Network Engineer/Strategist

Riverside Research Institute; Dayton (OH); On-site; USD 140,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Riverside Research Institute seeks an experienced Network Strategist to lead the design, modernization, and long-term planning of enterprise networking for NASIC at Wright Patterson AFB, OH. You will influence engineering, operations, cybersecurity, and leadership teams to align strategy with business goals.

The role requires deep technical expertise, strong analytical and communication skills, and the ability to drive multi-year roadmaps across LAN/WAN, SD-WAN, cloud networking, and security

Qualifications

• Top Secret clearance with SCI adjudication required.
• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, IT or related field.
• 8+ years of hands-on network engineering, architecture, or strategy experience.
• Expert-level understanding of enterprise networking technologies including routing, switching, wireless, BGP/OSPF/EIGRP, MPLS, SD-WAN, VPN, DNS/DHCP/IPAM.
• Strong experience with modern architectures such as SASE, ZTNA, SD-WAN, cloud networking (AWS, Azure, GCP), and micro-segmentation.
• Proven ability to lead multi-year roadmap development and strategic planning.
• Experience collaborating with cybersecurity, cloud teams, and infrastructure leadership.
• Strong analytical and communication skills; ability to convey complex solutions to both technical and non-technical audiences.

Responsibilities

• Investigate hardware and software technologies to design network configurations for cloud transition.
• Deliver a monthly Network Strategy Posture Report with architectural designs and standards.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to ensure engineering artifacts are delivered and FYDP requirements tracked.
• Develop and maintain enterprise network strategy (LAN/WAN, SD-WAN, wireless, data center, cloud networking).
• Assess current-state networks and define multi-year evolution roadmaps.
• Lead network modernization initiatives (zero trust, segmentation, automation, observability).
• Partner with cybersecurity on SASE, firewall architecture, and secure access approaches.
• Evaluate new technologies and vendors with business case support.
• Translate strategy into actionable designs, standards and implementation plans.
• Drive capacity planning, resilience, and performance improvements across global networks.

Skills

Top Secret clearance

SCI adjudication

Enterprise networking

BGP/OSPF/EIGRP

SASE/ZTNA/SD-WAN

Cloud networking (AWS/Azure/GCP)

Roadmap development

Leadership

Communication

network security collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science/Engineering/IT

Master’s degree (preferred)

Tools

Python

Ansible

Terraform

Networking tooling

Job description

Riverside Overview

Riverside Research is an independent National Security Nonprofit dedicated to research and development in the national interest. We provide high-end technical services, research and development, and prototype solutions to some of the country’s most challenging technical problems. All Riverside Research opportunities require U.S. Citizenship.

Position Overview

Riverside Research is seeking an experienced Network Strategist to support the National Air & Space Intelligence Center (NASIC) at Wright Patterson AFB, OH. This position will lead the design, modernization, and long-term planning of enterprise network capabilities. This role blends architecture, strategy, and cross-functional leadership to ensure the network foundation supports evolving business, security, and IT transformation needs. The ideal candidate will bring deep technical expertise, strong analytic and communication skills, and the ability to influence decisions across engineering, operations, cybersecurity, and leadership teams.

Responsibilities

• Investigate hardware and software technologies to design network configurations that support the transition to modern cloud environments.

• Deliver a monthly Network Strategy Posture Report documenting progress on architectural designs and recommended technical standards

• Work with stakeholders to ensure appropriate engineering artifacts (configuration management, architecture, cybersecurity) are delivered and track IT modernization network requirements across the Future Years Defense Program (FYDP).
• Develop and maintain enterprise network strategy, including LAN/WAN, SD-WAN, wireless, data center, cloud networking, and edge connectivity.
• Assess current-state network environments and define multi-year evolution roadmaps aligned to organizational priorities.
• Lead network modernization initiatives (e.g., zero trust networking, segmentation, automation/orchestration, observability upgrades).
• Partner closely with cybersecurity to align networking and security strategies, including SASE, firewall architecture, and secure access approaches.
• Evaluate new technologies, vendors, and industry trends; provide recommendations supported by business cases and technical assessments.
• Collaborate with network engineering teams to convert strategic direction into actionable designs, standards, and implementation plans.
• Drive capacity planning, resilience improvements, and performance optimization across global network environments.
• Establish and maintain reference architectures, standards, and governance models.
• Communicate strategy, risks, and impacts to leadership and stakeholders in clear, business-focused language.
• Guide and mentor junior and mid-level network engineers and architects.
• Execute government approved plans.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications:

• Top Secret clearance with SCI adjudication
• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Information Technology, or related field.
• 8+ years of hands-on network engineering, architecture, or strategy experience.
• Expert-level understanding of enterprise networking technologies including routing, switching, wireless, BGP/OSPF/EIGRP, MPLS, SD-WAN, VPN, DNS/DHCP/IPAM.
• Strong experience with modern architectures such as SASE, ZTNA, SD-WAN, cloud networking (AWS, Azure, GCP), and micro-segmentation.
• Proven ability to lead multi-year roadmap development and strategic planning.
• Experience collaborating with cybersecurity, cloud teams, and infrastructure leadership.
• Strong analytical and communication skills; ability to convey complex solutions to both technical and non-technical audiences.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Information Technology, or related field.
• Experience with DevSecOps and/or cross domain solutions
• Experience with Cloud-Native Architectures
• Professional certifications such as CCNP, CCIE, JNCIP/IE, PCNSE, AWS/Azure networking specialty, or equivalent.
• Experience with network automation frameworks (Python, Ansible, Terraform) is a plus.
• Experience with large-scale enterprise or multi-site environments.

Global Comp

$140,000 - $170,000 This represents the typical compensation range for this position based on experience, location and other factors.

Closing Statement

Riverside Research Institute is a not-for-profit, technology-oriented defense company, where service to our customers and support of our staff is our overall mission. Riverside is an affirmative action-equal opportunity employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local laws regarding recruitment and hiring. Riverside offers comprehensive compensation and benefit packages to our employees. Riverside bases its employment decisions solely on technical experience, qualifications and other job-related criteria related to our organizational purpose as a not-for-profit company, and without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex marital status, sexual orientation, national origin, physical or mental disability, veteran’s status or any other status legally protected by applicable federal, state, and local law.