Senior OT Network Engineer

Athletes Global Corporation; Indian Head (MD); On-site; USD 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Athletes Global Corporation is looking for a highly motivated Network Engineer to join our team in Indian Head, MD. This role involves designing, implementing, and maintaining a secure, private OT network to support the U.S. national defense community.

The ideal candidate will have at least 5 years of hands-on networking experience, proficiency with Cisco and Dell equipment, strong documentation abilities, and a Bachelor’s degree or equivalent military experience.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 5 years’ experience as a hands-on network engineer.
• Proven experience designing and implementing industrial / OT networks.
• Ability to operate independently and make sound technical decisions.

Responsibilities

• Design, implement, and maintain a secure, private, air-gapped OT network.
• Document network architecture and produce compliance certification materials.
• Provide technical authority for network-related decisions.

Skills

Network design and implementation

Industrial OT networks

Documentation skills

Cybersecurity knowledge

Hands-on technical skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Computer Engineering or related field

DoD 8140 / DoD 8570 IASAE Level II certification

Tools

Cisco switches

Dell switches

Linux and Windows servers

Job description

We are seeking a highly motivated Network Engineer to join our team!

We partner with the U.S. national defense community to create fully integrated, resilient, and innovative digital solutions that enable smart, real-time decision-making. We work with our customers on everything from conquering their data to improving and safeguarding IT infrastructure. Our ultimate goal is to enhance the nation’s ability to identify, address, and act — no matter what challenges arise.

Location: On-Site in Indian Head, MD

Clearance: Secret clearance required

Role Overview

This role is responsible for the end-to-end design, implementation, and evolution of a secure, private, air-gapped OT network. The engineer will be the initial and sole network authority, owning technical decisions from assessment through deployment, with designs reviewed and certified by external stakeholders.

Core Responsibilities

Assess the existing network and industrial infrastructure, including switches, firewalls, cabling, and servers, to determine:

• Hardware reuse opportunities
• Upgradability and lifecycle risks
• Security and compliance gaps relative to DoD / Navy standards
• Security posture and compliance risk
• Operational reliability and uptime
• Cost, procurement lead time, and vendor supportability

OT Network Design

Design a private, air-gapped OT network architecture from the ground up, including:

• VLAN and subnetting strategy aligned to industrial control boundaries
• Secure zoning between PLCs, HMIs, control rooms, and server rooms
• Isolation between multiple control/manufacturing groups with no lateral communication

Private 5G Backbone Integration

Architect and implement a private OT network that integrates with a newly deployed private 5G backbone being built and operated by a separate team, integrating:

• Private 5G connectivity between control rooms, server rooms, and operational areas
• Fiber connectivity from manufacturing buildings to their associated control rooms
• Clear security boundaries between wireless, fiber, and core infrastructure

Hands-On Implementation

Hands‑on implementation of all network infrastructure, including:

• Racking, cabling, labeling, and power coordination
• Configuration of Cisco and Dell network equipment
• Firewall rules, routing, switching, and management plane access
• PLC → HMI communication within control rooms
• Controlled PLC/HMI data forwarding to centralized server infrastructure
• Protection of industrial systems from unintended access or broadcast traffic

Documentation

Produce and maintain authoritative network documentation to support compliance certification, including:

• Logical and physical network diagrams
• IP address management and VLAN maps
• As‑built and as‑designed artifacts
• Clear security boundaries and documentation for RMF/STIG review
• Logging, segmentation, and access controls required for auditability

Scalable Platform

Build the network as a scalable platform, not a one‑off deployment, ensuring:

• Additional control/manufacturing groups can be added with minimal redesign
• Capacity, addressing, and segmentation can evolve over time

Technical Authority

Serve as the technical authority for network decisions, working with stakeholders to:

• Explain trade‑offs and risks clearly
• Support procurement, installation, and acceptance activities
• Guide future expansion and modernization efforts

  Required Experience & Skills

  • Minimum of 5 years’ experience as a hands‑on network engineer
  • Proven experience designing and implementing industrial / OT networks
  • Experience working in air‑gapped or highly restricted environments
  • Familiarity with DoD / Navy cybersecurity expectations, including designing systems that can be certified
  • Understanding of PLC, HMI, and industrial data flows
  • Ability to operate independently and make sound technical decisions with minimal oversight
  • Strong documentation and communication skills
  • Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Cybersecurity, or related discipline, or equivalent military experience
  • Minimum of DoD 8140 / DoD 8570 IASAE Level II certification
  • Strong attention to detail and organizational skills

  Strong Hands-On Background

  • Enterprise switches and firewalls (Cisco and Dell preferred)
  • Server configuration (Linux and Windows), Windows workstations
  • Fiber and copper cabling in industrial environments
  • VLANs, subnetting, routing, and network segmentation

  Equal Opportunity Employer

  All employment opportunities are made without regard to age, race, creed, color, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, disability status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity