity needed to establish and sustain thoseservices, manage technical risks, coordinate incidents and changes,and prevent fragmented or unsupported infrastructure.

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 information technology, computer science,cybersecurity, engineering, or related field, or an equivalentcombination of education, certifications, training, andexperience;
• 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; and
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively withcybersecurity, infrastructure, facilities, vendors, and endusers.

Preferred Qualifications:

• 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;
• Current AWS, Cisco, CompTIA Security+/Network+, or comparablecloud, networking, or cybersecurity certification;
• Experience working in a university research, innovation lab,federal contracting, or Department of Defense partnerenvironment;
• 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; and
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in an evolving,mission-oriented environment and to exercise sound judgment withsensitive information.

Posting Open Date: August 3, 2026

For Full Consideration, Apply by: August 18, 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 foretployment 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/