Senior Cyber Network Engineer (Top Secret clearance)

Mission Bridge Partners; Hanover (MD); On-site; USD 150,000 - 175,000; Full time

Job summary

Mission Bridge Partners seeks a Senior Cyber Network Engineer to design, build, and support cyber range environments for JCTE in Hanover, MD. The role supports USCYBERCOM and CPTs, with a focus on DCO/OCO operations and mission readiness.

The ideal candidate has 8+ years in enterprise networking/cyber operations, DoD 8570 IAT Level II cert or higher, and an active TS clearance. Onsite duties and collaboration with government teams are required.

Qualifications

• Active Top Secret clearance required at time of hire.
• U.S. Citizenship required.
• 5+ years supporting cyber training, validation exercises, or CPTs.
• 8+ years of experience supporting CNO/CNE/CND platforms.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical leadership supporting large-scale cyber exercises and mission rehearsals.
• Design, administer, and maintain complex cyber range environments for JCTE operations.
• Support planning and execution of DCO/OCO.
• Serve as principal technical advisor for cyber range operations for USCYBERCOM.
• Mentor junior engineers and guide the engineering team.
• Collaborate with government customers and vendors to deliver mission success.

Skills

Enterprise networking

Cybersecurity

Systems administration

Cyber operations

DCO/OCO

JELC

Education

Associate's degree

Tools

VMware

Active Directory

RHEL

LDAP

Splunk

Security Onion

Microsoft Exchange

Job description

Mission Bridge Partners is seeking a highly skilled Senior Cyber Network Engineer to support the Joint Cyber Training Enterprise (JCTE) in Hanover, MD. In this mission-critical role, you'll design, build, and support advanced cyber range environments that enable realistic training, mission rehearsals, and operational readiness for U.S. Cyber Command (USCYBERCOM) and Cyber Protection Teams.

As a senior technical leader, you'll play a key role in planning and executing large-scale cyber exercises, supporting both Defensive Cyber Operations (DCO) and Offensive Cyber Operations (OCO). You'll work alongside elite cyber professionals to build the virtual environments that prepare operators for real-world missions.

Location: Hanover, MD (Onsite)

Clearance Requirements

• Active Top Secret (TS) Security Clearance required at time of hire
• Must be eligible and willing to obtain a CI or Full Scope Polygraph, if required by the customer
• U.S. Citizenship required

Essential Responsibilities

• Provide technical leadership supporting large-scale cyber exercises and mission rehearsals
• Design, administer, and maintain complex cyber range environments supporting JCTE operations
• Support planning and execution of Defensive and Offensive Cyber Operations (DCO/OCO)
• Serve as a principal technical advisor supporting cyber range operations for USCYBERCOM
• Lead engineering efforts supporting multiple concurrent cyber training events and mission rehearsals
• Translate cyber mission objectives into realistic, technically accurate event environments
• Administer enterprise systems, virtual infrastructure, and network environments
• Troubleshoot complex networking, infrastructure, and application issues across integrated software and hardware platforms
• Support continuous process improvement initiatives across cyber range operations
• Collaborate with government customers, engineers, developers, vendors, and operational teams to deliver mission success
• Mentor junior engineers and provide technical guidance across the engineering team

Required Experience

The ideal candidate brings strong experience across enterprise networking, cybersecurity, systems administration, and cyber operations.

Cyber Operations

• Joint Event Life Cycle (JELC)
• Cyber Range Engineering and Administration
• Defensive Cyber Operations (DCO)
• Offensive Cyber Operations (OCO)
• Cyber mission rehearsal and validation exercises
• Support to Cyber Protection Teams (CPTs)

Enterprise Networking - Expert-level experience with:

• TCP/IP networking and advanced troubleshooting
• DNS architecture (Authoritative vs. Recursive, SOA, NS, MX, A, and CNAME records)
• Routing protocols including: OSPF, BGP, Route Maps, Prefix Lists, Access Control Lists (ACLs)

Systems & Infrastructure - Experience administering and supporting:

• Microsoft Active Directory
• VMware
• Microsoft Exchange
• Security Onion and/or Splunk
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL)
• LDAP
• Identity Management (IdM)
• Single Sign-On (SSO)

Required Qualifications

• 8+ years of experience supporting CNO, CNE, or CND platforms
• 5+ years supporting cyber training, validation exercises, or Cyber Protection Teams (CPTs), including planning, coordination, and execution
• Current DoD 8570 IAT Level II certification or higher (Security+, CCNA, CISSP, or equivalent)
• Associate's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Software Engineering, or another related technical discipline from an accredited institution

Compensation

The estimated salary range for this position is $150,000 – $175,000 annually, based on market benchmarks within the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. This range represents a good faith estimate and may vary depending on several factors, including the scope of the role, geographic location, education, certifications, technical skills, and overall relevant experience.