Tier III / Network Engineer

Socket.dev; Washington (District of Columbia); Hybrid; USD 75,000 - 110,000; Part time

Job summary

Socket.dev seeks a Tier 3 / Network Engineer to deliver advanced technical support and escalation for a U.S. Government customer. The role requires DoD/DoW Secret clearance, CompTIA Security+ or equivalent, and 3+ years in IT. Hybrid work with part-time onsite at Fort Meade, MD, with no travel.

The engineer will troubleshoot complex issues, document findings, and coordinate with stakeholders and cyber requirements while maintaining system performance and security compliance.

Qualifications

• Active DoD / DoW Secret clearance required and maintainable.
• CompTIA Security+ or DoD-approved cybersecurity cert.
• 3+ years in IT including systems administration, networks or related
• Experience with monitoring, logging, ticketing and configuration management tools.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical support and troubleshooting for enterprise IT systems.
• Train end-users on IT systems and applications.
• Diagnose and resolve complex application, software, network, and infrastructure issues.
• Analyze system performance, logs, alerts, and other technical information to identify root causes and actions.
• Develop and maintain technical documentation, procedures, knowledge articles, and system diagrams.
• Coordinate with other technical teams and government stakeholders to resolve incidents.
• Support cybersecurity requirements, vulnerability remediation, system hardening, and security compliance activities.
• Participate in change management, configuration management, incident management, and problem management processes.
• Provide technical recommendations and communicate issues clearly to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.

Skills

Troubleshooting

Problem-solving

Communication skills

Independent worker

Collaboration

Tools

Monitoring tools

Logging tools

Ticketing systems

Configuration management

Job description

Position Title: Tier 3 / Network Engineer
Clearance: DoD / DoW Secret Clearance (Active) Certification: CompTIA Security+ (or equivalent DoD 8570/8140-approved certification - Active) Experience: 3+ years of relevant IT/systems engineering experience; 5+ years preferred Location: Hybrid, part-time onsite at Fort Meade, MD Travel: None

Position Overview

The Tier 3 / Network Engineer will provide advanced technical support, troubleshooting, systems administration, and support end users in application specific training in support of a U.S. Government customer. The position will serve as an escalation point for complex technical issues and will work closely with system administrators, developers, engineers, government stakeholders, and other technical teams. The ideal candidate is a technically capable and self-motivated person who can independently troubleshoot issues, identify root causes, implement solutions, and document technical findings. This is an opportunity for an administrator who is ready to operate at the Tier 3 level while continuing to develop their technical expertise.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide technical support and troubleshooting for enterprise IT systems and services.
• Assist in training end-users on the proper use of IT systems and applications.
• Diagnose and resolve complex application, software, network, and infrastructure issues.
• Analyze system performance, logs, alerts, and other technical information to identify root causes and corrective actions.
• Develop and maintain technical documentation, procedures, knowledge articles, and system diagrams.
• Coordinate with other technical teams and government stakeholders to resolve incidents and technical issues.
• Support cybersecurity requirements, vulnerability remediation, system hardening, and security compliance activities.
• Participate in change management, configuration management, incident management, and problem management processes.
• Provide technical recommendations and communicate issues and solutions clearly to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.

Required Qualifications

• Active DoD / DoW Secret security clearance and ability to maintain the clearance.
• CompTIA Security+ certification or equivalent DoD-approved cybersecurity certification.
• 3+ years of experience in systems administration, networks, help desk support, or a related IT discipline.
• Strong troubleshooting and problem-solving skills.
• Experience supporting enterprise IT environments.
• Ability to analyze technical problems, determine root cause, and implement effective solutions.
• Experience with system monitoring, logging, ticketing, and configuration management tools.
• Working knowledge of switches, routing, and system architectures.
• Ability to work independently while effectively collaborating with technical teams and government customers.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• 5+ years of relevant IT/systems engineering experience.
• Experience supporting U.S. Government or DoD customers.
• Experience in a Tier 3 or escalation support environment.
• Experience with cloud environments such as AWS, Azure, or similar platforms.
• Experience with virtualization technologies.
• Experience with hands‑on networking and systems administration.
• Experience with Active Directory, Group Policy, Microsoft 365, or enterprise identity services.
• Familiarity with cybersecurity frameworks, RMF, STIGs, vulnerability management, and security compliance.
• ITIL, Network+, CCNA, Microsoft, cloud, or other relevant technical certifications.
• Experience working in an Agile, DevSecOps, or IT service management environment.
• Experience with DoD vulnerability reporting applications, such as CMRS, COAMS, and IAVM.

Desired Candidate Profile The ideal candidate is a hands-on, technically curious administrator capable of learning new application software and systems quickly. The candidate should be comfortable researching unfamiliar issues, working through problems methodically, escalating appropriately when necessary, and documenting solutions for the broader team. This position is intended for a mid-level engineer. Candidates with approximately 3-5+ years of relevant experience who demonstrate strong technical aptitude and the ability to work independently are encouraged to apply.