Network Engineer Principal (TS/Q clearance required)

General Dynamics Information Technology, Inc.; Germantown (MD); On-site; USD 111,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) match

Paid time off

Health benefits

Job summary

General Dynamics Information Technology, Inc. is seeking an experienced Network Engineer Principal to design, implement, and maintain complex network systems in a large-scale Cisco environment for DOE/NNSA mission-critical operations.

The role emphasizes security, reliability, and scalable infrastructure across LAN, MAN, and WAN, with emphasis on design, deployment, and optimization. Responsibilities include monitoring, troubleshooting, capacity planning, vendor coordination, and documentation

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent; Cisco certification preferred.
• 10+ years of professional network engineering experience in large-scale environments.
• DOE Q or TS clearance required.

Responsibilities

• Design, build, and maintain LAN/MAN/WAN networks for performance and scalability.
• Monitor, troubleshoot, and perform root-cause analysis of network issues.
• Analyze traffic patterns and provide capacity planning solutions.
• Coordinate with vendors for issue resolution and escalation.
• Configure systems including hardware selection and platform specs.
• Evaluate and test network products to ensure standards compliance.
• Provide technical oversight across network operations, including security protocols.

Skills

Network design

Troubleshooting

Cisco networking

Security best practices

Capacity planning

Vendor coordination

System monitoring

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent

Cisco certification (preferred)

Tools

Cisco IOS

Juniper

Palo Alto

Job description

Job Description

Position Title: Network Engineer

Position Summary: GDIT is seeking an experienced Network Engineer Principal to join our team supporting mission-critical operations for the Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA). In this role, you will design, implement, maintain, and troubleshoot complex network systems to ensure optimal performance, security, reliability, and scalability in a large-scale Cisco environment. This is an exciting opportunity to apply your expertise in network infrastructure and security best practices to advance enterprise IT capabilities for critical government programs.

Responsibilities

• Infrastructure Design & Implementation: Design, build, and implement network systems for LAN, MAN, and WAN environments, ensuring they meet performance and scalability requirements.
• System Monitoring & Troubleshooting: Monitor and diagnose network issues, performing root-cause analysis to address connectivity problems and optimize operations.
• Traffic Analysis & Capacity Planning: Analyze network traffic patterns and provide capacity planning solutions to support infrastructure growth and performance improvements.
• Vendor Coordination: Interface with vendor support services to ensure timely resolution of issues and proper escalation during outages or performance degradations.
• System Configuration: Perform system-level design and configuration, determining hardware, operating systems, and platform specifications to meet operational requirements.
• Quality Assurance: Evaluate and test new and existing network products and technologies, ensuring they align with organizational standards and quality protocols.
• Network Operations Oversight: Provide technical assistance and oversight across all network operations, including LAN/MAN/WAN administration, security protocols, and systems integration.
• Policy Input: Contribute to policy discussions by providing insights on standards, technical constraints, and budget considerations impacting network operations.
• Testing & Optimization: Conduct routine testing and analysis of network hardware, communications systems, and connectivity components.
• Performance Enhancements: Identify opportunities for network optimization and implement improvements to maximize system performance and security.
• Documentation: Create and maintain detailed documentation for network configurations, processes, and procedures to support operational consistency.

Minimum Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor's degree or equivalent years of experience. Having a Cisco certification would be more valuable.
• Experience: 10+ years of professional experience in network engineering, infrastructure design, and circuit troubleshooting involving routing & switching protocols.
• Security Clearance: DOE Q or TS clearance required.
• Technical Expertise: Deep knowledge of Cisco routers, switches, firewalls, wireless technologies, and network design principles. (Experience with Juniper and Palo Alto also a plus)
• Expertise in protocols like BGP, OSPF, EIGRP, STP, RSTP, VXLAN, and LACP.
• Understanding of network security practices, including system hardening and compliance with organizational standards.

Preferred Qualifications

• DOE Experience: Previous experience working with the Department of Energy or similar federal agencies.
• DNS & Configuration Expertise: Familiarity with Microsoft DNS and Unix BIND systems.
• Compliance Standards: Experience with DISA STIGs and other security frameworks required for federal compliance.
• CCNA, CCNP, CCDA, CCIE, or other Cisco certification.

Work Location: Onsite at client site in Albuquerque, NM, or Germantown, MD. Citizenship: US Citizenship required. Security Clearance: DOE Q or TS clearance required.

Why Join GDIT

At GDIT, your contributions help deliver solutions that ensure national security and operational excellence.

• Professional Growth: Access internal mobility programs, paid certifications, and continuous learning opportunities to expand your career journey.
• Comprehensive Benefits: Competitive compensation, health and wellness packages, 401(k) company match, and paid time off.
• Collaborative Environment: Work alongside a diverse and innovative team that prioritizes teamwork and high-impact results.
• Mission Impact: Support critical government programs by advancing enterprise IT infrastructure and modernizing essential functions.

Grow Your Career with GDIT

If you're passionate about designing and implementing secure, high-performing networks, join GDIT to apply your expertise and drive meaningful outcomes for cutting-edge technologies and federal IT operations.

The likely salary range for this position is $111,155 - $150,385. This is not, however, a guarantee of compensation or salary. Rather, salary will be set based on experience, geographic location and possibly contractual requirements and could fall outside of this range.

Scheduled Weekly Hours: 40. Travel Required: Less than 10%. Telecommuting Options: Onsite.

Work Location: USA MD Germantown - 19901 Germantown Rd (MDC121)

Additional Work Locations: Total Rewards at GDIT: Our benefits package for all US-based employees includes a variety of medical plan options, some with Health Savings Accounts, dental plan options, a vision plan, and a 401(k) plan offering the ability to contribute both pre and post-tax dollars up to the IRS annual limits and receive a company match. To encourage work/life balance, GDIT offers employees full flex work weeks where possible and a variety of paid time off plans, including vacation, sick and personal time, holidays, paid parental, military, bereavement and jury duty leave. To ensure our employees are able to protect their income, other offerings such as short and long-term disability benefits, life, accidental death and dismemberment, personal accident, critical illness and business travel and accident insurance are provided or available. We regularly review our Total Rewards package to ensure our offerings are competitive and reflect what our employees have told us they value most.

Identity Verification Process

As part of the hiring process, we will ask you to complete an identity verification process that leverages advanced biometrics and artificial intelligence to ensure authenticity and protect against identity fraud. You are expected to be on camera during virtual interviews. We reserve the right to take your picture to verify your identity and prevent fraud. By proceeding, you authorize the collection, processing, and use of your biometric data for identity verification and security purposes.

About Our Work: We are GDIT. A global technology and professional services company that delivers technology solutions and mission services to every major agency across the U.S. government, defense and intelligence community. Our 26,000 experts extract the power of technology to create immediate value and deliver solutions at the edge of innovation. We operate across 50+ countries worldwide, offering leading mission-ready capabilities in AI, cloud, cyber and software development.

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