Senior Network Administrator

Zachary Piper Solutions; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 125,000 - 135,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

401(k)

PTO

Sick Leave

Job summary

Zachary Piper Solutions is seeking a Senior Network Administrator for NIWC Pacific in San Diego, CA. This full-time, 100% onsite role supports mission-critical testing and operations within a DoD environment.

Responsibilities include network engineering, performance monitoring, cloud connectivity, and cybersecurity compliance. Requires active Secret clearance, DoD 8570 IAT II, and Cisco certs, with 10+ years in enterprise networking. Salary range $125k–$135k with comprehensive benefits.

Qualifications

• Active Secret Security Clearance
• DoD 8570/8140 IAT Level II certification and Cisco certification required
• 10+ years of relevant network engineering experience
• Experience in enterprise DoD/government network environments
• Ability to work independently while collaborating with cross-functional teams

Responsibilities

• Provide engineering and day-to-day support for the CTB network environment
• Install, configure, maintain, and troubleshoot routers and switches
• Perform firmware upgrades, STIG compliance, and security hardening
• Monitor network performance with tools like Zabbix and Traffic Sentinel
• Provide on-call support for outages, onsite within two hours
• Connect and manage multi-cloud environments (AWS/Azure)
• Manage IP space, VLANs, VPCs, route tables and gateways
• Document test results and maintain action-tracking processes
• Prototype and maintain routing, firewall, and boundary protections (Aruba/Palo Alto)
• Configure OSPF/BGP and IPsec tunneling
• Deploy NAC solutions (Aruba ClearPass) and Zero Trust architectures
• Collaborate with engineering, cyber, and testing teams

Skills

Network engineering

Routing & switching

Network security

DoD/government networks

Independent work / teamwork

Education

Security+ CE

CySA+

GSEC

SCNP

SSCP

Tools

Zabbix

inMON Traffic Sentinel

Aruba ClearPass

Palo Alto

Job description

Zachary Piper Solutions is currently seeking a Senior Network Administrator to support the Naval Information Warfare Center Pacific (NIWC Pacific) based in San Diego, California. This position is a full-time role that will be 100% onsite. This position is critical in designing, securing, and maintaining complex network environments that support mission-critical testing and operational requirements. As a Senior Network Administrator, you will play a pivotal role in network engineering, performance monitoring, cloud connectivity, routing, switching, cybersecurity compliance, and network operations within a high-stakes Department of Defense environment.

Responsibilities:

• Provide comprehensive engineering and day-to-day operational support for the physical Combined Test Bed (CTB) network environment.
• Install, configure, maintain, and troubleshoot network hardware and software, including routers and switches.
• Perform firmware upgrades, security hardening, STIG compliance, and network performance enhancements.
• Monitor and analyze network performance at both the physical and IP packet levels using enterprise network management tools such as inMON Traffic Sentinel and Zabbix.
• Provide on-call support for network outages during non-business hours, including weekends and holidays, with the ability to be onsite within two hours of notification.
• Establish and maintain connectivity to multi-cloud environments, including AWS and Azure.
• Manage IP address space, VLANs, route tables, Virtual Private Clouds (VPCs), and virtual gateways.
• Establish network infrastructure test environments, review test cases, execute testing activities, and document results.
• Maintain corrective action processes to track identified issues, coordinate with vendors, and perform regression testing to validate resolutions.
• Prototype, install, and maintain routing, distribution, firewall, and boundary protection infrastructure with a focus on HPE Aruba and Palo Alto technologies.
• Configure, manage, and troubleshoot routing protocols including OSPF and BGP.
• Implement and maintain secure tunneling technologies such as IPsec.
• Deploy and manage Network Access Control (NAC) solutions, including Aruba ClearPass Policy Manager.
• Support 802.1X authentication and Zero Trust architectures, including dynamic segmentation initiatives.
• Collaborate with engineering, cybersecurity, and testing teams to support mission requirements and network modernization efforts.

Requirements:

• Active Secret Security Clearance
• Required Certifications (DoD 8570/8140 IAT Level II and a Cisco Cert - see below)

One of the following:

• Security+ CE
• CySA+
• GIAC Security Essentials Certification (GSEC)
• Security Certified Network Professional (SCNP)
• System Security Certified Practitioner (SSCP)

AND one of the following:

• CCNA (Cisco Certified Network Associate)
• CCNP (Cisco Certified Network Professional)
• CCDP (Cisco Certified Design Professional)

Qualifications:

• 10+ years of relevant network engineering experience.
• Demonstrated expertise in enterprise network architecture, routing, switching, and network security.
• Experience supporting complex DoD or government network environments.
• Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively with multidisciplinary teams.

Compensation:

• Salary Range: $125,000 - $135,000 depending on experience
• Full Benefits Include:
  • Medical Insurance
  • Dental Insurance
  • Vision Insurance
  • 401(k)
  • Paid Time Off (PTO)
  • Sick Leave (where required by law)

This job opens for applications on 8/10/2026. Applications for this position will be accepted for at least 30 days from the posting date.

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