Senior Network Engineer - SD-WAN Specialist

Peraton; Springfield (VA); On-site; USD 135,000 - 216,000; Full time

Job summary

Peraton is seeking a Senior Network Engineer specializing in SD-WAN to lead design, deployment, migration, and optimization of enterprise networks across Ashburn, Springfield, and Orlando. You will drive architecture, security integration, and cloud on-ramps while coordinating with security, cloud, and operations teams.

The role requires hands-on SD-WAN experience, strong routing knowledge, and the ability to mentor junior staff.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and 8 years of experience, or equivalent.
• Minimum 5 years hands-on network engineering, 2+ years in SD-WAN design/ops.
• Experience with enterprise SD-WAN platforms (Cisco/VMware/Fortinet/Palo Alto).
• Strong understanding of SD-WAN architecture, underlay/overlay, routing, and tunneling.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end SD-WAN design, deployment, and migration across sites.
• Architect and implement SD-WAN platforms (Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN, VeloCloud, Fortinet, Prisma).
• Define and enforce SD-WAN policies: QoS, traffic steering, path selection.
• Integrate SD-WAN with hybrid WAN transports: MPLS, broadband, LTE/5G, DIA.
• Collaborate on SASE/SSE frameworks with security teams.
• Maintain SD-WAN orchestration and management planes (vManage, Orchestrator).
• Participate in on-call rotation for 24/7 support.
• Mentor engineers on SD-WAN concepts and best practices.

Skills

SD-WAN design

Network engineering

Routing protocols

Traffic engineering

Cloud networking

Education

Bachelor's degree + 8+ years

Tools

Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN

VMware VeloCloud

Fortinet Secure SD-WAN

Palo Alto Prisma SD-WAN

Job description

Senior Network Engineer - SD-WAN Specialist

Job Locations

US-VA-Ashburn | US-VA-Springfield | US-FL-Orlando

Responsibilities

Peraton is seeking an experienced Senior Network Engineer specializing in Software Defined Wide Area Networking (SD WAN) to support enterprise network infrastructure and modernization initiatives. This individual will serve as a subject matter expert (SME) in SD WAN architecture, leading the design, deployment, migration, and optimization of network solutions across geographically distributed environments. The Senior Network Engineer will collaborate with network, security, cloud, and operations teams to improve network performance, resiliency, security, and connectivity across enterprise locations.

The ideal candidate will bring hands on experience implementing and managing enterprise SD WAN solutions, strong networking fundamentals, and expertise in routing, traffic engineering, network security integration, and hybrid WAN architectures.

This position requires full time, on site presence at one of the designated locations in Ashburn, VA; Springfield, VA; or Orlando, FL.

Day to Day Roles and Responsibilities:

• Lead end-to-end SD-WAN solution design, deployment, and migration across enterprise and multi-site environments
• Architect and implement SD-WAN platforms including Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN (Viptela), VMware VeloCloud, Fortinet Secure SD-WAN, or Palo Alto Prisma SD-WAN
• Define and enforce SD-WAN policies: application-aware routing, QoS, traffic shaping, and path selection
• Integrate SD-WAN overlays with hybrid WAN transports: MPLS, broadband, LTE/5G, and DIA circuits
• Collaborate with security teams to implement Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) and Security Service Edge (SSE) frameworks alongside SD-WAN deployments
• Design and maintain SD-WAN orchestration and management planes (vManage, Orchestrator, VCO, etc.)
• Perform root cause analysis and troubleshoot complex SD-WAN connectivity, performance, and failover issues
• Monitor WAN performance metrics - latency, jitter, packet loss - and proactively optimize circuit utilization
• Lead network infrastructure projects from planning through implementation, testing, and operational handoff
• Collaborate with cloud teams on direct cloud on-ramps: AWS, Azure, GCP, and SaaS-optimized routing
• Support network automation initiatives using scripting and infrastructure-as-code tooling
• Participate in an on-call rotation to provide 24/7 support for critical network infrastructure
• Mentor junior and mid-level engineers on SD-WAN architecture concepts and operational best practices
• Maintain accurate network topology diagrams, runbooks, and SD-WAN configuration documentation

Qualifications

Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree and 8 years of experience, a master's degree and 6 years of experience, an associate's degree and 10 years of experience, or a high school diploma or equivalent and 12 years of experience.
• Must be a U.S. Citizen and eligible to obtain the required DHS CBP clearance.
• Minimum of 5 years of hands on network engineering experience, including at least 2 years focused on SD WAN design, deployment, or operations.
• Hands on experience implementing, configuring, and troubleshooting at least one enterprise SD WAN platform, such as Cisco Catalyst SD WAN (Viptela), VMware VeloCloud, Fortinet Secure SD WAN, or Palo Alto Prisma SD WAN.
• Strong understanding of SD WAN architecture, underlay and overlay networking, routing protocols, and tunneling technologies, including BGP, OSPF, IPsec, and GRE.
• Experience integrating SD WAN with WAN transport technologies, including MPLS, broadband, LTE/5G, or Dedicated Internet Access (DIA), and configuring application aware routing, Quality of Service (QoS), and traffic steering.
• Working knowledge of network security integration, including next generation firewalls, SASE, and SSE architectures.
• Strong TCP/IP networking fundamentals, analytical skills, and experience troubleshooting complex network connectivity, performance, and failover issues.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience supporting federal government, defense, or other regulated environments.
• An active DHS Public Trust or Top Secret security clearance or higher is preferred.
• Active Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP) Enterprise certification.
• Advanced networking or SD WAN certifications, including Cisco Certified Specialist in SD WAN Implementation, CCIE Enterprise Infrastructure, VMware VCP Network Virtualization, or relevant vendor certifications.
• Experience with cloud networking across AWS, Microsoft Azure, or Google Cloud Platform, or with SASE and Zero Trust solutions.
• Experience with network automation and infrastructure as code tools, including Python, Ansible, Terraform, or vendor specific APIs.
• Experience with network monitoring platforms such as ThousandEyes, SolarWinds, Riverbed, or LiveAction.
• Experience supporting large scale SD WAN deployments across 100 or more sites and familiarity with ITIL or other IT service management frameworks.

Peraton Overview

Peraton is a next-generation national security company that drives missions of consequence spanning the globe and extending to the farthest reaches of the galaxy. As the world's leading mission capability integrator and transformative enterprise IT provider, we deliver trusted, highly differentiated solutions and technologies to protect our nation and allies. Peraton operates at the critical nexus between traditional and nontraditional threats across all domains: land, sea, space, air, and cyberspace. The company serves as a valued partner to essential government agencies and supports every branch of the U.S. armed forces. Each day, our employees do the can't be done by solving the most daunting challenges facing our customers. Visit peraton.com to learn how we're keeping people around the world safe and secure.

Target Salary Range

$135,000 - $216,000. This represents the typical salary range for this position. Salary is determined by various factors, including but not limited to, the scope and responsibilities of the position, the individual's experience, education, knowledge, skills, and competencies, as well as geographic location and business and contract considerations. Depending on the position, employees may be eligible for overtime, shift differential, and a discretionary bonus in addition to base pay.

EEO

EEO: Equal opportunity employer, including disability and protected veterans, or other characteristics protected by law.