Sr Principal Network Administrator - Polygraph

0090 CORP-Corporate Office; United States; On-site; USD 129,000 - 194,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible work arrangements

401k matching program

Health insurance

Job summary

Northrop Grumman is seeking a Sr. Principal Network Administrator to design and manage complex LAN/WAN networks for classified programs. You will define roadmaps, supervise a technical team, and act as a liaison to government customers to ensure security and mission alignment.

Required TS/SCI with polygraph, Security+ or CCNA-Security equivalents, and 8570/IAT Level II certification, plus 6–12 years of IT experience across networks and AV/VTC environments.

Qualifications

• Experience designing and maintaining complex LAN/WAN networks.
• Security clearances and IAT requirements for Sr Principal role.
• Ability to lead small teams and coordinate cross-functional work.

Responsibilities

• Perform Sr. Network Communications activities for classified contracts.
• Define long-term network roadmaps incl. SDWAN and ZeroTrust.
• Lead design, integration, and migrations of large multidomain networks.
• Mentor junior staff and coordinate with government customers.
• Ensure compliance with security frameworks and standards.
• Provide advanced monitoring and support via ticketing systems.

Skills

Network design

Leadership

Government/compliance

Communication

Education

Master's Degree in IT or related field

Bachelor's Degree in IT or related field

Associate's Degree with 10+ years experience

High School Diploma/GED with 12+ years experience

Tools

Wireshark

SolarWinds

Opnet

TACLANES

Job description

RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: No relocation assistance available CLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR START: Yes CLEARANCE TYPE: Polygraph TRAVEL: Yes, 25% of the Time

At Northrop Grumman, our employees have incredible opportunities to work on revolutionary systems that impact people's lives around the world today, and for generations to come. Our pioneering and inventive spirit has enabled us to be at the forefront of many technological advancements in our nation's history - from the first flight across the Atlantic Ocean, to stealth bombers, to landing on the moon. We look for people who have bold new ideas, courage and a pioneering spirit to join forces to invent the future, and have fun along the way. Our culture thrives on intellectual curiosity, cognitive diversity and bringing your whole self to work — and we have an insatiable drive to do what others think is impossible. Our employees are not only part of history, they're making history. At the heart of Defining Possible is our commitment to missions. In rapidly changing global security environments, Northrop Grumman brings informed insights and secure technological solutions to enable strategic objectives. We’re looking for innovators who can help us keep building on our wide portfolio of secure, affordable, integrated, and multi-domain systems and technologies that fuel those missions. By joining in our shared mission, we will support yours by expanding your personal network and developing skills, whether you are new to the field or an industry thought leader. At Northrop Grumman, you will have the resources, support, and team to do some of the best work of your career.

Responsibilities

• Perform Sr. 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.

Basic Qualifications

• Master's Degree with 6 years of relevant IT experience; OR a Bachelor's Degree with 8 years of relevant IT experience; OR an Associate's Degree with 10 years of relevant IT experience; OR a High School Diploma/GED with 12 years of relevant IT experience is required
• 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
• Candidates must meet the U.S.Government 8140 requirements (8570 equivalent) for a Sr Principal Network Administrator – IAT Level II certification (example: Security+ CE, CCNA-Security, CND)
• Candidates must have a current Top Secret/SCI clearance with a recent Counter-Intelligence Polygraph (at a minimum) in order to be considered
• Candidates must have the ability to obtain, and maintain, access to Special Programs as a condition of continued employment

Preferred Qualifications

• The ideal candidate will have a Bachelor’s degree Network Engineering, a Security+ CE, and either a CCNP or a CCIE certification, and 10 years of Network design, analysis, and administration of routers, switches, hubs, and firewalls
• Experience in the use of network analysis tools (i.e. WireShark, SolarWinds, Opnet, etc.) would be nice to have
• Experience with configuring TACLANES would be ideal
• Previous experience troubleshooting network procedures and best practices; experience with network challenges associated with systems integration, including COTS integration, capacity analysis and system architecture design
• Demonstrated leadership skills, or previous management of small teams, would be helpful

Benefits and Compensation

• We offer flexible work arrangements, phenomenal learning opportunities, exposure to a wide variety of projects and customers, and a very friendly team environment.
• Our diverse portfolio of programs means there are endless paths to cultivate your career.
• We also offer exceptional benefits/healthcare, a 9/80 work schedule, and a great 401k matching program.

Primary Level Salary Range: $129,300.00 - $193,900.00

The above salary range represents a general guideline; however, Northrop Grumman considers a number of factors when determining base salary offers such as the scope and responsibilities of the position and the candidate's experience, education, skills and current market conditions. Depending on the position, employees may be eligible for overtime, shift differential, and a discretionary bonus in addition to base pay. Annual bonuses are designed to reward individual contributions as well as allow employees to share in company results. Employees in Vice President or Director positions may be eligible for Long Term Incentives. In addition, Northrop Grumman provides a variety of benefits including health insurance coverage, life and disability insurance, savings plan, Company paid holidays and paid time off (PTO) for vacation and/or personal business.

The application period for the job is estimated to be 20 days from the job posting date. However, this timeline may be shortened or extended depending on business needs and the availability of qualified candidates.

Northrop Grumman is an Equal Opportunity Employer, making decisions without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, national origin, age, veteran status, disability, or any other protected class. For our complete EEO and pay transparency statement, please visit http://www.northropgrumman.com/EEO.

U.S. Citizenship is required for all positions with a government clearance and certain other restricted positions.

We are a pioneering company. With careers across all areas: air, cyber, land, sea and space – our 90,000 employees work as one to defend and define the future. Northrop Grumman careers and internships are as varied as your interests, with a lifetime of potential that will give you every opportunity to do your best work. Working together with people from many backgrounds, personal passions and disciplines, we share a drive to push the boundaries of science, technology and engineering to meet the ever evolving needs of our customers worldwide.