Senior Network Administrator (Palo Alto & Aruba)

chaosindustries; El Segundo (CA); On-site; USD 130,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits fully paid

401k with company match

Relocation assistance

Annual bonuses

Free daily lunch

No meeting Fridays

Unlimited PTO

Job summary

CHAOS Industries seeks a Senior Network Administrator to design, implement, and sustain mission-critical network infrastructure in a secure DoD environment. The role emphasizes Palo Alto firewalls, Aruba switching and wireless, and Zero Trust security, with on-site work in Los Angeles and an active Secret clearance (TS preferred).

You'll own architecture through operations, collaborate with cybersecurity, systems, and DevOps, and ensure compliance with RMF/ STIGs while maintaining uptime and

Qualifications

• 8+ years of network administration experience in enterprise or DoD environments.
• Active DoD Secret clearance (TS preferred).
• Experience with: Palo Alto firewalls (NGFW, Panorama, VPNs, threat prevention); Aruba networks (switching, wireless, ClearPass NAC).
• Familiarity with RMF, NIST 800-53, STIGs and DoD cybersecurity standards.

Responsibilities

• Design, deploy, and maintain secure network architectures across classified and unclassified environments.
• Configure and manage Palo Alto Networks firewalls (PAN-OS, Panorama, GlobalProtect).
• Implement and support Aruba networking solutions (switching, wireless, ClearPass).
• Perform network segmentation, zero-trust implementation, and policy enforcement.
• Monitor network performance, troubleshoot complex issues, and optimize uptime.
• Conduct vulnerability remediation and ensure compliance with DoD cybersecurity frameworks (RMF, STIGs).
• Support incident response, including traffic analysis and threat mitigation.
• Collaborate with cybersecurity, systems, and DevOps teams to integrate secure network solutions.
• Maintain documentation for network configurations, diagrams, and SOPs.
• Participate in system accreditation and ATO processes.

Skills

Palo Alto firewalls

Aruba networking

Zero-trust architectures

Network troubleshooting under pressure

Education

Bachelor's degree in Information Technology/CS/IS or equivalent

Tools

Palo Alto PAN-OS

Aruba switches/WLAN

ClearPass NAC

VPNs (IPsec/SSL)

Job description

CHAOS Industries is redefining modern defense with a multi-product portfolio that gives the ultimate advantage-domain dominance. The company's products are powered by Coherent Distributed Networks (CDN), empowering warfighters, commercial air operators, and border protection teams to act faster, adapt rapidly, and stay ahead of evolving threats.

CHAOS Industries was founded in 2022 and has raised a total of $1 billion in funding from leading investors, including 8VC, Accel, and Valor Equity Partners. The company is headquartered in Los Angeles, with offices in Washington, D.C., San Francisco, San Diego, Seattle, and London. For more information, please visit www.chaosinc.com.

Role Overview:

We are seeking a Senior Network Administrator to design, implement, secure, and sustain mission-critical network infrastructure supporting business operations. This role requires deep expertise in Palo Alto firewalls and Aruba networking solutions, along with the ability to operate in highly secure, performance-sensitive environments. This is an on-site role in Los Angeles and requires an active Secret clearance (Top Secret preferred).

This position is hands-on and mission-focused, requiring ownership from architecture through operations. The ideal candidate thrives in fast-paced environments, where reliability, security, and rapid problem-solving are critical. You will directly support infrastructure that enables critical national security missions, ensuring systems remain secure, resilient, and operational when it matters most.

Team mandate:

Work in a fast-paced, high-impact DoD program, collaborating with engineers, operators, and security teams.

Ownership:

Opportunity to influence architecture and modernization efforts, with ownership from design through sustainment.

Responsibilities:

• Design, deploy, and maintain secure network architectures across classified and unclassified environments.
• Configure and manage Palo Alto Networks firewalls (PAN-OS, Panorama, GlobalProtect).
• Implement and support Aruba networking solutions (switching, wireless, ClearPass).
• Perform network segmentation, zero-trust implementation, and policy enforcement.
• Monitor network performance, troubleshoot complex issues, and optimize uptime.
• Conduct vulnerability remediation and ensure compliance with DoD cybersecurity frameworks (RMF, STIGs).
• Support incident response, including traffic analysis and threat mitigation.
• Collaborate with cybersecurity, systems, and DevOps teams to integrate secure network solutions.
• Maintain documentation for network configurations, diagrams, and SOPs.
• Participate in system accreditation and ATO processes.

Minimum Requirements:

• Minimum education: Bachelor's degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, Information Systems, or another related field or equivalent work experience
• 8+ years of experience in network administration within enterprise or DoD environments.
• Strong hands-on experience with: Palo Alto firewalls (NGFW, Panorama, VPNs, threat prevention); Aruba networks (switching, wireless, ClearPass NAC)
• Deep understanding of: TCP/IP, routing (BGP, OSPF), VLANs, and VPNs; Network security principles and zero-trust architectures
• Experience operating in classified environments (SIPR/NIPR or equivalent).
• Familiarity with DoD cybersecurity standards (RMF, NIST 800-53, STIGs).
• Ability to troubleshoot complex, multi-layer network issues under pressure.
• Active DoD Secret clearance (TS preferred).

Preferred Requirements:

• Palo Alto certifications (PCNSE or higher).
• Aruba certifications (ACMP, ACDX, etc.).
• Experience with: Network automation (Python, Ansible, APIs); Cloud networking (AWS GovCloud, Azure Government); Zero Trust / SASE architectures; Zscaler ZIA / ZPA or similar tools; Background in high-availability or mission-critical systems; Prior experience with defense contractors or rapid deployment environments.

Key Attributes:

• Mission-driven mindset: you understand the operational impact of your work.
• Extreme ownership: you take responsibility from design through sustainment.
• Bias for action: you can make decisions and execute in ambiguous environments.
• Systems thinking: you understand how networking integrates with broader systems.
• Hands-on builder: not just maintaining systems-you improve and evolve them.

Why CHAOS?

• Health Benefits: Medical, dental, and vision benefits 100% paid for by the company
• Additional benefits: 401k (+ 50% company match up to 6% of pay), FSA, HSA, life insurance, and more
• Our Perks: Free daily lunch, 'No meeting Fridays', unlimited PTO, casual dress code
• Compensation Components: Competitive base salaries, generous pre-IPO stock option grants, relocation assistance, and (coming soon!) annual bonuses
• Team Growth: 250 employees and counting across 5 global offices
• Salary Range: $130,000 - $190,000
• The stated compensation range reflects only the targeted base compensation range and excludes additional earnings such as bonus, equity, and b