Senior Network Automations Engineer

GovCIO

Fort Bragg (NC)

On-site

USD 165,000 - 175,000

Full time

14 days+

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Job summary

GovCIO is hiring a Senior Network Automation Engineer for on-site work in Fort Bragg, NC. This role encompasses leading the design and automation of mission-critical network infrastructure as well as providing technical expertise during deployments.

The ideal candidate should have a strong background in network automation, cloud technologies, and extensive experience in troubleshooting network systems along with a relevant clearance and certifications.

Qualifications

Possession of TS/SCI clearance.
DoD 8570 IAT Level II Certification.
Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP).
Active U.S. Driver's License.

Responsibilities

Lead collaboration on mission-critical network infrastructure.
Oversee the building of secure network nodes.
Conduct network connectivity testing and troubleshooting.
Communicate technical ideas effectively.

Skills

Network automation

Cloud technologies

Containerization technologies

Microservice network architecture

Troubleshooting

Technical communication

Education

High School diploma with 10+ years experience

Tools

Cisco CLI

Nautobot

Splunk

ServiceNow

AWX

Job description

Overview

GovCIO is currently hiring for a Senior Network Automation Engineer to determine and support Kubernetes platform service requirements for Platform as a Service architecture. This position will be located in Fort Bragg, NC, and is an on‑site position.

Responsibilities

The Senior Network Automation Engineer serves as a hybrid Network & Systems Engineer and Tactical Communications SME, responsible for leading the collaboration of cross‑functional stakeholders in designing, building, automating, testing, and sustaining mission‑critical network infrastructure in support of deployed and enterprise operations. This role integrates hands‑on engineering, automation development, and operational support to deliver secure, scalable, and rapidly deployable network solutions.

Key Responsibilities

Network & Systems Engineer / Tactical Communications SME / Testing & Development
- Maintains subject matter expert‑level awareness of current and emerging technologies through continuous research of technical manuals, vendor documentation, security advisories, and open‑source resources.
- Leads evaluations and recommends hardware and software versions by validating:
  - Minimum installation requirements
  - Known defects and bugs
  - Security bulletins and patches
  - Compatibility with legacy systems
  - Power constraints (including PoE considerations)
  - Environmental and thermal limitations
  - End‑user interoperability (notably SFP module compatibility)
- Collaborates with the JEDI team to enable bare‑metal provisioning of RHEL servers, leveraging Kickstart‑based automation for PXE‑style rapid deployments
- Oversees the building of secure, mission‑ready network nodes from bare metal, including firmware/software upgrades, secure configuration baselines, tunnel establishment, and performance optimization.
- Conducts in‑depth network connectivity testing, end‑user behavior analysis, and troubleshooting to ensure optimal throughput and reliability.
- Coordinates with multiple J6 functional areas when deploying new sites.
- Works directly with customers to ensure installations are plug‑and‑play, enabling rapid deployment within constrained logistical timelines.
- Developed the initial MFS Medium v2 configuration and influenced the MFS Heavy baseline.
- Rapidly identifies and resolves network configuration errors; provides validated solutions to the network automation team for integration and code deployment.
- Possesses deep operational knowledge of network architectures, protocols, and failure modes, allowing for expedited fault isolation and resolution.

Encryption Subject Matter Expert (SME)

Holds strong working knowledge of encryptor configuration, firmware management, operational requirements, version enforcement, best practices, and troubleshooting.
Diagnoses encryption issues based on customer‑reported symptoms and operational context.
Identified and resolved a critical encryption key failure affecting a forward‑deployed Tier tactical node after multiple unsuccessful remediation attempts.
Proficient with GemOne and Chimera management platforms.

Additional Operational Support

Performs off‑site communications checks and equipment upgrades, including installation and airflow optimization to prevent overheating and equipment degradation
Delivers expedited remote support to traveling customers, providing Cisco CLI commands to rapidly restore communications for senior leadership
Detects and communicates probable hardware failures at distant ends during outage scenarios
Assists with baselining and testing MFS kits under tight timelines or suspected hardware/software issues
Collaborates with customers, ECS, and Tier units to troubleshoot connectivity issues and deliver targeted technical training
Daily operational use of:
- Nautobot (IPAM and device management)
- AWX (administration and automation)
- Active Directory
- Forward Networks (topology and fault analysis)
- Splunk (detailed network/server logging)
- ServiceNow (ticketing and technical order tracking)
Provides on‑site support for emergent taskings, including after‑hours operations

Qualifications

High School with 10+ years (or commensurate experience)

Required Skills And Experience

Clearance Required: TS/SCI
DoD 8570 IAT Level II Certification
Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP)
Experience with Google Cloud Platform and Microsoft Azure
Experience with Containerization technologies
Experience with microservice network architecture
Experience with troubleshooting and resolving technical problems with both on‑site and remote administrators
Ability to communicate technical ideas and deliver briefings with cross‑functional teams, work in a high‑demand environment, and provide technical expertise on all phases of system engineering activities
Active and current U.S. Driver's License

Preferred Skills And Experience

Supporting U.S. Special Operations organizations
Cisco DevNet Associate
Red Hat Certified Specialist in Ansible Network Automation
Aviatrix Certified Engineer Multicloud Network Automation Specialty
Linux Essentials LPI
Certified Kubernetes Administrator
Certified Kubernetes Application Developer
Experience with Terraform
Experience with Cloud Native networking technologies and concepts
Experience with Amazon Web Services
Experience with developing tactical, expeditionary cross‑domain solutions to deliver FMV across different environments, enclaves, and networks
Experience with designing, installing, configuring, and troubleshooting expeditionary, global, regional, and disconnected networks, including internal LAN traffic, WAN, Satellite communications, commercial leased lines, long haul circuits, distributed packet processing, data compression, encryption, and various data transport systems
Experience with evaluating projected network usage and reviewing utilization reports
Experience with Agile development methodologies and working with Agile teams using collaboration tools such as Gitlab.
Experience with working with CM tools, including Gitlab, Git‑centric, and CI/CD workflows
Knowledge of network engineering in cloud and disconnected edge environments
Knowledge of Python scripting, writing Ansible playbooks, rudimentary APIs, or automation scripts
Knowledge of Infrastructure as Code