Principal Network Engineer - Cisco, Government IT Security

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

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) match

Paid time off

Health insurance

Job summary

General Dynamics Information Technology, Inc. is seeking a Principal Network Engineer to join our team supporting critical DOE/NNSA missions.

You will design, implement, maintain, and troubleshoot complex Cisco-based networks across LAN/WAN, ensuring performance, security, and scalability in large environments. The role emphasizes deep routing/switching knowledge, security hardening, and collaboration with vendors.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent years of experience; Cisco certification valued.
• 8+ years of professional experience in network engineering, infrastructure design, and circuit troubleshooting.
• DOE Q or TS clearance required.
• Deep knowledge of Cisco routers, switches, firewalls, wireless technologies; Juniper and Palo Alto a plus.
• Expertise in BGP, OSPF, EIGRP, STP, RSTP, VXLAN, and LACP.
• Understanding of network security practices and compliance with organizational standards.

Responsibilities

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

Skills

Network design principles

Cisco routers

Firewalls & wireless

Network troubleshooting

Security best practices

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent

Tools

Cisco IOS

Juniper

Palo Alto

Job description

General Dynamics Information Technology, Inc. is seeking a Principal Network Engineer to join our team supporting critical DOE/NNSA missions.

You will design, implement, maintain, and troubleshoot complex Cisco-based networks across LAN/WAN, ensuring performance, security, and scalability in large environments. The role emphasizes deep routing/switching knowledge, security hardening, and collaboration with vendors.