Senior Principal Network Architect — SCI Clearance, On-Site

Northrop Grumman; Virginia; On-site; USD 129,000 - 194,000; Full time

Job summary

Northrop Grumman in Dulles, VA is seeking a Sr. Principal Network Communications professional to support classified government contracts on-site full-time.

The role focuses on defining long-term network architectures, SD-WAN, Zero Trust, and cloud-enabled networking in compliance with security requirements. You will lead design, integration, and deployment of large-scale networks, mentor junior staff, and coordinate with government customers and internal leadership.

Qualifications

• Master's Degree with 6 years of relevant technical experience; OR a Bachelor's Degree with 8 years of relevant technical experience; OR an Associate Degree with 10 years of relevant technical experience; OR a High School Diploma / GED (or equivalent) with 12 years of relevant technical experience is required
• Candidate must have a current U.S. Government Top Secret/SCI level security clearance to be considered
• Must be able to obtain/maintain a Counter Intelligence Polygraph as a condition of continued employment
• Candidates must meet the U.S.Government 8140 requirements (8570 equivalent) for an Administrator – IAT level II certification or higher
• Demonstrated experience designing and maintaining complex LAN/WAN based networks to include analysis, enhancements of routers, switches, and firewalls
• Experience supporting Video Teleconferencing (VTCs), deploying audio/visual technologies in classified environments

Responsibilities

• Perform Sr. Principal Network Communications activities in support of classified government contracts
• Define and execute long-term network architecture roadmaps, such as SDWAN, ZeroTrust, and cloud-enabled networking, ensuring alignment with enterprise security and compliance requirements
• Lead the design, integration, and implementation of large-scale, multidomain networks supporting classified missions, and oversee network migrations and cyber resilience initiatives
• Serve as a senior technical liaison to government customers and internal leadership, negotiating requirements, delivering status briefings, and participating in external technical forums, proposals, and procurement discussions
• Author, maintain, and enforce enterprise-wide network standards, policies, and security frameworks; regularly audit compliance and champion continuous improvement initiatives
• Provide advanced monitoring, analysis, and planning for network systems, coordinating third-party maintenance as needed and supporting environments through ticketing systems (e.g., ServiceNow, JIRA)
• Deliver third-level technical support for complex network, hardware, software, and telecommunications issues
• Develop innovative technical solutions to complex problems, support project designs, clarify requirements, and ensure solutions adhere to established standards
• Raise issues requiring management attention and measure performance against KPIs, implementing corrective actions to exceed operational standards
• Provide senior-level technical expertise by mentoring junior and experienced team members, fostering their professional growth and enhancing team capabilities
• Lifts and moves equipment up to 50 pounds
• Work after hours, and weekends, as needed

Skills

Security clearance

LAN/WAN design

VTC support

Network engineering

Mentoring

Education

Master's +6y exp

Bachelor's +8y exp

Associate +10y exp

HS Diploma

Tools

ServiceNow

JIRA

Wireshark

SolarWinds

Job description

Northrop Grumman in Dulles, VA is seeking a Sr. Principal Network Communications professional to support classified government contracts on-site full-time.

The role focuses on defining long-term network architectures, SD-WAN, Zero Trust, and cloud-enabled networking in compliance with security requirements. You will lead design, integration, and deployment of large-scale networks, mentor junior staff, and coordinate with government customers and internal leadership.