SD-WAN Solutions Innovator & R&D Engineer

Applied Research Laboratory at the Penn State University; State College (Centre County); On-site; USD 91,000 - 202,000; Full time

Job summary

Applied Research Laboratory (ARL) at Penn State University in State College, PA, seeks an innovative SD-WAN Solutions Development Engineer to design, develop, and implement next-generation SD-WAN solutions for DoD and IC environments.

The role emphasizes hands-on network design, automation using Python/Ansible, security concepts including zero-trust, and the ability to operate in both connected and limited connectivity settings with potential travel.

Qualifications

• Hands‑on experience designing and implementing SD‑WAN solutions using hardware‑ or software‑based platforms (e.g., Cisco Viptela, Fortinet, Prisma, VeloCloud, Juniper).
• Strong understanding of routing protocols (BGP, OSPF, EIGRP), overlays (VXLAN, GRE, IPsec), and WAN optimization.
• Experience with network automation and programmability using Python, Ansible, and APIs.
• Deep knowledge of DoD/IC security concepts including zero‑trust architectures, encryption, and segmentation.
• Active DoD Secret clearance (minimum requirement) and DoD 8140/8570 IAT II baseline.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop next-gen SD-WAN architectures for DoD/IC environments.
• Research, prototype, and advance SD-WAN tech including SASE and zero-trust.
• Implement automation frameworks using Python, Ansible, and IaC.
• Deploy and test in connected and disconnected (Dark Cloud) environments.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to transition R&D to operations.
• Document specifications, findings, and designs.
• Support deployments and troubleshooting in highly secure environments.

Skills

SD-WAN design and deployment

Routing protocols (BGP, OSPF, EIGRP)

Network automation

DoD/IC security concepts

Active DoD Secret clearance

DoD 8140/8570 IAT II

Education

Bachelor's Degree - Engineering or Science

Tools

Cisco Viptela

Fortinet

Palo Alto Prisma

VMware VeloCloud

Juniper SRX/MX

DISA APL-listed solutions

Job description

Applied Research Laboratory (ARL) at Penn State University in State College, PA, seeks an innovative SD-WAN Solutions Development Engineer to design, develop, and implement next-generation SD-WAN solutions for DoD and IC environments.

The role emphasizes hands-on network design, automation using Python/Ansible, security concepts including zero-trust, and the ability to operate in both connected and limited connectivity settings with potential travel.