Network Engineer

Vulcan Elements; Durham (NC); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Vulcan Elements is seeking a Network Engineer to design, deploy, and maintain robust network infrastructure for office and manufacturing facilities. You will ensure secure, reliable connectivity across IT and OT environments, with hands-on experience in regulated or government-adjacent settings.

The role requires deep expertise in enterprise networking, strong security mindset aligned with CMMC/NIST 800-171, and the ability to support audits and government contract reviews.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of network engineering experience, preferably in manufacturing, defense, or government-regulated environment.
• Hands-on OT/IT converged network design experience including Modbus, EtherNet/IP, PROFINET and ICSe/SCADA architectures.
• Direct hands-on experience with Cisco Meraki (switching, wireless, security appliances) and Ubiquiti UniFi (switches, APs, gateways).
• Working knowledge of NIST 800-171, CMMC, and network-level controls; experience supporting or preparing for CMMC assessments preferred.
• Government contractor or DoD program experience with CUI handling and export-controlled environments (ITAR/EAR) preferred.
• Strong routing and switching fundamentals (BGP, OSPF, STP, VLANs, QoS, SD-WAN).
• Problem-solving skills to diagnose and resolve complex IT/OT network issues with minimal downtime.
• Ability to lift up to 50 lbs and perform hardware installation in a manufacturing setting.
• Cisco CCNA/CCNP and Meraki ECMS or CompTIA Network+/Security+ certifications are a plus.

Responsibilities

• Network Design and Deployment: Architect, implement, and maintain LAN/WAN/WLAN across office and manufacturing environments using Cisco Meraki and Ubiquiti UniFi.
• OT Network Management: Design and maintain segmented OT/IT networks for industrial control systems and manufacturing equipment with strict zone isolation.
• Security and Compliance: Implement controls aligned with NIST and CMMC, including access control, boundary protection, audit logging, and incident response.
• Firewall and Segmentation: Configure and manage firewalls, VLANs, ACLs, and micro-segmentation to protect CUI and sensitive data.
• Monitoring and Troubleshooting: Proactively monitor network health, respond to outages, and perform root cause analysis across IT/OT.
• VPN and Remote Access: Administer secure site-to-site and client VPNs with least-privilege access.
• Documentation: Maintain network diagrams, configuration baselines, change logs, and SSPs for CMMC assessments.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work with Engineering, Operations, and IT to support automation, data acquisition, and production systems.
• Government and Compliance Support: Support internal audits, CMMC assessments, and government contract reviews with thorough documentation.

Skills

Networking

Cisco Meraki

Ubiquiti UniFi

OT/IT convergence

NIST 800-171

CMMC

BGP/OSPF

Security best practices

Troubleshooting

Documentation

Education

CCNA/CCNP

CompTIA Security+

Tools

Meraki

UniFi

Job description

Vulcan Elements is manufacturing American rare-earth permanent magnets for a secure, resilient future. With a focus on national security and economic resiliency, we serve critical industries such as defense, aerospace, and automotive powering a high-technology future. Vulcan Elements is building a team of ambitious professionals committed to Mission Focus, Technical Excellence and Transparency.

As a Network Engineer, you will design, deploy, and maintain the network infrastructure that powers our office and manufacturing facilities. You will be a key contributor to ensuring secure, reliable, and high-performance connectivity across IT and Operational Technology (OT) environments. This role requires deep technical expertise in enterprise networking, a strong security mindset aligned with CMMC and NIST 800-171, and hands-on experience in regulated or government-adjacent environments.

Responsibilities

• Network Design and Deployment: Architect, implement, and maintain LAN/WAN/WLAN infrastructure across office and manufacturing environments using Cisco Meraki and Ubiquiti UniFi platforms.
• OT Network Management: Design and maintain segmented OT/IT network environments supporting industrial control systems, PLCs, and manufacturing floor devices. Enforce strict zone isolation in accordance with NIST and CMMC control families.
• Security and Compliance: Implement and enforce network security controls aligned with NIST and CMMC requirements, including access control, boundary protection, audit logging, and incident response.
• Firewall and Segmentation: Configure and manage firewalls, VLANs, ACLs, and micro-segmentation policies to protect CUI and sensitive manufacturing data.
• Monitoring and Troubleshooting: Proactively monitor network health, respond to outages, and perform root cause analysis across both IT and OT segments.
• VPN and Remote Access: Administer and maintain secure remote access solutions including site-to-site and client VPN configurations, ensuring least-privilege access.
• Documentation: Maintain detailed network diagrams, configuration baselines, change logs, and system security plans (SSPs) as required for CMMC assessments.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner with Engineering, Operations, and IT teams to support network requirements for automation, data acquisition, and production systems.
• Government and Compliance Support: Support internal audits, CMMC assessments, and government contract compliance reviews with thorough documentation and evidence collection.

Responsibilities and tasks outlined are not exhaustive and may change as determined by the needs of the business.

Qualifications

• Experience: 3+ years of experience in network engineering, preferably in a manufacturing, defense, or government-regulated environment.
• OT Network Experience: Hands-on experience designing or maintaining OT/IT converged networks including familiarity with industrial protocols (Modbus, EtherNet/IP, PROFINET) and ICSe/SCADA network architecture.
• Platform Proficiency: Direct hands-on experience with Cisco Meraki (switching, wireless, security appliances) and Ubiquiti UniFi (switches, APs, gateways) required.
• Security Mindset: Working knowledge of NIST 800-171, CMMC, and network-level controls. Experience supporting or preparing for CMMC assessments is strongly preferred.
• Government Experience (Preferred): Prior experience supporting federal contractors, DoD programs, or government-adjacent facilities with CUI handling and export-controlled environments (ITAR/EAR).
• Routing and Switching: Strong fundamentals in BGP, OSPF, spanning tree, VLANs, QoS, and SD-WAN concepts.
• Problem Solving: Ability to diagnose and resolve complex network issues across both IT and OT environments with minimal downtime.
• Physical Requirements: Ability to lift up to 50 lbs, work in a manufacturing environment, and perform cable runs, rack installations, and equipment mounting.
• Preferred Certifications: Cisco CCNA or CCNP, Meraki ECMS, CompTIA Network+, CompTIA Security+.

Must be a U.S. Person due to required access to U.S. export-controlled information or facilities.