Network Engineer, Lead - Cisco ISE / Firepower

AMERICAN SYSTEMS; Dallas (TX); On-site; USD 155,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Healthcare benefits

Paid leave

Retirement plans

Education and training assistance

Job summary

AMERICAN SYSTEMS is seeking a Lead Network Engineer in Dallas, TX, to support secure operations in a highly classified environment. The role demands expertise in Cisco ISE, Cisco Firepower, and a strong foundation in enterprise network security.

Your responsibilities will include leading operations, troubleshooting network issues, and maintaining infrastructure. The ideal candidate must have 8+ years of relevant experience, a related degree, and an active TS/SCI clearance.

This full-time position offers a competitive salary range of $155,000 to $180,000 based on qualifications.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of network engineering experience in enterprise or highly regulated environments.
• Active TS/SCI clearance with SAP eligibility required.
• DoD 8140/8570 IAT II certification required.

Responsibilities

• Lead secure network engineering and operational support in a highly classified environment.
• Configure and troubleshoot Cisco ISE for network access control.
• Design and maintain secure network infrastructure.

Skills

Cisco ISE

Cisco Firepower

Layer 2/Layer 3 networking

Routing

Switching

VLANs

Access Control Lists (ACLs)

Subnetting

VPN

Technical problem-solving

Education

Bachelor's degree in a related technical field

Tools

Cisco routers

Cisco switches

Firewalls

Virtual Machines

Job description

Network Engineer, Lead - Cisco ISE / Firepower

Location: Dallas, TX

Job ID: 2026-4509

Category: IT / Cyber Security / Network Systems

Position Type: Full-Time

Remote: No

Clearance Required: Top Secret/SCI

Overview

AMERICAN SYSTEMS, a 100% employee‑owned company, is seeking a Lead Network Engineer to support secure network operations in a highly classified environment in Dallas, TX. We’re looking for someone with strong hands‑on experience in Cisco ISE, Cisco Firepower, and enterprise network security to make a direct impact on a critical national security mission.

Responsibilities

As a Lead Network Engineer at AMERICAN SYSTEMS, you will:

• Lead secure network engineering and operational support in a highly classified environment
• Configure, administer, and troubleshoot Cisco ISE for authentication, authorization, accounting, network access control, and policy enforcement
• Administer and optimize Cisco Firepower and Firepower Management Center (FMC), including policy administration, rule management, and troubleshooting
• Design, implement, and maintain secure network infrastructure, including routers, switches, firewalls, VLANs, ACLs, VPNs, and segmented architectures
• Troubleshoot complex Layer 2/Layer 3, firewall, authentication, and access control issues
• Support AAA, 802.1X, VPN, RMF, STIG, and secure configuration requirements
• Develop and maintain network diagrams, implementation plans, SOPs, and technical documentation
• Partner with cybersecurity, systems administration, and mission teams to deliver secure, resilient infrastructure solutions
• Support incident response, outage resolution, root cause analysis, and network remediation efforts
• Recommend improvements to strengthen network performance, security, and reliability

Qualifications

• U.S. citizenship required
• Active TS/SCI clearance required with SAP eligibility
• Bachelor's degree in a related technical field, or additional relevant experience in lieu of a degree
• 8+ years of network engineering experience in enterprise, defense, intelligence, or other highly regulated environments
• Strong experience with Cisco ISE and Cisco Firepower/FMC
• Experience supporting AAA, 802.1X, VPN, RMF, and STIG requirements
• Active DoD 8140/8570 IAT II certification required, e.g., Security+ CE, CySA+, SSCP, or equivalent
• Strong knowledge of Layer 2/Layer 3 networking, routing, switching, VLANs, ACLs, subnetting, and segmentation
• Experience troubleshooting Cisco routers, switches, firewalls, and enterprise networks
• Ability to work independently and solve complex technical problems
• Strong written and verbal communication skills

Additional Experience We Value

• Experience supporting highly compartmented classified environments
• Cisco certifications such as CCNA, CCNP Enterprise, CCNP Security, or CCIE
• Experience with network modernization, infrastructure upgrades, or technology refresh efforts
• Experience with incident response, change management, and root cause analysis in classified environments
• Experience supporting virtualized environments such as VMware

Pay Transparency Statement

AMERICAN SYSTEMS is committed to pay transparency for our applicants and employee‑owners. The salary range for this position is USD $155,000.00/Yr. - USD $180,000/Yr. Actual compensation will be determined based on several factors permitted by law. AMERICAN SYSTEMS provides for the welfare of its employees and their dependents through a comprehensive benefits program by offering healthcare benefits, paid leave, retirement plans, insurance programs, and education and training assistance.

EEO Statement

EEO Race/Sex/Disability Status/Veteran Status