Senior Network Architect - Hybrid DoD Fed Network Design

Sms-Data-Products-Group,-Inc; McLean (VA); Hybrid; USD 125,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

SMS seeks a Sr. Network Engineer to lead modernization of base network architectures for NIPR and SIPR, ensuring compliance with Air Force standards and SLAs. You will provide technical leadership, design enterprise networks, and develop DoDAF diagrams while coordinating with government authorities. This role requires CCNP, Security+ CE, DoD clearance, and 25% travel.

The position is hybrid with most work remote and some on-site at the McLean, VA headquarter and customer locations as needed.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in network engineering, computer science, or related field.
• Minimum 8 years of network architecture experience.
• Active CCNP certification.
• Active CompTIA Security+ CE certification.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Willingness to travel ~25%.
• DoD Secret security clearance or ability to obtain Interim Secret clearance.
• ITIL Foundation 3+ certified preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead development of Base Area Network architectures for NIPR and SIPR networks ensuring compliance with all technical requirements, SLAs, and Air Force standards.
• Provide authoritative technical leadership for network design team establishing architecture vision, standards, and design principles.
• Develop enterprise-level network architectures addressing wired, wireless, Outside Plant fiber, Inside Plant structured cabling, and network security implementations.
• Design network topologies for performance, redundancy, and scalability.
• Establish network design standards for routing, switching, VLANs, QoS, and traffic engineering.
• Design modular architectures enabling interoperability and technology insertions including Post-Quantum Cryptography, Zero Trust, and advanced network authentication controls.
• Perform capacity planning and performance modeling to ensure designs meet SLAs.
• Lead technical design reviews and resolve complex technical challenges.
• Develop DoDAF-based high-level and detailed network topology diagrams.
• Ensure designs accommodate Government metric tools like SolarWinds, Cisco Prime, Juniper JSpace, NetScout.
• Coordinate with Government authorities and obtain design approvals.
• Ensure all design documentation is non-proprietary and transferable to Government.

Skills

CCNP

Security+ CE

Communication

ITIL Foundation

Travel

DoD Secret clearance

Education

Bachelor's degree in network engineering or related field

Job description

SMS seeks a Sr. Network Engineer to lead modernization of base network architectures for NIPR and SIPR, ensuring compliance with Air Force standards and SLAs. You will provide technical leadership, design enterprise networks, and develop DoDAF diagrams while coordinating with government authorities. This role requires CCNP, Security+ CE, DoD clearance, and 25% travel.

The position is hybrid with most work remote and some on-site at the McLean, VA headquarter and customer locations as needed.