Network Engineer (Tier 3) - 159215

Piper Companies; Washington; On-site; USD 160,000 - 175,000; Full time

Job summary

Zachary Piper Solutions is seeking a Network Engineer (Tier 3) to support a Department of Energy and NNSA contract onsite in Washington, DC. The role requires an active Top Secret/ Q clearance and hands-on experience with enterprise LAN/WAN infrastructure and security controls.

You will deploy, configure, monitor, and optimize networks, coordinate with cross-functional teams, and produce detailed network performance reports while ensuring strict government security compliance.

Qualifications

• Must have strong customer service and communication skills.
• Experience with Cisco IOS/NX-OS, Palo Alto firewalls/VPNs, and Taclanes/GEMOne.
• Proficiency in Windows and Unix/Linux systems, network security, traffic analysis, and incident response.

Responsibilities

• Deploy, configure, and maintain LAN/WAN infrastructure including routers, switches, firewalls, VPNs, and load balancers.
• Apply security patches and updates across all network devices and systems.
• Monitor network performance, troubleshoot issues, and optimize for reliability and efficiency.
• Maintain accurate inventory of network hardware/software and manage asset lifecycle.
• Provide technical input during engineering meetings and support network project planning.
• Manage data center networking, assist with virtualization/storage systems, and support infrastructure growth.
• Implement and enforce network security protocols and disaster recovery solutions.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to resolve complex technical issues.
• Prepare detailed reports on network performance, incidents, and upgrades.
• Serve as a primary contact for client technical support and issue resolution.

Skills

Cisco IOS/NX-OS

Palo Alto firewalls/VPNs

Taclanes/GEMOne

Windows/Unix/Linux

Network security

Subnetting/Encryption

Layer 2/3 routing

Job description

Zachary Piper Solutions is a government contracting company that provides technological services for the federal government, specializing in cybersecurity, intelligence, and IT. Zachary Piper Solutions is seeking a Network Engineer (Tier 3) to support a contract with the Department of Energy and the National Nuclear Security Agency (NNSA). This position is fully onsite in Washington, DC and requires an active Top Secret/Q clearance.

Responsibilities for Network Engineer (Tier 3):

• Deploy, configure, and maintain LAN/WAN infrastructure including routers, switches, firewalls, VPNs, and load balancers.
• Apply security patches and updates across all network devices and systems.
• Monitor network performance, troubleshoot issues, and optimize for reliability and efficiency.
• Maintain accurate inventory of network hardware/software and manage asset lifecycle.
• Provide technical input during engineering meetings and support network project planning.
• Manage data center networking, assist with virtualization/storage systems, and support infrastructure growth.
• Implement and enforce network security protocols and disaster recovery solutions.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to resolve complex technical issues.
• Prepare detailed reports on network performance, incidents, and upgrades.
• Serve as a primary contact for client technical support and issue resolution.

Required qualifications:

• Strong customer service and communication skills.
• Experience with Cisco IOS/NX-OS, Palo Alto firewalls/VPNs, and General Dynamics Taclanes/GEMOne.
• Proficiency in Windows and Unix/Linux systems, network security, traffic analysis, and incident response.
• Solid understanding of Layer 2/3 networking, subnetting, encryption, and communication protocols.
• Must obtain an active Top Secret/Q clearance.

Compensation for Network Engineer (Tier 3):

• Salary Range: $160,000 - $175,000 (based on experience)
• Comprehensive benefits: Cigna Medical, Dental, Vision, 401K, PTO, Sick Leave if required by law, and Holidays.

This job opens for applications on 2/2/2026. Applications for this job will be accepted for at least 30 days from the posting date.

Cisco IOS, Cisco NX-OS, routing, switching, firewalls, VPN configuration, Palo Alto Networks, load balancers, subnetting, IP address management, network security, encryption, Taclanes, GEMOne, LAN, WAN, network monitoring, troubleshooting, incident response, Linux, Unix, Windows Server, system hardening, data center infrastructure, virtualization, disaster recovery, asset management, Layer 2 networking, Layer 3 routing, communication protocols, packet analysis, network performance, technical support, infrastructure planning, secure network design, crypto devices, network architecture, secure communications