Network Engineer

Astrion; Albuquerque, Northern (NM, KY); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Astrion seeks a Network Engineer to join AFRL RAPID Lab at Kirtland AFB in Albuquerque, NM. You will serve as the network SME, shaping requirements, architectures, and verifications for resilient space-system networks. The role emphasizes security, lifecycle support, and collaboration with government stakeholders.

The position requires DoD experience, U.S. citizenship, and a Secret clearance. On-site with hybrid/remote option, ~10% travel, full-time commitment.

Qualifications

• U.S. Citizenship required.
• DoD Secret clearance.
• Minimum 3+ years of relevant technical engineering experience.
• Current networking certification such as Cisco CCNA, CompTIA Network+, Juniper JNCIA-Junos, or equivalent.
• Strong analytical and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Serve as network engineering subject matter expert for the RAPID program office.
• Translate mission needs into network requirements and support their lifecycle.
• Represent network interfaces in system architectures and program artifacts.
• Support network architecture development and trade studies for mission fit and security.
• Coordinate system and facility network requirements as distinct areas.
• Identify and document network interfaces, constraints, and dependencies.
• Participate in reviews and briefings; track actions to closure.
• Review deliverables for consistency with requirements and decisions.
• Support risk, issue, and opportunity management related to networks.
• Assess changes for impacts on network requirements and interfaces.
• Develop verification strategies, traceability, and test plans.
• Review test procedures and results for adequacy.
• Coordinate with stakeholders to resolve dependencies and maintain alignment.
• Provide status updates to leadership and program documents.

Skills

Network security

Firewall management

VPNs

Cisco devices

Juniper devices

TCP/IP

BGP

OSPF

VLANs

Router/Switch configuration

Network monitoring

Cybersecurity fundamentals

Communication

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering, computer science, or related technical field

Tools

Cisco

Juniper

Networking equipment

Job description

Overview

Network Engineer

LOCATION: On Site (Hybrid/Remote Option) - Kirtland AFB, NM

JOB STATUS: Full-time

CLEARANCE: Secret Clearance

CERTIFICATION: N/A

TRAVEL: <10%

Astrion is seeking a Network Engineer to join the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), Space Vehicles Directorate, in support of the Rapid Architecture Prototyping and Integration Development (RAPID) laboratory at Kirtland AFB in Albuquerque, NM. The RAPID Lab plays a critical role in shaping the future of resilient space systems for the U.S. Space Force. This role will provide Network Engineering expertise to the RAPID program office, helping shape network engineering related requirements, verification approaches, system architectures, and deliverables.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS / SKILLS

• U.S. Citizenship required
• DoD Secret clearance
• Bachelor's degree in engineering, computer science, or related technical field
• Minimum 3+ years of relevant technical engineering experience
• Experience with network security, firewalls, and VPNs
• Hands-on experience with Cisco, Juniper, or equivalent networking equipment
• Strong knowledge of networking protocols (TCP/IP, BGP, OSPF, VLANs, etc.)
• Proficiency in configuring and managing routers, switches, and firewalls
• Experience with network monitoring tools and troubleshooting methodologies
• Understanding cybersecurity principles and network security best practices
• Excellent problem-solving and communication skills
• Current networking certification such as Cisco CCNA, CompTIA Network+, Juniper JNCIA-Junos, or equivalent
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to manage complex systems and technical requirements
• Excellent time management and organizational skills
• Self-motivated and capable of independent problem solving

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS / SKILLS

• DoD TS/SCI clearance
• Cisco CCNP Enterprise, Juniper JNCIP-ENT, or equivalent; Security+ CE; AWS or Azure networking certification
• Experience with cloud networking (AWS, Azure, etc.)
• Knowledge of VoIP and wireless networking solutions

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Serve as the program office’s network engineering subject matter expert, advising the Program Manager, Technical Director, and systems engineering team on network-related requirements, design decisions, risks, and dependencies
• Translate mission and operational needs into network requirements and support their allocation, traceability, review, and maintenance throughout the systems engineering lifecycle
• Represent network requirements and interfaces in system architectures, operational concepts, interface definitions, and other program engineering artifacts
• Support network architecture development and trade studies, assessing proposed approaches for mission fit, interoperability, performance, resilience, security, scalability, and supportability
• Coordinate system network and facility network requirements as distinct engineering areas, identifying their interfaces and dependencies without combining their design baselines or work scopes
• Identify and document network interfaces, assumptions, constraints, and dependencies involving mission systems, platforms, cybersecurity, facilities, cloud services, and external networks
• Participate in technical interchange meetings, engineering reviews, and program decision forums; present network engineering positions and track resulting actions to closure
• Review contractor and engineering team deliverables for consistency with approved requirements, architectures, interfaces, and program decisions
• Support technical risk, issue, and opportunity management by identifying network-related concerns, assessing impacts, recommending mitigations, and tracking resolution
• Assess proposed system changes for impacts to network requirements, interfaces, architecture, verification plans, and operational concepts; provide network engineering input to configuration and change control processes
• Support development of network verification and validation strategies, requirements traceability, success criteria, and test plans
• Review network-related test procedures and results, assess whether requirements have been met, and identify issues requiring corrective action
• Coordinate with government stakeholders, other program offices, facility representatives, cybersecurity personnel, and engineering teams to resolve network-related dependencies and maintain alignment
• Provide network engineering inputs to technical status reports, briefings, acquisition and planning documents, and program recommendations
• Communicate network technical status, risks, decisions, and unresolved issues to program and customer leadership

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