Network System Administrator

Piper Companies; Fort Meade (MD); On-site; USD 70,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

Zachary Piper Solutions seeks an experienced Network System Administrator to support a mission-critical IP messaging and communications network for U.S. government and national security customers.

This is a fully onsite role in Fort Meade, MD, requiring an active TS/SCI clearance and up-to-date Cisco security expertise. You will work with network engineers on STIG baselines, perform security engineering, and contribute to SOPs, EIPs, and incident response activities while coordinating with

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree and 4+ years of network engineering/troubleshooting experience.
• Hands-on experience deploying Cisco enterprise routers, switches, firewalls, and security devices; CCNP Route/Switch and/or Security preferred.
• Strong knowledge of defense-in-depth, network/security architecture and emerging technologies.
• Experience with NetOps, change/configuration/performance management and testing/evaluation.
• Excellent technical documentation and communication skills for senior stakeholders.
• CompTIA Security+ certification and active TS/SCI clearance.
• Willingness to work fully onsite in Fort Meade, MD with up to 10% travel (OCONUS).
• IAT Level II certification preferred (e.g., CISSP, CASP+).

Responsibilities

• Network integration, testing, security engineering, and implementation support.
• Define and improve STIG compliant baselines, versioning, and compliance tracking.
• Test and validate automation and best practice insertion opportunities.
• Lead development of SOPs/TTPS and support CSI activities.
• Maintain system performance and conduct RCA for problem management.
• Bridge ops and engineering for deployment of new solutions into production.

Skills

TS/SCI clearance

Routing & Switching

VPNs

MPLS

BGP

OSPF

CCNP Route/Switch

CCNP Security

Cisco IOS

Security engineering

IAT Level II (CISSP/CASP)

Education

Bachelor's Degree

Tools

Cisco routers/switches

Firewalls

Security devices

Job description

Zachary Piper Solutions is seeking an experienced Network System Administrator to join a leading technology and engineering company delivering mission-critical IT, cybersecurity, digital modernization, and defense solutions to U.S. government and national security customers. This a fully onsite role in Fort Meade, MD, and requires an active TS/SCI security clearance*

The Network Systems Administrator will support the operations, engineering, and sustainment of a mission-critical IP messaging and communications network, providing hands‑on technical expertise while helping develop and implement solutions that meet evolving customer and mission requirements.

Responsibilities of the Network System Administrator:

• Network integration, testing, security engineering, and implementation configuration support.
• Collaborate with network architects to define and/or continuously improve STIG compliant configuration baselines, versioning, and compliance tracking.
• Test and validate automation and best practice insertion opportunities.
• Lead development of SOPs/TTPs.
• Support Continuous Service Improvements (CSI).
• Support system performance tuning and enhancements.
• Create and maintain Engineering Implementation Plans (EIP).
• Support tier escalation of incident management support tasks.
• Active participation in Root Cause Analysis (RCA) for Problem Management activities.
• Participate in engineering meetings to bridge the gap between operations and engineering providing operational readiness for new solutions projected to be deployed into production.
• Perform highly technical maintenance involving firewalls, VPNs, IPS, and load balancers.
• Provide expert knowledge of network engineering and operations, large scale enterprise network solution implementation and transition to Network Operations, as well as test and evaluation activities. Perform highly technical maintenance involving network devices routers, switches, security solutions, and WANX.

Qualifications for the Network System Administrator:

• Bachelors Degree and 4+ years of network engineering/troubleshooting experience, including routing/switching, IP/subnetting, MPLS, VPNs, BGP, OSPF, IS-IS, STP, VLANs, LLDP, VoIP, multicast, and enterprise WAN technologies.
• Hands-on experience deploying, configuring, and troubleshooting Cisco enterprise routers, switches, firewalls, and security devices; CCNP Route/Switch and/or Security preferred.
• Strong knowledge of defense-in-depth, network/security architecture, network topology, device integrity, security controls, and emerging network technologies.
• Experience with network operations, integration, test/evaluation, implementation/transition to NetOps, and change/configuration/performance management.
• Strong technical documentation, analysis, reporting, presentation, communication, and problem-solving skills, including presenting to senior customers/stakeholders/management.
• CompTIA Security+ Certification
• Active TS/SCI clearance
• Ability and Willingness to work fully onsite in Fort Meade, MD + up to 10% OCONUS travel
• Preferred:
  • IAT Level II Certification (i.e. CISSP, CASP+, etc...)

Compensation for the Network System Administrator:

• Salary Range: $70,000 - $80,000 *depending on experience*
• Comprehensive Benefits: Medical, Dental, Vision, 401k Plan, PTO, Holidays, Sick Leave if required by law

This job opens for applications on 08/27. Applications for this job will be accepted for at least 30 days from the posting date.

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Keywords: Network Systems Administrator, Network Administrator, Network Engineer, Network Operations, NetOps, Network Engineering, Cisco, Cisco Routers, Cisco Switches, Cisco Firewalls, Routing, Switching, Routing and Switching, TCP/IP, IP Networking, Subnetting, MPLS, VPN, BGP, OSPF, IS-IS, STP, Spanning Tree Protocol, VLAN, LLDP, VoIP, Multicast, WAN, Enterprise WAN, WANX, Firewalls, IPS, Load Balancers, Network Security, Security Engineering, Defense-in-Depth, Network Architecture, Network Topology, Network Integration, Network Testing, Test and Evaluation, T&E, Network Implementation, Network Sustainment, Network Operations Transition, Incident Management, Problem Management, Root Cause Analysis, RCA, Performance Tuning, Configuration Management, Change Management, STIG, DISA STIG, Compliance, SOP, TTP, EIP, Engineering Implementation Plan, Cisco IOS, CCNP, CCNP Enterprise, CCNP Security, Security+, CompTIA Security+, CISSP, CASP+, SecurityX, IAT Level II, IAT Level III, DoD 8570, DoD 8140, TS/SCI, Top Secret SCI, Fort Meade, OCONUS