Space Force – Network System Engineer

APR Consulting, Inc.; Scottsdale (AZ); On-site; USD 75,000 - 106,000; Full time

Job summary

APR Consulting, Inc. is seeking a Senior Network Design Engineer in Scottsdale, AZ to design, implement and support complex enterprise networks for DoD aerospace programs. The role requires active DoD Secret clearance, US citizenship, and up to 50% travel across the U.S.

and international locations. On-site, full-time position. The candidate will perform requirements analysis, network architecture development, and deploy secure networks including routing, switching, firewall, storage,

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Science, Mathematics, or related field plus 5+ years of relevant experience; or Master’s degree plus 3+ years of relevant experience
• Active DoD Secret Security Clearance at time of hire
• U.S. Citizenship required
• Experience with requirements analysis, network design, implementation, verification, maintenance, and troubleshooting of data communications networks
• Experience documenting network architectures, designs, configurations, and operational procedures
• Ability to analyze network topology, traffic flow, capacity requirements, and performance issues
• Experience configuring, operating, and maintaining enterprise networking environments
• Ability to install and configure network hardware and associated infrastructure
• Experience working with IP networking technologies including TCP/IP, network routing, and switching
• Willingness and ability to travel up to 50%
• Valid U.S. Passport required
• Ability to work extensively on computers in an office environment and in raised‑floor computing environments
• Ability to physically install equipment in racks and user workspaces
• Enterprise network design and topology experience
• High-speed network design and implementation expertise
• Juniper Networks certifications (JNCIA-Junos, JNCIP)
• Cisco certifications (CCNA or CCNP)
• Experience with Juniper SRX-series firewalls
• Experience supporting environments utilizing Linux identity management, Windows Server, Arista switches, NAS, and SAN storage
• Familiarity with routing and multicast technologies including BGP and OSPF
• Experience performing vulnerability scanning, system hardening, and remediation of security findings
• Experience supporting AWS cloud networking and services
• Familiarity with VMware vSphere and virtualized environments
• Experience with Red Hat Enterprise Linux
• Six (6) or more years integrating and configuring routers, switches, firewalls, and gateways in IPv4-based data communications environments
• Experience administering mixed Windows and Linux environments
• Experience managing LAN environments supporting 30+ client systems
• Knowledge of virtualization technologies across compute, network, and storage platforms
• Active/current DoD Secret Clearance
• DoD 8570.01-M IAT Level II certification
• Technical leadership experience within engineering or network operations teams
• Strong communication, collaboration, negotiation, and documentation skills
• Experience identifying and applying AI technologies to improve operational efficiency and innovation

Responsibilities

• Support satellite ground systems through network design, implementation, integration, maintenance, troubleshooting, and operational support
• Perform requirements analysis and network architecture development for mission-critical programs
• Document network architectures, designs, configurations, and procedures
• Deploy and support secure enterprise network environments across varying classifications
• Collaborate with engineering and operations teams to ensure highly available routing, switching, firewall, storage, virtualization, and server workloads

Skills

Network design

DoD clearance

TCP/IP networking

Security architectures

Team collaboration

Documentation

Routing and switching

AWS cloud networking

VMware vSphere

Linux environments

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree

Tools

Juniper SRX

Arista switches

VMware vSphere

Linux

Job description

Our DoD/Aerospace Client is seeking a Senior Network Design Engineer to support critical satellite ground systems and mission-focused defense programs. This role offers the opportunity to design, implement, maintain, and troubleshoot complex enterprise networks supporting advanced space and ground infrastructure.

The position is based in Scottsdale, Arizona and is fully on-site. This role requires significant travel to deployment locations throughout the United States and occasional international travel.

Location: Scottsdale, AZ
Position: Senior Network Design Engineer
Contract Length: 12-24 months with possibility of going direct
Pay: $65.64/hour
Education/Experience: Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Science, Mathematics, or related field plus 5+ years of relevant experience; or Master’s degree plus 3+ years of relevant experience
Schedule: Full-Time, On-Site
Clearance Requirement: Active DoD Secret Security Clearance required at time of hire

Position Overview

As the Senior Network Design Engineer, you’ll be responsible for supporting satellite ground systems through network design, implementation, integration, maintenance, troubleshooting, and operational support. Working within a cross-functional engineering team, you will perform requirements analysis, network architecture development, documentation, verification, and deployment activities in support of mission‑critical programs.

This position involves designing and supporting secure enterprise network environments, analyzing network topologies and traffic requirements, implementing security configurations, conducting diagnostics, and resolving network performance issues across systems of varying classifications. You will also support deployment activities, including equipment installation, network integration, and operational readiness efforts.

The role requires close collaboration with engineering and operations teams while supporting highly available network infrastructure consisting of routing, switching, firewall, storage, virtualization, and server technologies.

What You Bring to the Table:

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Science, Mathematics, or related technical field plus 5+ years of relevant experience; or Master’s degree plus 3+ years of relevant experience
• Active DoD Secret Security Clearance at time of hire
• U.S. Citizenship required
• Experience with requirements analysis, network design, implementation, verification, maintenance, and troubleshooting of data communications networks
• Experience documenting network architectures, designs, configurations, and operational procedures
• Ability to analyze network topology, traffic flow, capacity requirements, and performance issues
• Experience configuring, operating, and maintaining enterprise networking environments
• Ability to install and configure network hardware and associated infrastructure
• Experience working with IP networking technologies including TCP/IP, network routing, and switching
• Willingness and ability to travel up to 50%
• Valid U.S. Passport required
• Ability to work extensively on computers in an office environment and in raised‑floor computing environments
• Ability to physically install equipment in racks and user workspaces

What Sets You Apart:

• Enterprise network design and topology experience
• High-speed network design and implementation expertise
• Juniper Networks certifications (JNCIA-Junos, JNCIP)
• Cisco certifications (CCNA or CCNP)
• Experience with Juniper SRX-series firewalls
• Experience supporting environments utilizing Linux identity management, Windows Server, Arista switches, NAS, and SAN storage
• Familiarity with routing and multicast technologies including BGP and OSPF
• Experience performing vulnerability scanning, system hardening, and remediation of security findings
• Experience supporting AWS cloud networking and services
• Familiarity with VMware vSphere and virtualized environments
• Experience with Red Hat Enterprise Linux
• Six (6) or more years integrating and configuring routers, switches, firewalls, and gateways in IPv4-based data communications environments
• Experience administering mixed Windows and Linux environments
• Experience managing LAN environments supporting 30+ client systems
• Knowledge of virtualization technologies across compute, network, and storage platforms
• Active/current DoD Secret Clearance
• DoD 8570.01-M IAT Level II certification
• Technical leadership experience within engineering or network operations teams
• Strong communication, collaboration, negotiation, and documentation skills
• Experience identifying and applying AI technologies to improve operational efficiency and innovation

About Our Client:

Our client is a mission‑critical DoD/Aerospace defense contractor developing solutions that lead, serve, and protect our nation. Our client develops strategic systems supporting defense, civil government, intelligence, and cyber missions worldwide.

We are an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, age, national origin, disability status, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

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